Sometimes beauty is just plain trashy.
Between packaging, ingredients, and waste from manufacturing, beauty’s environmental footprint is a big one.
While most beauty companies still have a long way to go in terms of designing their products sustainably, there are a few standouts.
Specifically, these 6 beauty brands are working to reduce their packaging waste through refillable and non-plastic packaging options.
If you’re feeling fancy, these brands will help you up your beauty game without being so trashy.
Kjaer Weis is a luxury beauty brand that believes sustainability is just as beautiful as the makeup they produce! They offer refillable foundation, blush, lipsticks, and eye shadow in stunning reusable metal compacts.
While buying your first compact is pricey, the refills are a bit less costly. All things considered, the product quality and lack of packaging waste can be more than worth it — depending on your budget.
Highlights:
- Organic ingredients
- Metal compacts build to last a lifetime
- Refill cartons come in minimal, recyclable packaging
Vapour Beauty is focused on ingredient transparency, sustainable manufacturing, and inclusivity.
While they don’t offer refillables, they do have their own recycling program and are actively looking for packaging alternatives, so stay tuned!
Highlights:
- Women-owned and operated
- Products made with renewable and solar energy
- Empties recycling program and rewards
- 97% of products are formulated without water, reducing global water stress
Alima Pure is a minimal, refillable makeup brand that’s been dedicated to sustainability since they first opened their doors in 2004.
They offer a wide range of foundation and concealer shades, which also makes this brand very inclusive.
Highlights:
- Refillable products to reduce packaging waste
- Carbon neutral for 10 years and running
- Donates 1% all sales to grassroots environmental organizations
- Certified B Corp
- Waterless products to reduce global water stress
Elate specializes in affordable, refillable beauty.
The use of bamboo packaging for their products makes for a great sustainable option since bamboo is fast-growing and doesn’t require a lot of water. Not to mention, it will biodegrade overtime unlike its plastic counterparts.
You can also customize your own compact with blush, bronzers, and eyeshadow. However, the only downside is that concealer and foundation shades are somewhat limited.
Eyeshadows and blush might be your best bet here!
- Refills come packaged in seed paper
- Non-plastic packaging (bamboo, glass, aluminum)
- Perfectly Imperfect program, which offers slightly flawed products at a discounted price
- Certified B Corp
- Mostly organic ingredients
I am a big fan of RMS and their minimalist makeup philosophy.
I have been using their “Un” Cover Up concealer and “Lip2Cheeck” products for about 2 years now.
The texture of their products is super luxe and is easy to apply with your fingers.
Highlights:
- Recycled glass pots
- Fully recyclable packaging
- Products manufactured with 100% wind power
- Organic ingredients
The Organic Skin Co. is a New Zealand makeup brand focused on refillable, customizable palettes.
Similarly to other refillable beauty brands, you can build your own palette with eco-friendly concealer, lipstick and blush, eyeshadow, and face powders.
Highlights:
- Refillable makeup
- For every one product you buy, they’ll plant one tree
- Recyclable packaging
- Organic ingredients
What are your favorite sustainable and refillable beauty products? Let us know in the comments!
