We’ve all watched enough David Attenborough documentaries by now to know that we need to do our bit for the planet, and that can start with something as simple as your beauty routine.
Whether removing make-up or applying toner, we’ve rounded up a selection of the best reusable make-up pads and mitts to tackle the job in the most eco-friendly way.
How do you clean your reusable make-up pad?
Immediately after removing your make-up give your cloth or pad a quick rinse under cold water. This will help to remove most of the product buildup, reducing stains and prolonging their overall efficiency.
We’ve provided individual care instructions below, although most can simply be included in your regular washing cycle. Some come with a handy laundry bag for ease, too.
How we test
A panel of 69 women committed to ditching the disposables for a two-week period. During this time, they judged each reusable alternative on how effective they were at removing make-up, what they thought of the design, and how the material felt against their skin.
We also got technical over in the Hearst Institute lab, applying a selection of stubborn makeup onto artificial skin (yes, really!). Once thoroughly dry, we counted how many swipes were needed by each reusable make-up pad, mitt or cloth before the makeup disappeared. And to ensure we got every last scrap, we gave it a once over with a wipe to see what was left.
Here are the reusable make-up pads worth switching for…
1
BEST BIODEGRADABLE PADS
Organic Cotton Facial Pads
While some pads can only work with either water or cleanser, these can happily handle both. They’re made with organic cotton and have a hanging loop so you can leave them to dry. The slightly rougher towelling side is great for gently sloughing away dead skin cells, but there’s also a softer side for around the eyes. Best of all, once you’ve used them to death, just pop them in your compost bin and they’ll biodegrade.
Key specifications
Type: Pads
Material: Cotton
Number of pads: 5
Use with: Water or cleanser
Extra accessories: None
Colour: Cream
Cleaning instructions: Machine wash at 30°C
2
BEST MITT FOR A DIY FACIAL
Skinesis Professional Cleansing Mitts
For a bit of DIY pampering, try this double-sided mitt, created and used by celebrity facialist Sarah Chapman. It slips over four fingers, using your body temperature to warm up an internal spongy layer for added indulgence. It worked a treat with cleanser, getting rid of every last scrap of make-up.
Key specifications
Type: Mitts
Material: Cotton
Number of mitts: 4
Use with: Cleanser only
Extra accessories: None
Colour: White
Cleaning instructions: Machine wash at 30°C
3
BEST PADS FOR ADULT ACNE
Organic Reusable Make-Up Pads
Tabitha Eve
amazon.co.uk
£6.00
If adult acne is a concern, you might find these pads beneficial. They’re made with a blend of organic cotton and bamboo, which is naturally antibacterial. Some of our testers found the exfoliating side a little too intense around the eyes, however in general they were a pretty convincing replacement for the real deal. And even on a cold wash, they came out stain-free.
Key specifications
Type: Pads
Material: Cotton and bamboo
Number of pads: 5
Use with: Water only
Extra accessories: None
Colour: White
Cleaning instructions: Rinse in cold water, using soap if required. Then launder cool with usual load and leave to dry naturally.
4
BEST PADS FOR CLEANSER
Reusable Make-Up Remover Pads
Eco brand Bambaw understands that a one-size-fits-all approach to skincare doesn’t work. Sometimes your skin needs the luxuriously soft feel of velvet, especially around the eye area, and at other times it needs a good exfoliation. This pack of 16 contains pads for both, and our panel found they were easy to clean, with minimal staining.
Key specifications
Type: Pads
Material: Velvet and terry cotton
Number of pads: 12 velvet, 4 terry cotton
Use with: Cleanser only
Extra accessories: Laundry bag
Colour: White
Cleaning instructions: Machine wash at 40°C to 60°C
5
BEST FOR REMOVING WATERPROOF MAKE-UP
Reusable Ultra Soft Make-Up Remover Pad
A pad that can get rid of tough waterproof make-up and feel gentle on the skin? Where do we sign up? This pad is a decent size too, albeit a bit stiff, and is soft enough to use around the eye without them going red. Although there’s just one in each pack, at this price we’re happy to invest in a few.
Key specifications
Type: Pad
Material: Microfibre
Number of pads: 1
Use with: Water only
Extra accessories: None
Colour: Black
Cleaning instructions: Machine wash at 30°C
6
BEST FOR ACCESSORIES
Bamboo Make-Up Remover Pads
Keep your bathroom cabinet clutter-free with this cute bamboo storage box. It contains 18 organic bamboo cotton pads, which should be enough to see you through between wash loads, and our panel raved about the quality of the material. It did absorb more cleanser than most though, so be prepared to use slightly more product.
Key specifications
Type: Pad
Material: 100% organic bamboo cotton
Number of pads: 18
Use with: Cleanser only
Extra accessories: Laundry bag and wooden storage box
Colour: White
Cleaning instructions: Machine wash at 30°C
7
BEST COTTON PAD REPLACEMENTS
Tendertouch Reusable 100% Organic Cotton Pads
Our testers said these large, thick pads were soft on the skin and effective at removing make-up and applying toner. Made from organic cotton, they’re natural too, so will biodegrade when you’re done with them. Each will last about a year, making them a solid investment.
Key specifications
Type: Pads
Material: Cotton
Number of pads: 8
Use with: Cleanser only
Extra accessories: Drawstring bag
Colour: White
Cleaning instructions: Machine wash at 30°C
8
BEST MICROFIBRE CLOTH
Erase Your Face Make-Up Removing Cloths
The micellar water in your bathroom cabinet might start gathering dust because this clever microcloth needs nothing more than water to get rid of the day’s makeup. Unlike a traditional cotton wool pad, this has a much larger surface area — a bit like a flannel, just way softer on the skin – so you won’t have to use the same bit twice. Our testers were impressed with the result, saying it effectively removed most of their makeup. You should also be able to use it 500 times before having to bid it farewell.
Key specifications
Type: Cloth
Material: Microfibre
Number of cloths: 4
Use with: Water only
Extra accessories: None
Colour: Pink, purple, green and black
Cleaning instructions: Machine wash in cold water
9
BEST FOR DESIGN
Luxury Make-Up Removal Pads
We can’t resist a spot of leopard print and these pads will add a stylish splash to your bathroom cabinet. Although the other prints in the range aren’t quite as chic, all designs come with a wash bag and coconut oil for cleansing your skin (it particularly helps to melt away mascara). Generously sized, one side is made with the softest fleecy microfibres and the other is naturally antibacterial bamboo.
Key specifications
Type: Pads
Material: Minky and bamboo
Number of pads: 10
Use with: Cleanser only
Extra accessories: Wash bag and coconut oil
Colour: Various prints
Cleaning instructions: Machine wash at 30°C
10
BEST FOR SENSITIVE SKIN
WipeOut! The Amazing MicroFibre Cleansing Cloth
Sensitive skin needs a stripped back approach. This cleansing cloth is oh-so-soft and needs nothing but water to remove makeup (and does so without smearing it all round your face). Magitone reckons you’ll get 1,000 uses out of each, and our testers loved trialling it.
Key specifications
Type: Cloth
Material: Microfibre
Number of cloths: 2
Use with: Water only
Extra accessories: None
Colour: Pink
Cleaning instructions: Machine wash at 30°C
Like our winner, this mitt is made from super-soft microfibre but slips over the hand, making it extra easy to manoeuvre. It got a little stained after a while, although the peach colour helps to hide most marks. Our testers found it removed most make-up effectively, but it did struggle a little with waterproof mascara. This was also reflected in the lab.
Key specifications
Type: Mitt
Material: Microfibre
Number of mitts: 1
Use with: Water only
Extra accessories: None
Colour: Peach
Cleaning instructions: Rinse in clear water, then hang up to dry.
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