As we are looking to reduce our environmental footprint, many of us are opting for reusable alternatives in our life. From shopping bags to straws, there are now available many zero waste alternatives to single-use products.
One of them is reusable makeup pads, which help reducing the environmental impact of wearing makeup and applying toner. Here we explain why they are such a good choice.
Why should you make the switch?
On average, each woman uses 3 cotton pads per day which amounts to around 1.000 per year. Plus the plastic packaging, which is often not recycled and ends up polluting our planet in a landfill. It is a lot of waste, right?
Even if 100% cotton, single-use cotton pads can be composted only if they have not been in contact with chemicals such as makeup, nail polish remover or disinfectants. On top of that, cotton pads are often blended with synthetic materials, such as polyester, which cannot be recycled.
Cotton is a natural material, but it is also one of the most environmentally demanding crops: each kilogram of cotton requires 20,000 liters of water to be produced; over half of the world’s cotton production takes place in areas with high or extreme water stress; the cotton industry consumes a lot of chemicals, 6% of the world’s pesticides and 16% of insecticides. It also exposes both cotton growers and consumers to toxic carcinogenic chemicals that are used during production.
Besides the environmental footprint, cotton farming and manufacturing are also often associated with many breaches of ethical production standards such as forced and child labour.
Choose reusable over disposable to help reduce your environmental impact one step at a time.
How to use your reusable makeup pads
The switch to reusable makeup pads is very easy and it represents a great solution for any sustainable lifestyle. They’re used just like single-use makeup pads but washed after each use.
Apply your makeup remover on the pad and use it to wipe away any makeup. You can also use them to apply your toner, with nail polish remover when needed, or in many other ways you’d use single-use makeup pads. Then, you can simply hand wash or throw them in the washing machine, air dry and reuse.
Depending on the level of care, reusable makeup pads will last you years. This substantially reduces your environmental impact and helps you live a more eco-friendly lifestyle.