Most cosmetics are essentially made of water. So far, nothing really new, we don’t even pay attention to it. However, this small detail allowed Lewis and Anthony, two brothers from Brussels, to launch a range of innovative skin products. Launched almost two years ago and called Refizz (www.getrefizz.com/fr), their brand offers natural, sustainable and hypoallergenic cosmetics. The trick is that they come in powder form. It’s up to you to add water and shake to mix all the ingredients well. In twenty to thirty minutes you have your shampoo, shower gel or hand soap ready to use.
It’s simple, but you had to think about it. Lewis and Anthony have been immersed in the world of cosmetics since birth. “Our grandfather and father had a factory that produced shampoo, soap, etc. “, say the two brothers. Seeing the maintenance products provided in powder form by certain brands, they had the idea of trying with skin products. Refizz now offers a shampoo, a gel shower and hand soap You receive a bottle (glass for the hand soap and reusable plastic for the other two), a small paper funnel and the right amount of powder. It’s fun to prepare. , but this is of course not the only quality of these cosmetics.
More ecological than traditional versions
“There are three environmental benefits to using powder rather than already mixed cosmeticsexplain Lewis and Anthony. First, our powders are packaged in compostable paper while the refills offered by certain classic cosmetics are contained in plastic.“In addition, these refills are generally not easy to transfer and we always lose a little bit (a detail but it counts).
Next comes transportation. The powder is lighter than the liquid and takes up significantly less space. It’s counted gram by gram, but it makes a difference in large quantities. “A truck full of liquid products is equivalent to a pallet of powder products “, illustrates Anthony. Finally, powder cosmetics are more ecological to produce than their liquid and even solid cousins. “We often think that solid soap is a good ecological alternative but in reality its production requires a lot of energy because it still has to be heated a little to mix the ingredients and then cooled for a certain time.“
The ingredients of the powders (which come from Belgium, or occasionally from Europe) are on the contrary mixed cold. One of the reasons why their design was not an easy task. “Our formulator, who worked with our father, had to do a lot of testing to find the ingredients that mixed well.“It was also necessary for the components found in liquid products to be available in dry form. But the industry is moving in this direction, confirm Anthony and Lewis.”We can now work on a new shampoo formula because, at the moment, we only have a version for normal hair. We would also like to offer deodorant or conditioner. “
Better for health
With powder cosmetics, you are doing something for the planet. But in addition, you avoid a series of ingredients that are rather harmful to your health. “Classic shower gels very often contain many preservatives. The advantage with powder is that it keeps for a long time without needing to add these elements. “Once it is mixed with water, however, the product must be used within three months, according to the instructions. Anthony and Lewis also want to reassure: tap water is perfectly suitable because the powders contain ingredients that “encapsulate particles such as limestone and isolate them from other active ingredients which thus preserve their quality. “
