Eco-conscious beauty lovers face one conundrum when it comes to their skincare routine: What to do with all of those empties? Beyond swearing off buying altogether, some of the best refillable beauty products can help solve that extra packaging problem.
The number one question to ask yourself when going the refillable route is one of commitment. Are you ready to commit to a long-term relationship with this moisturizer, lipstick or palette? The point of refillable products is to reduce waste. But because the outer packaging is designed to be easily opened, emptied and refilled by the consumer, there is often more plastic required to create refillable outer packaging than a single-use jar or tube. The savings (for you, and the environment) come with repeated use, reducing plastic waste over time.
With this in mind, we culled the refillable makeup and skincare worth the commitment. And there’s no shortage of options in the beauty marketplace including new low waste-minded brands such as Stella McCartney Beauty, EcoFabulous (from sustainability-focused beauty manufacturer Amyris, which is behind Biossance, JVN Hair and Rose Inc) and SpoiledChild, while companies like Lancôme, Chanel, Kérastase, Diptyque, Augustinus Bader, Westman Atelier and many others have recently debuted or announced that they are committing to refillable options.
Our picks are standout products that make up the core of an eco-conscious beauty wardrobe, like a go-to brow pencil from celebrity makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury, a nourishing long-wear lipstick from Dior and a skin-smoothing night cream from Rihanna’s Fenty Skin. Read on for more of the best refillable products from beauty’s top brands, and don’t forget that many of these are eligible for up to 20 percent off during Sephora’s Beauty Insider Savings event.
1. Milk Makeup Sunshine Skin Tint Clean SPF 30 Foundation
BEST REFILLABLE SUNSCREEN FOUNDATION
Milk Makeup’s Sunshine Skin Tint foundation (available in 14 shades) contains SPF 30 and non-nano zinc to protect your skin from the sun, while grapeseed, avocado, mandarin, jojoba and olive oils help moisturize and hydrate the skin. We love the dewy, natural-looking finish of the vegan formula, and we’ve found our skin tone looking more even after application. Refills are $32.
MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Space NK | Sephora (refills)
Milk Makeup Sunshine Skin Tint Clean SPF 30 Foundation $42
2. Kora Organics Berry Bright Vitamin C Eye Cream
BEST REFILLABLE EYE CREAM
Founded by model/entrepreneur Miranda Kerr, Kora Organics’ Berry Bright Vitamin C eye cream helps to brighten, depuff, strengthen and smooth your under-eye skin with active, certified organic ingredients such as kangaroo paw flower, kakadu plum, cloudberry, red ginseng and quinoa peptide. Refills cost $48.
Kora Organics
Kora Organics Berry Bright Vitamin C Eye Cream $58
3. Dior Rouge Dior Lipstick
BEST REFILLABLE LIPSTICK
Dior’s beloved Rouge Dior lipstick is long-wearing and nourishing, so you won’t end the day with a dried-out pout. The full coverage formula comes in three finishes — matte, satin, and metallic — with dozens of color options in flattering, natural hues. Refills are $35.
MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Dior (refills) | Sephora (refills)
Sephora
Dior Rouge Dior Lipstick $42
4. Charlotte Tilbury Brow Cheat Eyebrow Pencil
BEST REFILLABLE BROW PENCIL
Get a natural look that lasts (up to 16 hours!) with this refillable brow pencil from celebrity makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury. The micro-precision tip creates hair-like strokes with a long-wear formula that’s waterproof, humidity proof, and smudge-free. Refills are $15; the brand offers many other refillable options, including its best-selling Magic Cream, Airbrush Bronzer, Magic Eye Rescue and more skincare and makeup.
MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Charlotte Tilbury (refills) | Sephora (refills)
Charlotte Tilbury
Charlotte Tilbury Brow Cheat Refillable Eyebrow Pencil $25
5. Tower 28 Beauty SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray
BEST REFILLABLE FACIAL SPRAY
Clean beauty brand Tower 28 has earned celebrity fans such as Hailey Bieber, Khloe Kardashian and Olivia Rodrigo, and the label’s best-selling SOS Daily Rescue facial spray is available in bulk for those who can’t get enough of the skin-soothing stuff. The pH-balancing toner comes in a jumbo 16-ounce size and contains hypochlorous acid to soothe and soften sensitive and irritated skin. Add it to the brand’s bright red bottle if you’ve got one already, or refill an existing spray container to cut down on waste.
Sephora
Tower 28 Beauty SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray Refill $68
6. Ourself Lip Filler
BEST REFILLABLE LIP PLUMPER
Ourself promises “fuller, yet natural-looking” lips with its patent-pending plumping treatment, and we’ve discovered during our own testing that the claim truly lives up to its promise. In a clinical study with 59 participants, 100 percent had fuller lips in three weeks of treatment. Save 10 percent on refills ($125 each) by opting in to auto-replenishments.
Ourself
Ourself Refillable Lip Filler $145
7. Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream
BEST REFILLABLE BODY CREAM
Brazilian skincare brand Sol De Janeiro says its best-selling Bum Bum Cream “helps visibly smooth and tighten the appearance of your skin thanks to potent, caffeine-rich guaraná extract.” The refill pod ($46) uses 98 percent less plastic and it contains the same amount of product as a new jar.
Sol De Janeiro
Sol De Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream $48
8. Kiehl’s Since 1851 Ultra Facial Refill Bundle
BEST REFILLABLE MOISTURIZER
Kiehl’s is known for its best-selling Ultra Facial Cream that helps all types of skin feel restored and deeply moisturized. Never run out of their lightweight face moisturizer with this giant refill made with 61 percent less packaging compared to the original jar version. Formulated with squalane and glacial glycoprotein for supporting the skin’s moisture barrier for up to 24 hours, the 150-milliliter refill can replenish your original jar three times.
Sephora
Kiehl’s Since 1851 Ultra Facial Refill Bundle $78
9. Augustinus Bader The Serum
BEST REFILLABLE LUXURY SERUM
Backed by investors like actress Melanie Griffith, French businessman Antoine Arnault and model Natalia Vodianova, Augustinus Bader is known for its luxe skincare featuring the hero ingredient, TFC8. The lightweight and fast-absorbing serum helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and hyperpigmentation, and it also contains edelweiss extract, vitamin C, squalane, pomegranate seed concentrate and resveratrol to smooth the skin support collagen production and elasticity, and protect against environmental damage. Refills are $365, or save 20 percent off when you subscribe to the auto-replenish option.
Augustinus Bader
Augustinus Bader The Serum $390
10. Alleyoop Dream Team 3-in-1 Moisturizer, Eye Cream & Mask
BEST REFILLABLE MULTI-TASKING MOISTURIZER
Alleyoop’s multitasking moisturizer is safe to use all over the face, eliminating the need for an eye cream, and when double layered performs the function of a mask. Refills are $30; before committing to the full-size product, you can test out the Dream Team Mini for $15.
MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Alleyoop (refills) | Amazon
Alleyoop
Alleyoop Dream Team 3-in-1 Moisturizer, Eye Cream & Mask $35
11. Fenty Skin Instant Reset Brightening Overnight Recovery Gel-Cream
BEST REFILLABLE NIGHT CREAM
Smooth pores, reduce fine lines, and replenish hydration while you sleep with Instant Reset, an overnight gel-cream from Rihanna’s Fenty Skin line that contains niacinamide and kalahari melon oil. The refillable outer jar ($38 for refills) features a flip-top lid containing an applicator to keep your product free from the bacteria buildup that can happen with fingertip application. Rihanna thinks of everything.
MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Fenty Skin (refills) | Sephora (refills)
Fenty Skin Instant Reset Brightening Overnight Recovery Gel-Cream $42
12. Humanrace Rice Powder Cleanser
BEST REFILLABLE CLEANSER
This cleanser from Pharrell’s entirely refillable Humanrace unisex skincare line has a satisfying powder-to-foam consistency, formulated with micro rice particles, kaolin clay, and fruit AHAs. It’s suitable for all skin types and fragrance free. Refills are $30.
MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Humanrace | Detox Market | Ssense (refills)
Humanrace
Humanrace Rice Powder Cleanser $32
13. Glossier Monochromes Eyeshadow Trio
BEST REFILLABLE EYESHADOW
Foolproof eyeshadow, courtesy of Glossier. Each trio offers a matte, satin and metallic in monochromatic hues to wear alone, build for intensity or layer. Refills are $18 with 10 options to choose from, and the reusable compact comes with a removable mirror.
Glossier
Glossier Monochromes Eyeshadow Trio $22
14. Kjaer Weis Refillable Cream Foundation
BEST REFILLABLE CREAM FOUNDATION
Clean beauty brand Kjaer Weis’ creamy foundation ($46 for refills) comes in 16 shades and your choice between a lightweight refillable and recyclable paper compact ($8) or a luxe metal option ($24). It gives a weightless, semi-matte finish that’s buildable and leaves your skin nourished.
Credo
Kjaer Weis Refillable Cream Foundation $55 and up
15. Rose Inc Cream Blush Refillable Cheek & Lip Color
BEST REFILLABLE BLUSH
Founded by actress Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Rose Inc’s refillable cheek and lip color comes in a creamy, pigment-rich and buildable formula that contains squalane, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid, which all work together to leave the skin hydrated, smooth and nourished. Refills are $18 and come in 12 natural-looking shades; the clean beauty brand also offers refillable lipsticks, highlighters, bronzers and more.
MORE BUYING OPTIONS: Rose Inc (refills) | Sephora (refills)
Rose Inc
Rose Inc Cream Blush Refillable Cheek & Lip Color $30
16. Soft Services Theraplush Overnight Repair Treatment
BEST REFILLABLE HAND CREAM
Just in time for the cold, dry air of winter, Soft Services has introduced a sleep mask for hands. It’s formulated with retinol to resurface uneven color or texture plus colloidal oatmeal to soothe dry skin and cuticles, and it comes in a a chic vessel. Refills are $36 and last about six weeks.
Soft Services
Soft Services Theraplush Overnight Repair Treatment $58
17. Bite Refillable Deodorant
BEST REFILLABLE DEODORANT
Known for its zero-waste oral care, Bite expanded its plastic-free offerings to refillable deodorant. It comes in a sleek polished metal case, and we like that the aluminum- and baking soda-free formula is available in three scents (santal, rose vert and neroli); there’s also an unscented option at the brand’s website. Another plus: Refills ($36 for a two-pack) come in recyclable cardboard packaging.
Bite
Bite Santal Refillable Deodorant $38
18. Skkn By Kim Exfoliator
BEST REFILLABLE EXFOLIATOR
A standout from Kim Kardashian’s refillable skincare line, the Exfoliator is formulated with enzymes and superfine mineral grains to gently scrub away dead skin cells and promote skin resurfacing. The face is left feeling smooth and soft, smelling subtly of rose. Refills are $47.
Skkn By Kim Exfoliator $55
