I’d rebuild my makeup bag with sustainable swaps, then live with them long enough to know if the glow lasts past the hashtag. No PR parcels, no saintly self-denial. Just things I’d actually wear to the office, the pub, and those bleary 7 a.m. Teams calls. I wanted a face that felt lighter — on my skin and on the planet — without looking like I’d given up on fun.
The box of old compacts sat open like a time capsule on my kitchen table. I tipped them out onto a tea towel, pried at the hinges, and felt the small, embarrassing rain of micro-plastic shavings. The mirror caught a slate London sky. Later, with a keep cup warming my hands, I walked to the refill shop and the indie chemist, counting coins in my head, trading chat with the shopkeeper about pans and pigments. I wasn’t chasing perfection. I was chasing a kit I’d actually reach for.
The £100 experiment
The first surprise came before I spent a penny: editing. Limiting myself to £100 forced an honesty I’d dodged for years. I listed what I truly use most mornings — a skin tint, a sheer blush, a brow tamer, something for lashes, something for lips that won’t dry out. That’s it. Not a “capsule” for Instagram. A kit for a human. As I let go of the rest, I felt my shoulders drop; *it’s wild how heavy a tiny bag can feel*. I wanted **fewer, better** — not beige restraint, just sharper choices.
By lunch I’d built a small, tough set. A refillable metal palette (£12 case) with two magnetic pans: a peachy cream blush and a neutral eyeshadow (£8 each). A glass skin tint (£19) with a pump I can return. A brow soap in an aluminium tin (£9). A tubing mascara in recycled aluminium (£18). A lipstick in a recyclable bullet with a refillable core (£15). A paper-wrapped concealer crayon (£9). Tally: £98. The paper bags scrunched into a pocket. A month earlier, this shop would’ve felt “worthy”. That day it felt like a good corner deli — useful, a bit cheeky, pleasantly un-fancy.
Here’s what shifted once I brought it home. The economics weren’t mystical. The “hardware” — palette, tins, bullet — cost a touch more up front but calmed future spend. Refills were £6–£12, and I wasn’t rebuying plastic shells every time. Cost-per-wear nosedived because I stopped splitting my face between five half-loved products. Fewer shades meant faster choices, which meant I actually hit pan instead of chasing newness. The sustainable bit didn’t arrive with a halo; it arrived with **habits**. Small, repeatable, boring-in-the-best-way habits that leave a clean sink and a face I recognise.
How to build a £100 sustainable kit that actually works
Start with the base you’ll wear on a Tuesday. I road-tested sheer, forgiving textures because reckless full coverage turns wasteful when it sits unused. Pick a skin tint that matches your neck in daylight; target shadows with a pencil concealer so you don’t over-apply. Choose one multi-stick that reads blush on cheeks and quietly warm on eyes. Go for a brow soap or gel that can be rehydrated — it lasts ages and levels up scruffy mornings. A tubing mascara is clutch: it removes with warm water, dodging cotton pads and oil. Anchor it all with a refillable palette for anything powdery or creamy you’ll genuinely use to the last smear.
Common traps? Buying the “greenest” marketing, not the product you’ll actually wear. Green claims can hide fiddly lids, uncomfortable textures, or shades that go ashy by 3 p.m. We’ve all had that moment where a virtuous purchase becomes a dusty totem. Watch for “biodegradable” that needs industrial conditions you don’t have at home. Glass is heavy; pick it when the brand takes pumps back. Bamboo looks pretty but often hides plastic liners. Magnets add weight and can’t be recycled curbside, so keep palettes small and refill them, don’t collect them. Let’s be honest: no one really does that every day.
I kept one rule taped inside my cabinet: buy performance first, footprint second — because you’ll only protect the planet with something you’ll actually use.
“Buy the system, not the shade,” a makeup artist told me. “Find a refill ecosystem that fits your routine and budget, then live in it. Shades come and go. Hardware stays.”
- Stick to five roles: skin tint, targeted concealer, multi-use tint, brow tamer, tubing mascara.
- Pick a refill system you can source locally or by low-impact post.
- Choose sheer-to-buildable textures for easy shade matching.
- Prioritise returnable pumps, aluminium, and metal pans.
- Keep one joyful wildcard — a lip you love — to stop the halo from turning beige.
What changed after 30 days
By week four, I noticed something I didn’t expect: my mornings were quieter. Not monk-quiet. Just less rummaging, fewer tiny defeats. My face looked more like skin, and it lasted the day because it wasn’t fighting me. I travelled with a single pouch. Workdays blurred into dinners without carrying a charger for my cheeks. **Pay once, refill forever** is a neat slogan, but the real win was attention. Energy I’d spent scrolling new launches drifted elsewhere — into sleep, into friends, into a brisk walk that warmed my colour better than any pan. The planet angle became practical, not pious. Less bin, less faff, more wear. If that sounds small, it is. That’s the point.
| Key points | Detail | Reader Interest |
|---|---|---|
| £100 can build a complete sustainable kit | Seven pieces covering base, colour, eyes, and brows with refill systems | Shows it’s doable without luxury prices |
| Refills beat novelty | Lower cost-per-wear, less plastic, easier decision-making | Money and time saved, not just ethics |
| Performance still rules | Sheer, buildable textures and tubing mascara carry the look | Tips that improve daily results, not just eco cred |
FAQ :
- Is sustainable makeup more expensive upfront?Sometimes the cases cost more, but refills lower long-term spend. If your palette or bullet is reusable, the maths flips after a few months.
- Can you recycle pans and palettes at home?Metal pans are often recyclable once clean; mixed-material palettes are trickier. Look for brand take-back schemes or local beauty recycling points.
- Will sheer, “clean” formulas last through a workday?Pick skin-first finishes and set strategically. A touch of powder where you crease and a tubing mascara will carry you to last orders.
- What if I can’t find refills in my shade?Choose neutral-leaning tones and build. Sheer textures flex wider across undertones, and mixing a dot of lip and tint makes a custom blend.
- How do I avoid greenwashing?Read the pack like a detective: material listed, refill availability, clear end-of-life info. Third-party schemes and return systems beat vague leaves and buzzwords.
