The average American tosses about 1,300 lbs. of trash every year (to put it in perspective, that’s about the same weight of an average grizzly bear). Companies are recognizing the need for consumers to have less wasteful beauty routines — and now, there are more options than ever to refill your original beauty containers. Not only is reusing your existing items more preferable than recycling (refillables actually use less energy and environmental resources), your wallet will be happy, too. In most cases, getting a refill for a product is less expensive and a greater value since you’re not paying for the aesthetics of the original packaging.
Below, we offer a few sustainable ways you can stock up (and save) all year long:
Glossier Monochromes Refill
Pop ‘em in, and then pop ‘em out. If you get the Monochromes compact, you can refill or refresh your go-to shades with one of the brand’s ten eyeshadows trios. They feature complementary shades in a matte, satin, and metallic finish to create a dimensional eye makeup look. The formulas are vegan and made without talc, plus you don’t have to worry about creasing or fallout.
Hermès Rose Hermès Rosy Lip Enhancer Refill
There are plenty of reasons to apply this lip enhancer — for starters, it softens and nourishes lips, blurs out fine lines, and leaves behind a beautiful tint. Once you run out, it feels downright sacrilegious to toss it because, well, it’s Hermès. This Lip Enhancer refill is compatible with any lipsticks from the Hermès line (the matte and satin lipsticks, the lip shine, etc.) and comes in three gorgeous iterations of a classic rose shade.
Ouai Hand Lotion Refill
For many of us, the dry winter air has officially made itself at home. Combat cracked dry hands with this lightweight lotion. Refill your original hand pump or take it on the go with one of the refillable travel bottle kits, so you have the fresh scent wherever you go. The Dean Street fragrance is an uplifting blend of citrus and rose inspired by the street in London’s Soho neighborhood that’s popular for its arts scene. The 32 oz. refill is enough to fill your original hand lotion pump twice.
Kiehl’s Amino Acid Shampoo Refill
When you need a cleanser that doesn’t quit, look no further than this gentle shampoo. It’s packed with coconut oil (to nourish and soften hair) and amino acids (to retain moisture while cleansing grime). It works itself into a creamy lather designed for all hair types. The one-liter refill is made with 81% less plastic — which replaces four plastic bottles to help reduce the number of single-use plastic.
BeautyCounter The Clean Deo Refill in Clean Rose
What’s better than freshly cut roses? Smelling like one. This clean, rose-scented deodorant neutralizes odor while absorbing underarm sweat so you can feel fresh for up to eight hours. It swipes on dry and clear, it’s free of aluminum (which can be a common irritant), and glides on seamlessly thanks to coconut oil and shea butter. To refill your original, just remove and recycle the empty refill and pop in the new one to your existing case.
Jane Iredale Refillable Compact
Jane Iredale’s been on top of the refillable game long before many other brands started to follow the trend. One of the highlights is this elegant compact (with a handy mirror!) that comes in silver or a limited-edition butterfly design to store any of the brand’s PurePressed Base, PureMatte, Beyond Matte, and Bronzer refills.
Surratt Expressioniste Brow Pencil Refill
Celebrity makeup artist Troy Surratt created this super-precise eyebrow pencil that refines and fills in your arches so beautifully you’ll want to use it every day. Luckily, they have the refillable, which comes at just a fraction of the price of the original (you’ll save $22) and comes in all four shades.
Lorac PRO Palette Eyeshadow Refill
There’s nothing like that disheartening moment when you hit the pan for your favorite eyeshadow color in a palette. When you purchase any of the PRO Lorac eyeshadow palettes, like the PRO Palette Artist Edition Merak, they come with magnetic pans so you can replace your empty colors or completely customize your palette with your favorites.
Noshinku Lavendula Pocket Sanitizer Refill Pouch
Now more than ever, we need our hand sanitizer to also be hydrating (and it’s an extra bonus if the packaging isn’t a complete eye sore, too). This aloe-infused sanitizing spray is the perfect discreet shape to keep in your pocket or slide into your bag, and thanks to the refillable pouch, you can refill it over five times for an eco-friendly experience. As for the scent, they come in several, but we’re partial to this lavender and spicy cardamom combo that smells so good, it can even pass as your perfume.
Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Water Refill
Looking to get your summer glow back? You can refill your original tanning spritz bottle with any of the three shades of the face/body formula. It’s not your typical tanner: it contains chia seed oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil to give you a subtle, natural-looking tan without transferring to your clothes. The pouches save you 30% more plastic than if you were to buy the bottle again.
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