Stella McCartney’s new refillable skincare range features a Francis Kurkdjian scent – here’s our verdict

This lightweight face wash and make-up remover hybrid is presented in a recyclable glass bottle with a removable pump applicator made from recycled plastic. You could easily add a reset cleanser refill (£38, Stellamccartneybeauty.com) top-up once it’s empty. The sturdy container is suitably robust for long-term refillable purposes, and looks chic on our bathroom shelf, so we can see ourselves incorporating it into our ongoing routine for years to come.

As soon as we applied the refreshing yet soothing formula to our skin, we could detect that signature scent created in collaboration with Francis Kurkdjian. Called ‘high cliff’, the stunning fragrance was designed to conjure up memories of McCartney’s childhood spent in Scottish landscapes. We were seriously wowed and could detect powerful notes reminding us of uplifting coastal fresh air and rugged countryside. Meanwhile, key ingredients also include marine spring water, sunflower oil and organic birch sap.

Applying the cleanser onto our face using wet, clean hands as instructed, we massaged it in before rinsing and patting skin with a cloth. The cleanser easily removed our eye make-up while being gentle, and our face felt suitably softened too. Our skin is prone to irritation and dryness, and it simply felt cleansed and soothed. With ongoing use, we saw a smoothed complexion, comforted skin and a throughly cleansed glow that we were really impressed by.

What’s unique about this serum is that the product comes in two parts to put together. There’s a refill pouch for slotting into the recyclable glass bottle, which was very easy to do. Then when finished, this is removed to be replaced with a new one. Plus, a click-shut cap offers secure closure if you’re on the move. All plastic components included in the three products are made from recycled materials. We also really liked the dotted Stella branding emblazoned on the bottle top, and this adds an extra luxe aesthetic too.

Once again, we found the formula to be both fresh and light, and it smoothed onto our skin with silky ease. The serum feels nourishing without any heaviness, and layers well with other skincare minus any dreaded pilling. Depending on how parched our skin was, we saw sufficient hydrating nourishment, thanks to the inclusion of natural origin hyaluronic acid, olive squalane, and organic rock samphire extract. We just used the serum on its own some days, while at other times, we added the restore cream too. Our skin appeared dewier after application, and fine lines were plumped, with the main takeaway a generally fresher-looking face.

This multi-tasking skincare buy is also suitable to use around the eyes too, as the formula is lightweight enough for delicate, easily clogged skin.

The restore cream arrives with the same clever packaging setup as its serum counterpart, and we clicked the pouch into place before use. While this product comes as one purchase, you can also buy the restore cream refill separately for future use (£70, Stellamccartneybeauty.com).

A shorter, chunkier bottle than the other two products, it has the same chic style, which is both practical and collectible. Also shining through as a consistent signature USP, we’ve loved lapping up the fragrance while applying our three-step skincare.

Cherry blossom extract joins natural origin hyaluronic acid and organic birch sap, and these ingredients made our skin feel intensely nourished, hydrated, and soothed. Any dry patches were smoothed over and conditioned, with its reparative benefits being like a balm to our skin.

The theme of plumped up, dewy skin while being gently soothed and softened continues, and we can see how those two years spent perfecting the ingredients list was so crucial.