Here is a staggering statistic: packaging is responsible for 70 per cent of all cosmetic waste, and a whopping 20 to 40 per cent of all beauty products end up as waste.
These facts have been reported by Business Waste and draw attention to the pressing issue that the beauty industry is facing, while also stressing the importance for brands to lessen their environmental impact. Of course, the onus is on the consumer too to drive this change and one of the ways that we are able to do this is by favouring labels offering refillable products.
The refillable market is booming. According to Towards Packaging analysts, the global refillable packaging industry was valued at $41.50 billion in 2022, but is projected to reach $61.72 billion by 2032. Innovative, eco-conscious beauty brands have created hard-wearing casings with top-ups that use less packaging – and they often save you money in the process. It’s the ultimate win-win. We have seen this change across the fragrance industry but also in personal care too.
Deodorant is something that the majority of us will use every single day but many of us don’t consider its environmental impact – even as we leave a steady stream of aerosols or rollerballs filling our (hopefully recycling) bins while we spritz our way to staying fresh.
Leading the charge, the likes of Wild and Fussy have created businesses based on refillable formulas that either run on a single purchase or subscription basis and you need not sacrifice on sweat-protecting horsepower nor fork out a fortune to prevent odour.
As luck would have, these sustainably-minded antiperspirant brands lean on natural ingredients that are kind to your delicate underarms, nourishing and moisturising while working their bacteria-neutralising magic.
Shop the best refillable deodorant below
Wild
Wild has taken its sustainability credentials to the next level with its collection of natural deodorants by cutting down on waste too. It begins with the brand’s reusable case that houses the formulas in refills. It is crafted from anodised aluminium and recycled plastic and comes in an array of colours. The refills are plastic-free and can be delivered to your door without fear of missing the postman - they can be slipped right into your letterbox.
The deodorant is natural, free from aluminium, parabens or an excessively long chemical list where you have no idea what it all means. The dermatologically-approved formulas come in deliciously-scented aromas - fresh cotton & sea salt, jasmine & mandarin, coconut & vanilla, orange & neroli, and sandalwood & patchouli among more limited-edition fragrances. Tropical sorbet, mint & aloe vera and pomegranate & pink peppercorn are among our favourites and many of the above come with sensitive skin formulations.
Buy now £12.00, Wild
Fussy Natural Deodorant
Another sustainable deodorant brand worth having on your radar, Fussy is changing up the game with its plastic-free refills. Like Wild, you shop one of the label’s reusable cases that have a minimalistic and chic design in attractive hues of mint green, burnt orange or ocean blue. Next comes the refills that can be delivered as part of a subscription service or ad hoc.
There’s Wide Eye Citrus (mandarin, grapefruit and black pepper), Night Tales Flora (cedar, cinnamon and patchouli), Wavy Days Mint (peppermint, eucalyptus and sage), Forest Haze Woody (scotch pine, silver fit and juniper), Unscented and SunDrunk Tropical (vanilla, ylang ylang and star anise). Look out for newer Tropic Tonic Lime (lime, basil and mandarin) and Cloud Nine Fresh (cotton, sandalwood and vetiver).
The ingredients are all-natural and locally sourced where the deodorant is made up of sunflower wax, coconut oil, Shea butter, caprylic, tapioca, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium hydroxide and a probiotic called Lactobacillus. The formulas are made in the UK by a family-run company that also boasts eco-credentials.
Buy now £20.00, Fussy
Glossier Deodorant
Much like everything that Glossier launches, this deodorant has quickly earned cult status - and with good reason. It boasts both a clean formulation and eco-conscious reusable packaging. The label has created the deodorant with a combination of nourishing ingredients that include coconut oil, moisturising superfruit elderberry extract, magnesium hydroxide and potato starch and crucially, it’s free from aluminium, baking soda or components that have been known to disrupt skin’s pH level or cause irritation.
There are three scents available that call on fragrances you’ll find across the Glossier collection; Sandstone, Glossier You, Orange Blossom Neroli and an unscented alternative. Our favourite is the zesty Orange Blossom Neroli but once it’s done, and it will take you a long time, try one of the other scents by purchasing a refill, saving your pennies and the planet at the same time.
Buy now £23.00, Glossier
Make Waves
Designed by ex-Dyson engineers (and it shows), Make Waves’ refillable antiperspirant harnesses the finest natural ingredients for its vitamin-rich, high-protection formula. The deodorants are not just aesthetically pleasing in pastel shades of lilac, blue, sage green and onyx black but have been formulated to make you sweat less.
Makes Waves is attempting to myth-bust the idea that aluminium salts are bad for your health and has put its products through rigorous testing to ensure that they’re not only safe but up to the task. As such, the applicators are hard-wearing and easy to pop in the refill. Speaking of which, the latter is made entirely from recycled materials and is fully recyclable. They are made up of vitamins A,C, D, E and K that are packed with soothing and antioxidant benefits.
Buy now £12.00, Make Waves
Sol de Janeiro Rio Deo Aluminum-Free Deodorant Cheirosa 62
The scent of summer, this deodorant is infused with the heady fragrance of the Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 62, an aroma you’ll find across the collection in the likes of the legendary Bum Bum Cream. It also comes in perfume form too where the combination of vanilla, salted caramel and sandalwood is sweet and delicious.
The deodorant is free from the likes of baking soda or aluminium, opting instead for tapioca starch to absorb moisture, antimicrobial coconut oil and gently buffing papaya enzyme to control ingrown hairs. The brand is renowned for its nourishing products and this underarm hero is no different with bacuri butter and mango seed butter on hand for its calming goodness.
It is also available in the Beija Flor and Cheirosa 40 aromas and the refill is available for £12.48 at Notino.
Buy now £16.00, Cult Beauty
HAAN Deodorant Tales of Lotus
The sleek, minimal packaging is a clue about what you’ll find inside HAAN’s natural deodorant collection. In soft pastel shades, the personal care brand is home to one of the most expansive aroma selections on the refillable market with such notes as Margarita Spirit, Forest Grace, Wild Orchid and Purifying Verbena.
Tales of Lotus is the fresh fragrance that will start your day right. The formula is all-natural, vegan, free from silicones and sulphates and it is, of course, sustainable with refills of 120ml costing £12.80.
HAAN’s ever-expanding range also includes refillable hand cleansing sprays, toothpaste, body lotion and face cream.
Buy now £6.03, Notino
Salt of the Earth – Refillable Natural Deodorant Spray
We first sampled Salt of the Earth in the changing room of boutique gym chain Third Space and we were sceptical. It was hard to believe that the light spray could shield against sweating, especially on account of its natural formulation. But once you can get your head around it, it does work.
Sure, it’s not a potent hit of aroma that you’ll get from the likes of Dove but it’s a much more subtle, fresh and soft scent with combinations that include the floral peony blossom, the refreshing melon and cucumber and the spicy yet not overwhelming so ginger and jasmine. It’s also vegan and gentle on the skin, which makes it ideal for those prone to sensitivities.
The packaging is made half from recycled plastic and half from plants, while the refills are available in 1L quantities on Amazon for around £23.
Buy now £7.49, Amazon
