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Are you looking for the best refillable skincare brands to help minimize waste and upgrade your sustainable skincare routine in 2023 and beyond?
We made a list of the most raved-about companies that offer zero-waste skincare products for every skin type!
Treat acne spots, clarify your complexion, revive dull eyes, and boost your hydration levels in the most eco-friendly way possible!
Don’t forget to check out the best refillable body wash swaps for an eco-friendly bathroom.
This post is about the best sustainable & refillable skincare brands.
While we are spending countless hours scrolling through endless ingredient lists to spot the most effective and all-natural minimalist skincare formulas, let’s not forget that it’s what’s on the outside that counts as well!
You see, 120 billion units of cosmetics packaging are produced globally each and every year. Unfortunately, many of these aren’t even recyclable to begin with. Piles and piles of beautifully designed, plastic containers are clogging the landfills. Sometimes, for up to 500 years!
The solution? Investing in sustainable refillable skincare brands of 2023!
Now is the best time to break the plastic packaging cycle altogether and take our sustainable skincare routine to the next level.
Whether it’s by recycling our empties or choosing the zero-waste skincare products route. Because most of our favorite sustainable refillable packaging companies below offer both solutions.
With one-time or regular delivery, refillable skincare brands let you replenish the formulas from the comfort of your home. Plus, the organic skincare is so good, you’ll want to keep using it forever. Think face oils, exfoliators, treatments, creams, toners, and moisturizers ready to offer mind-blowing results.
Read on to discover more!
What is refillable skincare?
To put it simply, sustainable refillable skincare refers to products that come in eco-friendly containers that can be refilled indefinitely after the initial product has been used up. Instead of buying a completely new container of the product when it runs out, we can simply purchase a refill packet. The end goal? To reduce waste by minimizing the amount of packaging used for its product.
Because let’s not forget that packaging accounts for 70% of the beauty industry’s waste!
Is refillable skincare really more sustainable than plastic?
Without a doubt, Refillable skincare is more sustainable than traditional plastic packaging, as it can help to reduce the amount of waste generated by the skincare industry. Refill pouches generate 99% less carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and 75% less plastic waste than recycled glass containers due to efficiencies created by manufacturing and shipping less material.
Instead of buying a new container of the product every time it runs out, we can refill the existing container with the exact same formula.
So ultimately, these low-waste skincare products conserve resources by reducing the need for new plastic production and minimizing landfill pullups. Let’s not forget that plastic production requires many raw materials such as cellulose, coal, natural gas, salt, and crude oil. What’s more, it not only takes up to 500 years to decompose but can also leak pollutants into the soil and water.
What is the most sustainable skincare packaging?
Glass, aluminum, paper/cardboard, plant-based plastics, and biodegradable polymers are the most sustainable skincare packaging materials to date. All of them can break down naturally in the environment, reducing their impact on the planet.
On top of that, they are non-toxic and don’t leach toxic chemicals into the products, which is a potential risk with most plastics. Here’s a list of refillable skincare brands that use zero-waste and low-waste materials to deliver their organic formulas straight to our doorstep.
Best Sustainable, Refillable Skincare Brands For A Zero-Waste Routine.
1. Activist Skincare
Activist Skincare has been at the top of our sustainable skincare roundups for quite some time. Our CEO and founder swears by this brand!
Lauded as one of the best clean skincare brands of 2023, they offer a range of refillable skincare products, including cleansers, moisturizers, serums, and face oils.
Their refillable skincare line encourages us to eliminate unnecessary waste by using endlessly refillable glass and easy-to-mail aluminum packaging for their products.
All you have to do is sign up for their customizable refill subscription program to get started. In addition, all formulas are completely natural and organic. No added fillers, endocrine disruptors, or toxic chemicals.
Price: From $5+
Discount Code: Use Code SKL15 for 15% Off
Containers: Glass / Aluminum
How To Refill: Order a refill capsule through their subscription program (and also get a discount!).
Main Ingredients: Vegan & cruelty-free antioxidants, vitamin C, niacinamide, salicylic acid, peptides, organic hydrosols
Location/Shipping: USA, ships worldwide
Best Refillable Skincare From Activist:
2. Bare LUXE
Bare LUXE’s sustainable refillable skincare products are expertly formulated to help us experience the power of active botanicals without any parabens, sulfates, or phthalates.
In fact, each blend is a unique mixture of simple carrier oils that work together to target a specific skin concern. Their lineup includes everything your sustainable skincare routine needs – from cleansers and toners to serums and moisturizers.
All formulas are neatly packaged in recyclable glass vials, which you can easily refill through bareLUXE’s product refill program. The refill pouches are plastic and fully recyclable! To top it all off, their zero-waste skincare is cruelty-free, vegan, and multiple award-winning.
Price: From $45+
Discount Code: Use code SKL15 For 15% Off
Containers: Recyclable glass vials
How To Refill: Order your refills online
Main Ingredients: Plum oil, olive fruit oil, rubus chamaemorus seed oil, meadowfoam seed oil
Location/Shipping: USA, ships to Canada
Best Refillable Skincare From BareLUXE:
3. Plaine Products
We absolutely love them for their wide range of practical, eco-friendly travel products. But for most, Plaine Products is one of the best refillable skincare brands for vegan and refillable face washes, moisturizers, beauty oils, and face toners.
The B-certified corp develops products that soften the skin, refine texture and diminish wrinkles, scars, and fine lines.
And because you’ll love them so darn much, you can easily refill your zero-waste skincare products by ordering a refill bottle and shipping back your empties in the same box. Of course, they solely offer sustainable refillable packaging of 100% recycled material!
Price: From $13+
Discount Code: Use Code SKL20 for 20% off
Containers: Aluminum, 100% recycled shipment packages
How To Refill: Order refills online (Amazing subscription option)
Main Ingredients: Organic aloe barbadensis leaf juice, vegetable glycerin, saponified oils of coconut, safflower seed
Location/Shipping: USA, ships to Canada & Puerto Rico
Best Refillable Skincare From Plaine Products:
4. Meow Meow Tweet
Known as one of the best refillable skincare brands in the affordable organic beauty market, Meow Meow Tweet is proudly zero-waste, ethical, and super high-performing.
The Leaping Bunny and B-Certified Corporation’s formulas boast certified organic ingredients and natural nourishing oils that hydrate, nourish, and balance the skin, delivering nutrients all while promoting cell regeneration.
Soap, haircare, body care, moisturizers, lotions, oral care – you name it, they have it! Of course, you can easily restock your zero-waste skincare inventory through their bulk and refill program.
Price: From $12+
Containers: Metal bottle with metal lid
How To Refill: Order your refills online through their subscription program
Main Ingredients: Rose geranium, juniper carrot seed, arrowroot, coconut oil
Location/Shipping: USA
Best Refillable Skincare From Meow Meow Tweet:
5. The Organic Pharmacy UK
High-performing zero-waste skincare made in London with love? We’ll take it!
The Organic Pharmacy offers a range of refillable skincare products, including vegan and cruelty-free cleansers, toners, serums, moisturizers, masks, and body care.
Their sustainable skincare is formulated with natural, skin-loving ingredients, such as aloe vera, rosehip oil, and shea butter, to help cleanse and purify the skin without stripping it of its natural oils.
The Organic Pharmacy‘s refill pods can be bought separately or as a part of their monthly subscription program that ensures less packaging waste, all while delivering the same clinically proven, high-performance formulations time and time again.
That’s not all! They also have a recycling program making it easy for customers to dispose of their empty containers responsibly.
Price: From $30
Containers: Glass bottles
How To Refill: Order refills online or fill up in-store!
Main Ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Algin, Pelargonium Graveolens Flower Oil, Chondrus Crispus Powder
Location/Shipping: UK, worldwide shipping available
Best Refillable Skincare In The UK:
This post was about the best sustainable & refillable skincare brands.
No matter your specific skin-related concerns, the best refillable skincare brands are here to offer zero-waste, organic solutions in the most sustainable way possible.
When you run out, simply place an order online (or, in some cases, in-store) to get your next sustainable refillable delivered to you. It’s that easy!
Looking for more sustainable beauty articles? Check these out!
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