New year, new you. The common saying may or may not ring true, but one goal we are hoping to achieve in 2020: new year, less single-use plastic and waste. We’re not just stopping at reusable metal straws and sustainable household products, either. Because get this: 129 billion units of packaging are used by the cosmetic industry every year. Fortunately, beauty brands have realized their impact and are making (slow) improvements. While refilling a product isn’t going to single-handedly save the planet, it’s especially useful if there are products you know you love — and finish — time and time again. Another bonus? Refillable beauty products generally save money. So, this year, do the planet and your wallet a favor and discover your new favorite lipstick, perfume or body wash in the process.
1 Myro Deodorant Pods ($10; myro.com)
A good place to start? The products you use everyday, maybe more than once, like deodorant. With Myro, a direct-to-consumer company, you sign up for a subscription plan, choose a case color, and pick your deodorant scent (which you can switch at anytime). A recyclable cartridge refill will be sent to you before you hit empty on the old.
2 Bathing Culture Refillable Rainbow Glass Mind and Body Wash ($35; bathingculture.com)
This signature “Cathedral Grove” scent of this gel body wash is pretty intoxicating. It’s meant to smell like the redwood forests of Northern California and floods your shower with the smell of nature. What that means is that you might go through it faster than you wish you had. So it’s a good thing that the brand has made refills available at select locations (listed here).
3 Hourglass Confession™ Ultra Slim High Intensity Refillable Lipstick ($36; sephora.com)
How lucky are we that our favorite, unbelievably chic lipstick is also environmentally-friendly? Hourglass’s sleek gold cases house lip colors so gorgeous, you’ll want one of each — which is possible because once you have one case, you can swap out any of the colors (or just keep your signature shade stocked) and pop it in even your tiniest clutch. Refills are $22.
4 Birkenstock Intensive Moisturizing Rich Cream ($100; birkenstock.com)
In the fall of 2019, Birkenstock (yes, like the sandals!) launched a natural skin care line — and it’s really good. The hero ingredient is cork, the same material the shoes are made of, which works to help smooth skin, reduce redness, and promote the production of collagen. This rich moisturizer is just what parched skin needs to stand up to cold weather, and once you’ve depleted your stock, you simply replace the cartridge and recycle the old; secondary packaging is avoided as much as possible.
5 Hairstory New Wash Club ($90; hairstory.com)
New Wash is a co-wash (you use it instead of a two-step traditional shampoo and conditioner routine) with a cult following. Because fans are so devoted, the company now offers these huge, recyclable pouches that are made of 63 percent less plastic than the average bottle and can be poured into a aluminum canister (and a travel container) that come with the subscription. They estimate, on average, you’ll only need three to four a year! The company also contributes a percentage of profits to 1% for the Planet.
6 Surratt Beauty Auto-Graphique Eyeliner ($42; sephora.com)
This fancy eyeliner was inspired by Japanese calligraphy brushes to help paint a perfect cat-eye flick, while the packaging was designed to reflect the Japanese tradition of minimal elegance. When you’re done, you simply refill the compact case.
7 Love Beauty Planet Coconut Water & Mimosa Flower Shampoo x Loop ($8.99; loopstore.com)
Loop is a whole new way to shop waste-free. The platform sells grocery, household, and personal care products — all of which come in packaging that can then be returned and refilled. One of the first brands to get on the platform is Love Beauty Planet, which will offer refills of its sustainably-sourced shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.
8 M.A.C Eye Shadow Pro Palette Refill Pan ($7; maccosmetics.com)
Pick up up a Pro Palette and pop in your favorite eye shadow shades. The cult-fave cosmetic brand offers refill pans in countless colors and finishes — and at just $7 a pop, you’re saving up to $10 per shadow.
9 Lancôme Idôle Eau de Parfum ($96; sephora.com)
We’ve talked about the special backstory of Idole before (created by three female perfumers with Zendaya as its face). Another one of its true differentiators? It’s unique, extremely thin bottle is refillable at designated stations nationwide. For lovers of jasmine and rose notes, you may just discover a lifelong signature scent.
10 Guerlain Rouge G Customizable Lipstick ($33; sephora.com)
Another contender for the world’s chicest lipstick — and another refillable one. Each bullet opens to reveal a mirror so you can seamlessly apply at any time. Plus, if you’re feeling extra, you could essentially choose a case to match any look.
11 L’occitaine Almond Shower Oil ($25; loccitaine.com)
The nourishing oil texture and warm, sweet scent of this body wash is pretty addicting. So it’s especially convenient that you can buy giant 16.9 fl. oz. refills that lessen the use of plastic.
You might also like:The Ultimate Guide To Stylish, Sustainable Fashion And Beauty Brands
We often receive complimentary products for review at Glam. Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn a share of the revenue from our affiliate partners.
"We often receive complimentary products to review at Family Proof. Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team."