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Refillable beauty has revolutionised the industry, with the aim of reducing surplus packaging waste; only about nine per cent of that packaging would have been recycled, according to the British Beauty Council.
Here, across make-up, skincare, fragrance and haircare, Wallpaper* edits a selection of the best refillable beauty packaging designs that you’ll want to keep in pride of place on your vanity table or bathroom shelf, from the likes of Dries van Noten, Hermès, Noble Panacea, Perfumer H, Davines and more.
The best of refillable beauty design, edited by Wallpaper*
Refillable make-up
Dries Van Noten's refillable lipstick cases are works of art in themselves, inspired by the prints that adorn the brand's fashion collections. To use, simply remove the base, push the refill into the case until it clicks into place and apply the lipstick bullet of your choice.
All of Hermès Beauty's packaging has been designed by Pierre Hardy to be refillable, crafted from materials that speak to the house's codes. H Trio Healthy Glow Mineral Powder can be ingeniously refilled by inserting a pin into a discreet slot at the back, which gently removes the used powder, ready for replacement.
Refillable skincare
Noble Panacea uses advanced technology and green production processes to deliver a potent dose of active ingredients to the skin. Equally, its packaging is designed with both aesthetics and the environment in mind. It's Night Balm, for example, is presented in individual 30-dose sachets designed to neatly slot into a reusable, streamlined box.
Emma Lewisham’s Sunceutical SPF 50 Mineral Glow Serum is the third and latest instalment in the New Zealand skincare brand's Sunceutical line. Its signature purple and pink branding stands out from the minimalist crowd, while the design for the Mineral Glow Serum's refillable container has a pump dispensing mechanism, keeping the product inside sanitary.
Refillable fragrance
Solid perfume is, perhaps, an underestimated way to wear fragrance; its waxy base makes for a longer-lasting aroma on the skin. Diptyque's solid perfumes – such as 34B, inspired by the Diptyque boutique at 34 Boulevard Saint Germain – are contained in glossy sculptural cases. And, needless to say, each one is refillable.
Perfumer H’s unconventional and distinctly artisanal approach to scent-making encompasses its bottle designs, too. Each of Lyn Harris’ fragrance compositions, like the leather and animalic Saddle, is available in different measures, including 100ml handblown glass bottles in colours evoking the notes of the perfume inside. Each is accompanied by a corresponding glass stopper and funnel, making for a particularly tactile experience when it comes to refiling.
Refillable haircare
Italian brand Davines has been pioneering the 'green' haircare space for over 40 years. Its 'village', located just outside Parma, is dedicated to advancements in green production methods. Davines' packaging is designed with the ultimate goal of abandoning materials derived from fossil fuel, without compromising on the efficacy of the product inside. And, once you’ve finished the contents of one of its shampoos or conditioners, simply top the bottle up with a 500ml ‘eco-refill’. (The brand says this reduces plastic consumption by 74 per cent, compared to the purchase of two 250ml bottles).
The Dyson Chitosan range launched last year (2024); the tech appliance company's debut edit of haircare products. Each is formulated with different hair types in mind, including a macromolecule derived from oyster mushrooms. The bases of Chitosan's refillable bottles are designed with an ingenious mechanism, which dispenses just the right amount of product required each time its used.