You don't need us to remind you that makeup products can be expensive as hell. Sure, there are a ton of amazing drugstore options, but when you fall in love with a pricey foundation or eyeshadow, it's hard to not keep coming back to it.
You could always wait (and wait and wait...) and hope it goes on sale one day — or you could get creative. But how? Let us introduce you to the wonderful world of cosmetic refills.
The concept is simple: Many brands offer refills for items like eyeshadows, foundations, and lipsticks — and those refills cost significantly less than if you were to buy the product in its original compact or package. Are you picking up what we're putting down? Is your mind blown?
This method won't just save you money — it will also cut down on the amount of cosmetic waste that ends up in our landfills. According to an EPA fact sheet published in 2014, roughly 30% of the items rotting away in our landfills in 2014 were containers and packaging. While not all of this was cosmetic packaging, every little bit helps.
That being said, we won't deny that there's a certain luxury in having a product in its original form — the heft of a well-made compact, the magnetic "click" that a brand-new lipstick makes as it snaps shut — but for those of you looking to save some cash, buying refills instead of the original product is a great option. Ahead, check out 10 refillable makeup items that will make your makeup bag and your wallet very happy.
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ColourPop just had a major launch: pressed powders that are available in a palette or sold individually. While the brand is known for its unbeatable prices, you can skip the packaging all together to score a powder for only $5.
ColourPop Matte Pressed Powder, $5, available at ColourPop.
Eco-chic brand Kjaer Weis makes some of our favorite hydrating lipsticks. Instead of throwing away each bullet once you've hit the bottom, save it — because the brand offers refills that snap easily into existing packaging. Plus, buying the refill is a whopping $20 cheaper than buying the original.
Kjaer Weis Lipstick Refill, $36, available at Kjaer Weis.
Turns out you can replenish your supply of MAC's popular Studio Finish Concealer for less than what it costs to buy some drugstore foundations. Total win.
MAC Studio Finish Concealer Refill, $13, available at MAC.
Raise your hand if you hate buying eyeshadow singles because they take up so much space? Refills like this one make it easy to buy your favorite shades, then stick them in an empty palette.
Nyx Cosmetics Hot Singles Pro Shadow Refills, $4, available at Nyx Cosmetics.
We go through eyeliner fast. That's why refillable pens, like this one from Surratt Beauty, come in handy. Rather than throwing away a tube every three months, we can simply replace the ink cartridge.
Surratt Beauty Auto-Graphique Eyeliner Refill, $18, available at Sephora.
At $59, this refill is by no means inexpensive, but considering the fact that it costs a steep $179 in the compact, we're willing to take the blow. The multi-colored powder color-corrects and leaves a sheer, luminous finish on the skin that doesn't veer into sparkly territory.
Guerlain Météorites Voyage Pearls of Powder Refill, $59, available at Nordstom.
If you're a theater geek, chances are you're familiar with Ben Nye products. The brand has been the go-to stage makeup brand for years and is even used on the characters at Disney parks. Even at full price, the products are pretty affordable, so their refillable counterparts are that much more of a deal.
Ben Nye Eye Shadow Refill, $9, available at Camera Ready Cosmetics.
Inglot's Freedom System was made for beauty lovers who like to mix and match. Invest in an empty palette (Inglot sells its own) and fill it up with all the blushes and eyeshadows your heart desires. Or simply buy the refills on their own for a fraction of the price.
Inglot Freedom System Face Blush, $14, available at Inglot.
Finished your last cushion compact? Many brands make foundation refills which can be used alone or popped into old compacts.
Lancôme Miracle Cushion Liquid Compact Foundation Refill, $39, available at Sephora.
Clé de Peau sells its four-pan eyeshadows sans packaging, which saves you $25.
Clé de Peau Beauté Eye Color Quad Refill, $55, available at Nordstrom.
Jane Iredale's pressed foundation is another product that was made to be refilled (the compact and foundation are sold separately), which makes it easy to re-up when you've hit pan.
Jane Iredale PurePressed Base Mineral Foundation Refill, $42, available at Jane Iredale.
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