Never throw your lipstick away again

Now you can REFILL it – and loads of other make-up staples

EMPTY shampoo bottles, discarded tubes of foundation and broken compacts of powder — when we use up our favourite beauty products, we have little choice but to throw away their plastic packaging.

But as we concern ourselves more with our impact on the environment — and the Daily Mail endeavours to reduce the amount of plastic we use with our Turn The Tide On Plastic campaign — it’s time we did something about it.

In 2015, one estimate suggested 61 per cent of cosmetics and toiletries were packaged in plastic — and that figure was expected to grow 12 per cent by 2019.

recycling the different plastics used in make-up and skincare products is complicated, because many materials are involved. This means that a lot of it will end up in landfill, where it will sit for an estimated 1,000 years until it decomposes.

However, some brands are making available refills that use less plastic — and also save you cash.

It’s not an easy option. The Body Shop used to offer a shampoo refill service, but stopped in 2002 because only 1 per cent of customers used it.

Even if there is a demand now, it’s a technical challenge, especially when many products have to be packaged in a sterile fashion.

Charlie Fowler is the founder of Magic Organic Apothecary, a beauty brand that sells natural beauty products packaged largely in recycled cardboard printed with vegetable inks. ‘refilling bottles is a complex challenge,’ she says. ‘Our products are oil-based and generally come in glass containers.

‘To make refills a viable option, we would need the glass returning, unbroken, and the container would need thorough washing.’

But some brands are rising to this challenge. So, if you want to do your bit, here are some of the best options around — from companies both big and small …