In the past, reusable cotton pads didn't exist. Every time you wipe off mascara from your eyes, the foundation from your skin, or varnish from your nails, all those used disposable cotton pads get rolled up in the trash or flushed down the toilet and then end up in the trash. But now, with widespread awareness of the impact, this simple habit has on the planet, plastic-free cotton pads, swabs, and facial tissues are now available.

One of the main problems with disposable cotton pads, swabs, wipes, etc., is that making them is a huge drain on environmental resources, using chemicals, water, and deforestation in the manufacturing process. Then, once used, they do not biodegrade due to the plastic content, thus further impacting the environment, and causing one of the biggest environmental problems of all time, plastic pollution. This problem is widespread worldwide and it is destroying our planet as well as many wildlife species.

Are reusable cotton pads better than disposable ones? The answer is yes, and one of the main reasons is that you can reuse them however you want, significantly reducing the number of dirty pads, wipes, flower buds, etc. that end up in the trash every day. Every time you use a reusable cotton pad or cloth, or whatever you use in your daily skincare routine, rinse it under the tap or place it in your clothing and give it a thorough clean once or twice a week.

Throw most reusable makeup pads in the washing machine, but some require hand washing, depending on the delicateness of the fabric. Always check the manufacturer's washing instructions to make sure your cotton pads last as long as possible and don't shrink or get damaged from how you clean them. They can really last a while if you take care of them.