New Brand Uni Has Reminded Us Why We Love Beauty Refillables

Refillables have come a long way since their introduction into beauty and are now being adopted by both mass and prestige brands. Seen as a better option than recycling (because of the low percentages of products that actually get recycled), refills cut down on single-use packaging and actually encourage a more mindful approach to beauty.

And while we applaud everyone for recycling, it’s a sad fact to learn that of the 95% of cosmetic packaging that’s thrown away, of the 14% that makes it to the recycling plant, only 9% is actually recycled. The rest heads to landfill, according to the British Beauty Council

Stats also show that 61% of Brits feel guilty about the amount of plastic bottles they use as a result of their beauty routine, so it’s a no brainer that we’re keen to expand our refill offering as part of our luxury line-up at Space NK.

The latest brand to arrive with a planet-positive bang is called Uni, an American brand with a ‘blue beauty’ philosophy and that’s currently exclusive to Space NK. “Uni is inspired by our ocean and everything we do is made from and for our ocean. A third of single use plastics found in our landfills and ocean come from the beauty industry so we wanted to be a part of the change we wanted to see in the world,” explains Alexandra Keating, founder of Uni.

As well as skin-safe and reef-safe ingredients, the bodycare range is climate neutral, uses upcycled ingredients and favours a closed-loop system thanks to their recycled aluminium refill bottles. “Our customer surveys and high repeat rates all say that customers love refillable solutions. But refills need to be a part of an amazing product offering - not solely the product offering.”

This is where brands are now hitting the nail on the head. Creating packaging that’s equally as covetable as their less sustainable counterparts (where plastic and single-use mechanisms are rife), if it’s the ‘on show’ part you’re keen to keep, it’s a win-win. Plus, it’s more economically viable as refills tend to be more affordable. They are also likely to be lighter to ship which means a reduced carbon footprint.

Need a refresh on some of our favourite refills around? Here’s our edit of must-haves, which is by no means exhaustive.

Best Refillable Beauty Products In 2025