8 best reusable make-up remover pads for a more eco-friendly skincare routine

These plush cleansing pads are the softest we tried. Palm-size and fluffy, they’re made from a synthetic microfiber which swiftly removes make-up without tugging at the skin. They work best when used with a cleansing balm, simply apply it as normal, massaging into the skin to melt down make-up then remove with the pad. Each one is a decent size, and double-sided, so there’s plenty of room to remove a full face of make-up, which runs off the pad when rinsed with water. They washed extremely well too, and were fully dry in just a few hours. 

While smaller cleansing pads we tried are more travel-friendly and compact, if you want a larger style, this two-pack ticks every box. Affordable and super soft, they remove make-up well and don’t retain pigment stains from mascaras and red lipsticks. We found they cleaned our face in seconds, and you can use the edge of the round to get into the corners of your eyes, and around the nose. They dry quickly too, just make sure to hang them up with a peg or leave them to sit on top of a radiator.

Face Halo is the OG of reusable make-up pads, and we have been using this set for years. Perfect for travel as they dry quickly, but they also wash well and are very good at removing every scrap of make-up. This set contains three, one with high-density fibres for removing make-up and your cleanser, one with softer, plusher fibres for your double cleanse and one with a lightly abrasive surface to provide gentle manual exfoliation. The latter didn’t irritate our typically sensitive skin and instead left it immediately softer and smoother. Despite the higher price tag, these are worth the splurge for a gentle but effective cleansing.

Affordable beauty brand Revolution Beauty launched a skincare line in collaboration with renowned beauty journalist Sali Hughes in 2022. The range now contains a selection of budget-friendly basics for your routine, spanning cleansers, moisturisers, serums, face oils and eye creams.

For us, these make-up remover mitts are an underrated gem thanks to their thick plushness that sticks around no matter how many times you wash them. All you need to do is swipe the damp mitt across your face to remove cleansers, make-up, SPF and swear – they don’t tug on the skin nor exacerbate redness-prone complexions.

Initially, we were concerned these cotton rounds would stain, but we were left impressed by their soft texture, how well all traces of make-up washed out and how versatile they were.

They’re perfect for using with micellar water to quickly remove light make-up and we were impressed with how well they removed lip and eyebrow tints. But, our one gripe was that when using one with a thicker cleanser, our make-up was smeared all over our face. That said we did find them to be useful for applying other liquid skincare, including toners.

They come in a square zipped pouch, which is great for when you wash them to save them from getting stuck in the nooks and crannies of your washing machine.

These are a mixture of the plush, softness of a make-up remover pad and the thinner typical cotton rounds. While they’re super soft, they can be wrung out, squished up, shoved to the bottom of your suitcase, but still wash well.

Despite being smaller than many others we tried, any make-up you’re removing just glides right off when rinsed out so you can use them over again each time you cleanse your skin. Our only grip is they do tend to hold onto pigments from longer-wearing make-up such as foundation – it makes them no less effective but does change the texture slightly.

These affordable rounds come in a pack of 16 (which means they work out at about 80p per round) in a cotton drawstring bag, which comes in handy when you wash them, as it prevents them from getting caught in your machine.

Made with a blend of bamboo and natural cotton, they have a slightly abrasive texture when dry but transform into a very soft miniature flannel when wet. They’re pretty absorbent too, and we found that they washed well on a 30C cycle. They don’t disintegrate like raw cotton rounds and are great for using with eye make-up remover to tack off a smokey eye and waterproof mascara.

While these claim to remove make-up without cleanser, we found they worked best when used with an oil or balm. They’re a great alternative to Face Halo if you want the same microfiber softness and durability for a lower price, and come in a fun muted pink colour. We didn’t experience any tugging nor did they leave our sensitive skin red or sore. Even better, we found that they washed well and didn’t retain any stains from bright lipsticks or waterproof mascaras.