It’s probably time to clean your makeup remover pads.

Every day, we are estimated to go through three cotton swabs for a beauty ritual. We never really thought about it until we did the math: Over a year, we threw away more than 1,000 cotton swabs. This, multiplied by the span of life, represents a lot.

 

While we like to think the rest of the routine is pretty sustainable, thanks in large part to the progress the beauty industry, in general, is making in that direction, the cotton ball riddle has yet to be solved.

And while we know there are reusable cotton pads out there, we’ve always been sceptical: how safe is it to recycle and reuse something whose sole purpose is to remove dirt and grime? And the bacteria on my skin?

 

When we discovered how unpleasant it is to double-dip with reusable makeup remover cotton, we had to be sure. So we consulted a doctor, a dermatologist in New York, who said that, despite what we thought at the start, reusable makeup remover cotton like these bamboo babies are okay, as long as you wash them.

 

Reusable makeup remover cotton pad

 

Reusable cotton pads are a great way to help support the earth, but you need to clean them properly. And no, we don’t mean to wash them like you probably wash your makeup brushes, but rather that they need to be rinsed and lathered regularly.

 

He means they need regular rinsing and lathering. When you use them, they get dirty; in some cases, they are filthy; with oil, dirt and makeup, he says.

Look at them as mini towels, and treat them like you would any towel or washcloth. Use them only once and wash them simultaneously as your other sheets. He suggests using a fragrance-free detergent, like Tide Free, which, as a bonus, is pH-neutral to be gentle on the skin and using a minimal amount for washing. Be careful not to overload your washing machine with detergent, as an overdose can cause the detergent to become trapped in the fibres of your fabrics and cause direct skin irritation.

 

Cleansing Cotton Wash

 

While tossing reusable makeup remover pads in the washing machine instead of throwing them in the trash, or saving them for multiple makeup removals, might add an extra step to your beauty to-do list, it has dual benefits for your skin and the environment.

And what could be better than that?

While we’re on the subject, there are other things you should probably be aware of that aren’t enough: your sheets, makeup brushes, and washing machine.