Wipe out single-use skincare with these reusable make-up remover pads

Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for insider tips and product reviews from our shopping expertsSign up for our free IndyBest emailReusable make-up remover pads may not be the sexiest product to preach about, granted. But they’re an everyday essential that work to whittle down your waste, streamline your routine and, ultimately, save you money in the long run. All of which sounds pretty good to us.For those not yet well-versed in reusable make-up remover pad products, they’re essentially a classic cotton pad re-invented to last a lot longer. Ordinarily made from a blend of bamboo, cotton or synthetic fibres, they come in all shapes, colours and sizes, but the classic cut seems to be very similar to the original cotton pad we grew up with – think white, round and soft to the touch.The main purpose of the reusable cotton pad is that it’s designed to be a more planet-positive product than the originals. Unlike classic cotton pads, which get thrown into the bin on a daily basis, these new(ish) nifty creations can be popped into the washing machine, and be used time and time again. But, as with anything, not all of them have equal eco-credentials.For anyone set on creating a more sustainable beauty routine, bamboo, organic cotton or even re-purposed pre-loved fabrics fit the brief the best. While those looking to cut down on costs – or simply reduce the number of products in the bathroom cabinet – may be better suited to synthetic solutions such as Skin Proud or Face Halo’s (Victoria Beckham’s brand of choice, we’ll have you know).Some reusable make-up remover pads claim to clean with just water, while others openly ask for a helping hand from your regular face wash, cleansing oil or micellar water. Testing out plenty of pads from the budget high street to the luxe high end, we can safely say that all of them work best when used in conjunction with a cleanser. Plus, keeping them clean with weekly (or more) runs through the washing machine is a vital step in having them help rather than hinder your skincare routine. How we testedOur tester was turned from regular cotton pads to these reusable options around a year ago, so they had pretty high standards when picking the best. Trialling each set of pads on a full face of make-up – foundation, concealer, mascara and more – they tested to see how each one fared at removing all residue.All were tested alone with water first, and then secondly with a cleanser or micellar water to see which gained the best results. How they felt on the skin, how much make-up they removed and how well they washed were all key factors. Keep reading to see which ones impressed the most.The best reusable make-up remover pads for 2022 are:Best overall – Face Halo make-up remover pad original 3s: £18, Boots.comBest luxury make-up remover pads – Aurelia reusable bamboo cotton pads x 10: £16, Aurelialondon.comBest for using with micellar water – Garnier micellar reusable make-up remover eco pads: £6.02, Lookfantastic.comBest for a spa-like feel – Revolution Skincare X Sali Hughes eye make-up remover pads: £6, Lookfantastic.comBest exfoliating make-up remover pads – ESPA home waffle cosmetic removal pads: £15, Lookfantastic.comBest full reusable cleaning pad set – Kitsch eco-friendly ultimate cleansing kit: £18, Lookfantastic.comBest reusable make-up remover pads with case – StylPro bamboo barrel make-up remover pads: £12.99, Lookfantastic.comBest large set – Botanics reusable cleansing pads: £12.50, Boots.comBest soft reusable make-up remover pads – Skin Proud clear off make-up remover pads: £12.95, Iamproud.comBest for those who like to stay organised – The Body Shop clean conscience reusable make-up remover pads: £10, Thebodyshop.comBest for long-term use – UpCircle hemp + cotton make-up remover pads: £8.99, Upcirclebeauty.comBest small brand – B.U. Beauty bye bye makeup: £19.99, Bubeautybrand.comWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.Already subscribed? Log inFace Halo is famous for a reason, racking up a huge number of fans – including the likes of Victoria Beckham. These pads may be expensive, working out at around £6 each, but we found they magically removed all make-up with just a splash of water.The secret is in the HaloTech technology, a mystery fabric that’s 100 times finer than human hair and can trap make-up, dirt and daily grime within the fibres as you rub it across your face. They’re super soft on the skin, but we did prefer using them with a cleanser to really get them to glide. Tackling waterproof mascara, lip liner and foundation, they wiped away all make-up with ease, and a good, hot cycle in the washing machine cleaned them up spick and span.Continue reading…Aurelia produces basic beauty essentials with a luxury twist – to give you an idea of just how swanky it is, it’s even stocked on Net-a-Porter. Although a little bit on the pricier side, coming in at £1.60 per pad, these certainly aren’t the most expensive buy in this round-up.Very similar in shape to a large, classic cotton pad, they look and feel almost like the originals. Made from bamboo and cotton, they’re super soft and have a handy tab for you to put your fingers in – reducing the risk of transferring bacteria, and making them easier to hold. They wiped away mascara like a dream with just water. But the brand does recommend you use them with cleanser or micellar water for a thorough clean, and we certainly found this helped with face make-up. Pop them in the wash at 30C, but don’t expect them to come out gleaming white once used. If you’re looking to get a sustainable beauty present for someone, the Aurelia bamboo muslins worked in a similar way and come in their own gift box (£24, Aurelialondon.com).Continue reading…£16 Aurelialondon.comBuy nowWhere most reusable make-up pads claim to work with just water, Garnier recommends you use micellar water with these pads – when you do, the results are fantastic. In fact, every reusable make-up remover pad we tried worked better when doused in micellar water. It removes any skin tugging by providing a lubricant between the cloth and the face, and also helps to whisk away all traces of dirt and make-up. Super soft, these pads feel like a baby blanket. One side is pink, the other white, but this seems to be more for aesthetics rather than function. They’re thin enough to fold into any crevice – under the eye and along the nose – to remove make-up and grime from all areas of the face. When used with just water, though, we found they didn’t perform too well. So, use as recommended – we opted for the Bioderma sensibio H2O biphasic micellar make-up remover (£9, Boots.com) – and we’re sure you’ll be thrilled. Throw the pads in the washing machine on a normal cycle, and they’ll come out just as soft and fresh.Out of stock at the moment but due back soon, add them to your wish list to receive a back-in-stock email.Continue reading…£6.02 Lookfantastic.comBuy nowThese make-up remover pads are incredibly thick, giving them a super-soft, luxurious feel. But while we loved the sensation of the fabric on our face, they were actually so thick they couldn’t be bent to reach narrow gaps, such as under the eyes or along the nose, meaning make-up remained in these areas. That small gripe aside, the great thing about these pads is they have a finger slot, making them easier to hold – especially if you have a long manicure – and reducing the risk of nicking your skin with any sharp nails. To get these pads to work most effectively, we’d recommend pairing them with a cleanser, as, although they claim to work with just warm water, they proved to cleanse much more deeply with a little helping hand. With all of this in mind, we’d use these to create an at-home spa day – swiping them over the face to remove any masks or skincare products, rather than make-up. The brand advises you to hand wash these, but we found they came up clean in a washing machine on a regular cycle.Continue reading…£6 Lookfantastic.comBuy nowThe first thing we loved about this ESPA pack is that it comes in a matching tie-up bag, providing the perfect place to house them. The second thing is that these are made from 100 per cent cotton, so there’s no fluffy feeling of the polyester pads, which is going to be a relief for some people. Plus, with two sides – one terry cloth and one waffle – there’s certainly more of an exfoliating feel. Because of this, we’d use these more in our skincare routine rather than for removing make-up. In the morning, these pads worked wonderfully with our cleanser to provide a deeper clean – and even removed stubborn fake tan remnants, too – but they did feel a little bit harsh when scrubbing away foundation. With a small tab to place your fingers, they were easy to hold on to yet thin enough to reach every part of the face. A quick hand wash with soap and warm water did clean them up a fair amount, though you can also put them in a very gentle cycle – just make sure you put them in a net bag first, as a regular bag-free wash left ours torn.Continue reading…£15 Lookfantastic.comBuy nowWith seven mini face rounds, one face towel, an exfoliator sponge and a zip mesh wash bag, there’s a lot in this little kit. But when it came to removing make-up, the mini face rounds certainly weren’t the best of the bunch. What they were great for was applying toner post-wash and working alongside a cleanser and warm water for a slightly deeper clean.What we loved about this set was the number of things in the pack. The face towel was incredibly handy when cleansing every morning and night, and the exfoliating sponge was extremely helpful in removing traces of fake tan, too. While you won’t want to throw away your cleanser when opting for this pack – we encourage you not to do this anyway, no matter what set you opt for – it did provide a reusable alternative to your regular cotton pads with no problem. We found they washed up a dream in the washing machine too.Continue reading…£18 Lookfantastic.comBuy nowThe best thing about these pads is the fact they come in a bamboo holder, meaning they’re kept clean, and you don’t have to hunt around the bathroom for that one spare pad (hopefully). The pads are the most similar in size, shape and feel to a regular cotton pad. Yet, made from three-ply bamboo and cotton, they can be used 1,000 times, drastically slashing the single-use aspect of the originals.The brand recommends you use them with a cleansing product, and that’s how they work best, although we did find they removed mascara with just warm water. Although they don’t have a fluffy baby-blanket texture, they’re soft on the skin, and can be hand-washed quickly or thrown in the machine without worry. You can also buy just the pads without the case, if you already have a home for them or are looking for a top-up (16 for £12.99, Lookfantastic.com).Continue reading…£12.99 Lookfantastic.comBuy nowThe worst thing about reusable pads is the fact you have to wash them. So, if you’re the sort of person who regularly goes weeks (or months) before cleaning your make-up brushes, you’re going to need a fair few of these pads. Otherwise, you’ll be doing more harm than good with dirty ones.With 14 in a pack, this Botanics set is a great option. There are 10 named velvet pads, which are to be used for everyday cleansing, and four scrub pads, which offer an exfoliating effect. But all of them need a cleansing product to work effectively. We loved the number included in the pack, which for the price, brought them down to just under 90p each. The velvet pads remained super soft after a tumble around the washing machine, and the scrub pads didn’t lose any scrubbing impact either.Continue reading…These Skin Proud pads are the softest ones in this round-up. And trust us when we say they’re soft – like a super-fluffy blanket on your face, we never wanted to stop swiping them across our skin. But, while the feel of them was second-to-none, how well did they remove make-up?With a cleanser, perfectly. Which is similar to many other pads in this round-up. To really get them to work with just water, as advertised, you need to soak these in warm water and apply to the eye for a good 30 seconds before wiping away mascara. But when it came to foundation, we still had to reach for the cleanser. Of course, opting for a cleanser is never a bad idea for a deeper clean, and with the soft feel of these pads, they were a joy to use. Coming in at just over £6 each, they’re one of the pricier picks of the bunch, so be sure to chuck them in the washing machine on a regular cycle to have them come up all clean, fluffy and like-new again.Continue reading…£12.95 Iamproud.comBuy nowFor anyone who struggles to keep track of laundry day, days of the week or often forgets whether they brushed their teeth that morning (guilty as charged), these reusable make-up remover pads have a handy, helpful trick: the days of the week listed on each one. Yes, just like your pants at school, you can now track each day with the helping hand of your reusable cleansin