I’ve used disposable makeup remover wipes for as long as I can remember. Recently though I decided it was time to switch to reusable makeup remover pads and, at the same time, veganise this part of my skincare routine.
Here are the reasons why I’ve chosen to ditch the disposables and the two easy and cost effective changes I’ve made.
Many of the leading cosmetic and beauty brands in the UK claim to be against all animal testing. However if they sell their products to mainland China they can’t be cruelty free. This is because in China animal testing of all imported products is required by law, so they must have either funded the testing of their products, or at the very least allowed it to take place.
As I’m now transitioning all of my makeup and beauty products to vegan and cruelty free versions, it was time to ditch my Simple cleansing wipes and find a better alternative.
By the way – If you want to check the cruelty free status of any beauty brand, I recommend using https://www.crueltyfreekitty.com/ which is a great resource that gets updated regularly.
I used to think that it was okay to use disposable cleansing wipes because I was responsible with them. I told myself that it was other people’s habit of flushing them that blocks the drains, pollutes our seas and chokes our wildlife.
The sad truth, however, is that even if these wipes are disposed of correctly, they’re still going to end up in a huge pile at the landfill. Once there, each one will take over a 100 years to break down. We simply can’t keep adding to the pile at the rate that we currently are, so I decided it was time to do my bit.
Wipes are undoubtedly the most convenient way to remove your makeup. However as it turns out, they aren’t the best thing for our skin. It’s almost a certainty that they will contain ingredients that are only there to keep the cloth moist. These ingredients do nothing for your skin’s health and could actually be skin irritants.
Makeup wipes also tend to leave a residue on your skin. Whilst they may seem to cleanse it, they’re not actually doing as good a job as you’d get using a cloth, a cleanser and some water.
For these reasons, I decided it was time to try using reusable makeup remover pads.
I have now switched to a set of reusable bamboo cotton pads. I bought mine from Amazon but have since discovered similar pads sold in my local alternative health store.
At first it felt like a lot more effort compared to using disposable wipes. However after the first week I quickly got used to my new routine and now I don’t even think about it.
The pads themselves are velvety soft and feel comfortable against my skin. The texture is thicker than a wipe so I do sometimes smudge my mascara a bit as I’m taking it off. However I don’t find this much of a problem.
Here are the main tips I have learned from using the reusable makeup remover pads:
I’ve washed mine about 10 times now and they show no signs of degrading so they have more than paid for themselves now.
My new cleanser of choice is the B. Pure Micellar Water from Superdrug’s own brand skin care range which is entirely vegan and cruelty free.
My eyes are very sensitive, prone to becoming itchy, red and watery with eye makeup removers. I haven’t had any problems with this one thankfully. I’ve found it to be gentle and non invasive but effective at removing all of my makeup, including concealer, liquid liner and mascara.
The bottle is also huge and lasts me for months. This makes it a more eco friendly choice as I’ve reduced my packaging waste. It’s also much more cost effective than using disposable wipes, which I’d buy at a slightly cheaper price but much more frequently.
I hope that this post is helpful to those of you considering switching to reusable makeup remover pads. If you want to chat about my experience so far please leave a comment or tweet me @lovedbylaurac .
Please be aware that there are many people, such as those with certain disabilities, for whom the use of wipes is a neccessity rather than a lifestyle choice. This post is in no way intended to criticise or discourage the use of wipes by those that truly need them.
