Sustainable Ways To Remove Makeup
Put down those cotton pads! Put them DOWN, we say.
Most of us use single-use cotton pads to remove our makeup every night, and for good reason! They’re super easy to use and super cheap, but unfortunately, they are also super harmful to the environment.
We're sure you’re already aware that each pack of cotton rounds comes wrapped in plastic, and moreover, each cotton pad is single-use, which means it will end up in a landfill at the end of the day. But did you know that, according to the WWF, producing cotton requires almost 2700 litres of water, the same amount that an average person drinks in 3 Years. Plus, growing cotton requires using, for the most part, harmful pesticides which then affect the land and the people around it.
And makeup wipes? Just as bad. They take years to decompose in the landfills, and each one adds up that eventually creates a massive pile of used cotton pads and wipes.
Neither of them is compostable or biodegradable, due to the fibers and complicated processes that make them.
Grim, isn’t it? But fortunately, we now have multiple alternatives to these single-use products. Check out our list of reusable, eco-friendly options for makeup removal-
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FAE Beauty Face Mop - Face Mop is a gentle, non-stripping balm-to-oil-to-milk cleanser that effectively removes all makeup, grime, and remnants of sunscreen in JUST ONE WASH. This makeup removing cleansing balm is an extremely effective yet gentle first step in any makeup removal or double cleansing routine.
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The Makeup Eraser - Founded by Elxsis McCarthy, the Makeup Eraser is made of a blend of materials which are smooth on the skin, and only requires water to remove your makeup. Can you imagine?? No more makeup remover/micellar water/whatever you use to remove your first layer of makeup! It is also machine washable, and lasts 3-5 years!
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Muslin Cloths - Many of us have grown up with having this fabric in our house, in some form or the other. But did you know that it's also amazing for facial cleansing? Its tight-woven fabric is ideal for removing all the makeup from your face. But be careful, less is more with this one.
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The Foreo Luna - A ‘facial spa massager and cleaner’, made with soft, sustainable silicone bristles, and is gentle on the skin. However, this one’s priced on the high side, so it's up to you to decide whether it’s worth the investment!
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The Face Halo - Similar to the makeup eraser, the Face Halo is a disc shaped cloth, made out of ‘HaloTech’ fibers, and can be used up to 200 washes! It claims to replace up to 500 makeup wipes. And a plus point is that you can send your used Face Halo back to the company, and it is then made into merchandise! Like the makeup eraser, you can use this only with water.
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Bubblefarm’s Bamboo Cotton Pads - Reusable pads made out of bamboo, you do have to use a cleanser with this one, but these are machine washable. It has a shelf-life of 3-12 months, and comes in a set of 2! They are also the only home-grown, Indian brand on this list.
So there you have it! 5 alternatives to single-use cotton pads, at your fingertips. Comment below and tell us if you’re going to switch your cotton pads with something a little more eco-friendly.
Until next time,
Stay curious. Stay #freequal.