Zero Waste Skincare You Can Refill

It’s hard finding a zero waste skincare routine – especially when your skin is very uncooperative. Mine, for example, is acne-prone and combination skin. I’ve struggled with adult acne for a while now, and it’s incredibly frustrating. I’m no stranger to trying out multiple different products just to see what works – and let me tell you, the waste from that adds up. It’s sad to see so many skincare products using low quality and questionable ingredients, let alone single-use packaging.

Someone like me, who has problems with their skin, can easily go through several brands in the span of a year. That’s not exactly sustainable – and it’s not entirely my fault either: The brands are the ones who create these single-use products that end up in landfills. And lets face it, when you have tons of acne on your face, you’ll try anything to get rid of it – including wasteful products. That’s why it’s SO important more brands step up their game and create refillable and recyclable packaging that won’t hurt the earth. And guess which brand is doing exactly that? Plaine Products.

Plaine Products knows the drill: They’ve been creating refillable products for years now! They only use natural vegan ingredients, and their packaging is plastic-free, reusable AND refillable too. I think the refillable part is what matters most honestly: I’m guilty of hoarding empty glass jars and aluminum bottles from finished skincare products. Having the option to refill your products gives that packaging purpose! It also reduces so much waste and unnecessary hoarding (which makes my mom much happier too). Here’s why you should check out Plaine Products for yourself, and what I thought of their skincare line.

This post is kindly sponsored by Plaine Products. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post also contains some affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase one of these items I will make a very small commission at no extra charge to you. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

Zero Waste Skincare You Can Refill

What’s the problem with conventional skincare?

Beauty products are loaded with questionable ingredients that have no businesses being absorbed into our skin. Some of these ingredients include: parabens, sulfates, talc, phthalates, formaldehyde, etc. Many of these are known to cause cancer and even disrupt hormones. Also, if we damage our moisture barrier with these chemicals, dryness and wrinkles will appear, causing premature aging!

Not to mention, conventional skincare products create an insane amount of waste with their packaging. They’re covered in plastic, shipped in plastic and can’t be recycled. Only 9% of plastic actually gets recycled, so these tubes and bottles will likely end up in landfills or worse – our environment.

If you consider the fact that 80% of women in the U.S. wear cosmetics each day, that means approximately 128.8 million women are wearing skincare products daily. Women age 16-75 wear an average of about $8 in skincare products daily. This translates to around $250 a month. If you calculate over the course of a lifetime, a woman in the U.S. will spend between $200,000-$300,000 on face products in her lifetime.

If that’s how many conventional skincare products are being used every day, can you imagine how much plastic packaging is piled up in our landfills and oceans? Remember: Plastic doesn’t break down, it breaks up into tiny microplastics over time.

How can I build a zero waste skincare routine?

To build a zero waste skincare routine, you’ll need to avoid products packaged wastefully, and full of suspicious ingredients.

An alternative option for zero waste skincare is to purchase products made of aluminum or glass. However, this still isn’t the best option. Unless you’re planning to reuse those containers. And let’s face it, after a while it can get pretty tedious to keep hoarding glass jars, aluminum bottles, and tins.

The best zero waste skincare solution is to opt for refillable bottles, like Plain Products. This eliminates the need to stash empty glass or aluminum containers in the hopes you’ll DIY something with them to help create less clutter. You’ll also want to use products with gentle, natural ingredients that won’t be harsh on your skin.

Also, Plaine Products reuses the bottles and keeps them in a closed loop system so sometimes you might notice dents in them- that means they get used by you, sent back to be sanitized, then reused by someone else!

Introducing Plaine Products: Here’s what you need to know

Plaine Products is a zero waste beauty brand that was founded by two nature loving sisters. After seeing the consequences of our disposable lifestyle with plastic on the beach, in the ocean, and along the roads, Lindsey and Alison realized they needed to change their lifestyle and make it easy for others to do the same.

Their mission is to reduce and replace single-use plastic in everyone’s homes. All of their products are bottled in aluminum, which has proven to be a key material in successful recycling programs. Plastic can only be recycled once or twice as it downgrades in quality each time it’s recycled. But aluminum can be recycled infinitely without losing quality. Plaine Products has a closed loop system so each bottle is cleaned and sterilized, then sent out again and again.

Plaine Products also uses recycled shipping boxes that are super durable: They can be used an average of five times before needing to be recycled. They use reinforced paper tape to ensure these boxes can be recycled once they can no longer be reused.

One of the greatest features of this brand is that their bottles are refillable. Wondering how that works? The steps are simple:

1. Order your preferred product and replace the lid with a pump
2. When your bottle is low, order a refill, or subscribe to receive a refill automatically
3. When your bottle is empty, rinse it out, switch the pump over to your new, refilled bottle, and use the return label to send back the empty bottle to be reused!

My Plaine Products Routine: What They Do + My Thoughts

I was lucky enough to try out Plaine Products’ skincare line for myself. These were gifted to me so I could try them out – I used them for about three weeks. I listed them in the order you’re supposed to use them.

Please note that everyone’s skin is different, so what my skin likes and what your skin likes won’t be the same thing. That said, for reference, you should know my skin type is acne-prone, rosacea-prone, combination skin.

Here’s my thoughts on each product, and a closer look at what they do.

1. Plaine Products Face Wash

Description: This vitamin C face wash comes in an aluminum bottle that’s completely reusable, recyclable and refillable. It will help refine your skin’s tone and texture and help fight against the signs of aging. You can add a pump with your first purchase, then request no pump when you ask for a refill- this way you can reuse the same pump. This cleanser is free of sulfates, palm oil, artificial fragrances, GMOs, and parabens. All ingredients are natural and it has a delicious citrus scent that isn’t too overwhelming.

Plaine Products face wash is effective for all skin types and will leave you feeling refreshed. It’s gentle on the skin, so there’s no need to worry about any irritation or breakouts. Not only is the packaging zero waste, but it will be shipped and delivered in recyclable packaging as well.

Also, you can subscribe to get their product every two, three, four or six months. You’ll get 10% off if you do. And of course, you can just get your bottle refilled each time. Use code GREENIFYME for 20% off!

My thoughts: I LOVED this face wash – it was kind of like a gel so you mix it with some water in the palm of your hand and apply it to your damp skin. It glided onto my skin gently and soothingly. I loved how it made my very sensitive skin feel – it wasn’t course or rough at all (some cleansers are, especially ones with microbeads or exfoliators). When I washed it off, my skin felt nice and smooth and looked refreshed. My fav product out of the bunch honestly!

2. Plaine Products Moisturizer

Description: This renewing face moisturizer is packaged in a 2.5 oz. aluminum bottle that’s reusable and refillable. It’s blended with potent antioxidants and nutrients. If you use it daily, it will soften skin, smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, refine texture and won’t clog pores. Plus, a little bit of product goes a long way. Talk about a bang for your buck! It’s also completely free from palm oil, GMOs, sulfates, artificial fragrances, and parabens. This product also has a mild citrus scent, and it’s recommended that you use this moisturizer after Plaine Product’s face wash and toner.

Just like every Plaine Product, it’s completely refillable and can be purchased with a subscription- sans pump after the first purchase. It will be shipped in recyclable packing, making everything about this product zero waste!

My thoughts: This moisturizer isn’t heavy or cakey, which I like a lot. But it leaves a bit of a slight stickiness that my skin didn’t really love too much. And it didn’t really hydrate my skin the way I was hoping it would. That said, I do like how light it is because heavy and thick creams tend to make me break out like crazy! This one didn’t, which is a huge plus in my book. Use code GREENIFYME for 20% off!

3. Plaine Products Beauty Oil

Description: This multi-purpose beauty oil will change your skin, hair and life. Plaine Products beauty oil is vegan and cruelty free. It’s also free of palm oil, parabens, sulfate, synthetic fragrances and GMOs. You can use this oil on your face, body, and hair! It moisturizes the skin to diminish the appearances of wrinkles and scars, while in the hair it reduces frizz and nourishes split ends. It also works wonders in beards and keeps them hydrated and healthy.

Plaine Products donates 1% towards environmental non-profits. This oil is packaged in a 2.5 oz. aluminum bottle that’s reusable and recyclable. When you’re almost done with this zero waste bottle, simply order a refill bottle sans-pump! You can also fill out a form to receive a shipping label to send your original bottles back so Plaine Products can reuse them. Use code GREENIFYME for 20% off!

My thoughts: This serum has a really nice sage scent that’s very soothing and relaxing. At first I wasn’t super crazy about the oily texture of this serum, but after applying a little bit to my face, I really enjoyed how nourishing and moisturizing it was. In fact, I thought it was more moisturizing than Plaine Product’s moisturizer itself! Two little pumps is all you need because a little TRULY goes a long way with this stuff. I also LOVE putting it in my wet hair before I blow it out to tame frizz. You can even run a liiiiittle tiny bit of it through dry hair to help reduce fly aways as well – so it’s a multipurpose product! Yay!

4. Plaine Products Face Toner

Description: If you’re looking for a daily face toner to use after washing your face, give this one a shot. As usual, it’s packaged in a 2.5 oz. aluminum bottle that’s reusable and refillable. For proper results, use daily to balance skin’s natural pH levels while cleansing and hydrating. It’s unique ingredients and properties will also soothe and calm skin irritations and shrink pores naturally. You can apply it with a reusable cotton pad or a spray pump- which you can choose to add to your order. Since all ingredients are natural, this toner is completely free from GMOs, palm oil, parabens, and sulfates.

Plaine Products face toner has a gentle, soothing green tea scent that will leave your skin smelling divine. It’s shipped in recyclable packaging, as well. Use code GREENIFYME for 20% off!

My thoughts: I really liked how refreshing this toner was. It has a nice floral scent that’s very rosy, which I adore (my fav scent tbh). It sprays on strong, so you just have to be careful you don’t spray it too close to your face (and make sure your eyes are closed). You can also apply it to a reusable cotton round and apply it to your face that way too. My face felt a bit more tight and firm after using it, which is exactly how it should feel considering it helps shrink your pores! I can’t wait to use this in the summer months for some refreshing relief from the heat.

Overall thoughts: I definitely recommend these zero waste skincare products

Overall, I was pretty impressed with Plaine Products! Now to be fair, I’ve been using their shampoo and conditioner for a while – so I’m NO stranger to their brand. But this was the first time I’ve ever used their skincare line and I really love it!

I haven’t noticed my skin reacting to any of the products thankfully – and that’s saying something, considering my skin is SO darn sensitive. Though, I will say that most of these products may be better suited for older women, as the descriptions focus a lot on “reducing wrinkles and fine lines, fights against aging, etc.”

With that said, their skincare line is also good for all skin types. You’re also supposed to use these products all together in a particular order, step by step, to really see the results you want. So that’s something else to consider when trying them for yourself – don’t expect results from just one product by itself!

Overall, I’d give this skincare line 4 stars in terms of product quality. And their sustainability efforts (plastic-free packaging, refills, vegan, cruelty free) DEF earn 5 stars overall. I love how they literally take back your empties, sanitize them, then refill them and ship them to someone else to use! Truly a closed loop system.

If you’re interested in trying out this brand for yourself, be sure to use my discount code GREENIFYME for 20% off your purchase!

We need to make the shift away from wasteful packaging and support brands like this who actually care about our planet. Plastic-free, refillable skincare is the way of the future!

Would you give this zero waste skincare line a try? let me know in the comments!

Want more low waste skincare tips? Check out these 11 sustainable skincare products + DIYs ASAP.

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