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If there’s one good thing to come out of 2020, it’s the way that many beauty brands have stepped up a level on the sustainability front with more eco-friendly cleansing options than ever before.
With disposable face masks the latest thing posing a threat to the environment (FYI, cute washable mask options right here) it’s time to take a long hard look at ways we can make our beauty routine less harmful to the environment and one of the easiest swaps known to mankind is replacing your cotton pads for reusable ones.
It’s a no brainer, really. The reusable cotton pad market has boomed and there are literally so many to choose from, it's relegating makeup wipe usage to dire situations only. They’re perfectly paired with your favourite micellar water or applying your essence or toner. Plus, opting for makeup removers like the Face Halo means you can even forgo a cleansing lotion or balm as the fibres lift your makeup off for you with just a couple of swipes, our favourite kind of sorcery.
If you’re worried about washing them, don’t be. You can throw all of the picks below straight into your washing machine for beyond easy cleaning. Just make sure you pop them in a little bag (most sets come with one), so they don’t get stuck in the opening of the machine (trust us, we have learned the hard way with this).
If yours starts to look a little grubby with makeup, spritz with a bit of stain remover before you pop it in the wash. Just call us Mrs Hinch...
Face Halo are an originator in the reusable makeup remover game. The line has expanded from their original pads to products for the body too. We love these PRO pads that are great for removing heavier makeup looks and they last up to 200 washes.
You get 8 pads in this set and a zipped net bag for easy cleaning. The texture of these pads is mega soft so you don’t have to worry about irritation.
This dual-texture makeup remover is great if you want to try out a product-free cleanse, just add water. The first side exfoliates to loosen the makeup and oil sitting on your skin and the second side cleanses your pores.
You finally have the ideal partner for your Garnier Micellar Water (a Cosmo Beauty Team fave). These cute pink pads come in a set of 3 and can be washed up to 1000 times with just soap and water daily and then popped into the washing machine weekly for a deeper clean.
These pads feature a dual functionality as each side has a different texture. While one side is a cotton velour, the other is a towelling texture to help with natural exfoliation.
Facetheory guarantee these pads will work for a year, if looked after properly. Plus, they are 100% cotton so once they have reached the end of their life, they are fully compostable – very circular (pun intended).
These bamboo-based makeup remover pads from Typology come in a handy zipped pouch. It’s on the high-end of the price spectrum but you get eight in the pack and the quality is A+.
Woven with naturally antibacterial bamboo cotton, these pads gently exfoliate skin without any irritation. Plus, it comes with a handy mesh bag for when you need to chuck them in the wash.
These pads are so soft and gentle, you can even use them around the delicate eye area. Plus, they're been designed with a cute little pouch that you can slip your fingers into, making them easier to use.
The gentle cleansing pads are made from bamboo and organic cotton and come with a cotton laundry bag for wash days. And yep, they clean well, too – when you take them out, all traces of foundation are gone!
Not only do you get eight mega soft bamboo makeup remover pads and a cotton laundry bag, StylPro also made this adoabe bamboo barrel to store them in your bathroom. How cute?!
One of our faves on the market, LastObject's LastRounds are made from 100% renewable raw materials. At first use, you may be confused by the fact that they're hard but run them under water to soften the pad and use comfortably around your face. You can actually use on pad up to 1,750 times. Impressive, right?