Sustainable Beauty Swap: Reusable Makeup Remover Pads We Love (2024)

Our Top Picks

Material: Cotton | Size: 7 pads | Shape: Round

Looking for a reusable makeup remover that can be used for just about everything? These pads from Biossance do it all. Made with towel-like bamboo material, they’re soft enough to use on your face, eyes, or neck and even the mostsensitive of skin. Some reviewers mention that these pads get lost pretty easily in the wash, so we suggest keeping your used cotton pads in the washable bag before you throw them into the washing machine.

Material: Bamboo | Size: 16 3.15-inch pads | Shape: Round

These makeup remover pads are a great wallet-friendly option for those looking to stock up, or even dip their toes into trying reusable makeup removers. Each pack contains 16 pads (equivalent to 2,000 cotton balls), and we found they were super-effective at deeply cleansing the skin and removing makeup and sunscreen with ease. The one downside? Darker makeup does tend to hang around on the pads, so you might need to throw in a bit of stain remover to your usual wash to keep them white.

Material: Microfiber | Size: 3 4.9-inch pads | Shape: Round

Sure, you could splurge on a luxurious reusable makeup remover, but this Garnier one works just as well (if not better) than its pricier counterparts. Its thin, velvety microfiber pad activates with just a tad of micellar water to thoroughly remove makeup and rid skin of residue. “These work with micellar technology to act as a magnet, pulling up the dirt and makeup—and they’re machine washable,” says Sarah Uslan, a celebrity makeup artist and founder of LULA.If you wear heavy eye makeup or foundation, however, you might find that your pads are left with stains.

Material: Lyocell fabric | Size: 14 0.31-inch pads | Shape: Round

Made with an ultra-soft yet slightly exfoliating terry-like texture, you’ll adore using these cloths for daily or deep cleansing. The reusable rounds hold up beautifully wash after wash—they arrive with an included mesh laundry bag, so simply throw them in there and wash with other towels—and come housed in a gorgeous vegan pink leather case. They’re also a favorite of Uslan. “These are antibacterial, antimicrobial, and organic,” she explains. “They feel extra soft but have a subtle texture to help exfoliate while using.”If we were to point out a downside, it’s that their exfoliating texture may be irritating for very sensitive skin.

Material: HaloTech | Size: 3 6-inch pads | Shape: Round

Trying to remove heavy makeup to no avail? Grab a Face Halo. All you have to do is wet this pad and scrub your face to remove even the harshest of waterproof mascaras or long-wearing lipsticks instantly—sans any harsh scrubbing or tugging—with just a bit of water. “It’s so easy to use because with added water, you don't need an extra cleanser,” advises Uslan.

Plus, each pad is said to be made of a special fiber that’s 100 times finer than human hair and can effectively trap dirt and makeup.If you find Face Halo’s original white pads too high maintenance, they’ve just released a new pink range, which we’re obsessed with. Either way, you’ll need to wash your pads with warm water after use before machine washing.

Material: Cotton | Size: 3 3.5-inch pads | Shape: Square

Upgrade your standard washcloths for these luxurious muslin ones. The 100% cotton, tightly woven material is incredible at removing dirt, oil, and makeup in conjunction with your favorite cleanser, which gives it the added benefit of acting as a gentle physical exfoliant, too. Also nice: The gentle, absorbent factor only gets better (and softer) with each use.

Material: Polyester | Size: 1 15.5-inch pad | Shape: Oval

Just one of these antibacterial rectangular clothes will last you three to five years and can replace up to 3,600 makeup wipes (yes, we’re serious). Each is created with a polyester cloth that's successful atremoving waterproof makeup, eyeliner, lipstick, and foundation with just a smidge of water (though they also work great with cleanser). Since it’s double-sided, keep in mind that one side contains shorter fibers for cleansing and makeup removal, while the other side uses slightly longer fibers for an exfoliating effect.Yes, they are quite expensive, but as they last for such a long time, the cost per use works out well.

Material: Cotton | Size: 20 3-inch pads | Shape: Round

Created with 100% organic cotton flannel, these reusable facial rounds feel just as good as your favorite set of sheets. Silky and smooth, you’ll get the ideal level of absorbency and 20-machine washable pads in a single pack. They also come in varying colors and prints, so you can upgrade your boring white ones.Our main complaint is that some skincare products absorb into the material quite easily, so we had to use a bit more than usual.

Material: Polyester | Size: 5 0.25-inch pads | Shape: Teardrop with rounded edge and small pointed edge

Confession: All of the reusable makeup removers on this list will take your eye makeup off, but this one, in particular, is our favorite. The tear-drop shape allows you to get effortlessly into those hard-to-reach spots. The tapered end wipes off mascara and liner, and the rounded side evaporates all traces of shadow and brow products. Plus, its small size also has an insert that fits over two or three of your fingers, allowing you to get into those nitty-gritty spots. They are one of our most expensive options, but if you fall in love with them as we have, they’ll become a daily essential you can’t live without.

Material: Cotton and bamboo | Size: 7 pads | Shape: Round

Consciously created and silky smooth, these mini face rounds will quickly become a necessity in your daily skincare routine. Not only are they sustainably made from organic cotton and bamboo, but they are ideal for applying your favorite toner or essence, removing makeup, or cleansing away any dirt, grime, or residue. Our favorite part? After you finish using them, you can just throw them in the wash and reuse them. They are on the larger side, so are better for removing face makeup than getting into the smaller corners of the eyes, etc.

Material: Microfiber | Size: 3 12-inch pads | Shape: Square

If you’re someone who loves using disposable face wipes, you’ll appreciate the square shape of these makeup remover cloths. The 12-by-12-inch side is great for cleaning your entire face, and removing every last bit of makeup. Since they’re created with soft microfiber material and scalloped edges, there are no scratchy sides or corners to worry about when using them, which is why they are great for sensitive skin. And we’d be remiss to mention that they’re ultra-gentle as well.If we were to be picky, we didn’t find them brilliant at removing eye makeup, so you might need smaller round pads for that.

Material: Microfiber | Size: 1 mitt | Shape: Mitt

Swap your loofah for this mitt from Jane Iredale. With just one usage, it’ll remove any trace of makeup, including the most stubborn of waterproof makeup products. The mitt is also created with a knitted microfiber material that's thinner than hair, buffing away dead skin cells and leaving you with super smooth skin.We wouldn’t recommend this for daily use if you have particularly sensitive skin, though, as the exfoliating texture might cause irritation.

FAQ

• How do you use reusable makeup remover pads?

  To use, either saturate the pad with makeup remover or wet with warm water, advises Uslan. “Apply a drop of gentle facial cleanser and begin with circular motions to remove any makeup and residue off the skin.” If you use a gentle cleanser, Uslan recommends re-rinsing throughout the cleansing process to ensure you get every last bit of residue.

• How do you wash reusable makeup remover pads?

  To clean the reusable pad or cloth, Uslan recommends handwashing it with gentle soap and laying it on a towel to try. “I suggest machine washing once or twice a week with Dreft baby detergent for a thorough clean as well.”

• What fabric is best for reusable pads?

  Reusable makeup remover pads are made from a range of soft fabrics such as bamboo, brushed cotton, microfiber, and terry cloth. These fabrics are soft on the skin and also antibacterial, even after washing.