Eco-Friendly Ways to Remove Makeup

In my quest to reduce waste I realized it was time to stop using disposable cotton pads, cotton balls and makeup wipes. While there are a few biodegradable disposable makeup wipes on the market, many more today are not. They are made up of mostly polyester, polypropylene, cotton, wood pulp, and rayon -- definitely not biodegradable. Use the wipe once and in the landfill it goes. Convenience is the main reason I used to use disposable makeup wipes.

If you are not ready to give up disposable makeup wipes yet, at least look for one that will not end up in the landfill. Beautycounter offers a great biodegradable makeup wipe that can be deposited into your own home compost.

Beautycounter One-Step Makeup Remover Wipes - $22

Super soft wipe that traps and gently removes makeup and dirt with no need to rinse. Aloe Vera delivers added hydration, while the cornflower water soothes delicate skin. Gentle enough to use every day. Simply wipe and then dispose in your home compost.

While I love that Beautycounter's remover wipes are compostable, I decided to also look for ways to reduce my own contributions to the landfills by looking for a makeup wipe that is reusable/washable and best of all waste free! I found several great options:

Our Earth Beauty Reusable Makeup Remover Pads - $17

This is a 13-piece set which includes: 10-each 100% organic bamboo/cotton makeup remover pads, 2-each 100% microfiber cleansing gloves, and 1 reusable laundry bag.

These makeup wipes can be washed and reused hundreds of times, which will save you money and stop waste. This kit replaces about 10,000 disposable cotton balls. Their packaging is also plastic-free and can be recycled. These wipes are gentle enough to use on all skin types, including those with sensitive skin and acne. You can even use these wipes on children and pets! For more information on where to buy go to:

Face Halo - The Modern Makeup Remover - $22

A makeup remover that is effective, non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and cost-efficient. All you need to add is water. It will replace 500 single-use makeup wipes. They can be reused and washed up to 300 times before they need to be replaced. I will sometimes add my toner to the pads and then wipe over my face.

This round reusable wipe has fibers that reach deep into your pores to remove all of your makeup. It is great for removing mascara and lipstick too -- all by just adding water! The size of the pad is that of about three cotton rounds, so you can clean your entire face using just one round pad. Once you are finished cleaning your face, simply put it in the laundry to be washed with the rest of your towels.

I absolutely love Face Halo makeup remover pads. I also love their Body pad! For more information go to: Face Halo

Green Estate Reusable Makeup Remover Pads - 14 pack complete with a Laundry Bag - $15

These great makeup remover pads have two sides (white/black). The black side is for removing mascara, eye shadow, lipstick or foundation. The white side is used for toner and moisturizer. When done, simply place the used pad into the laundry bag and wash with the rest of your laundry. They are made to last through hundreds of washings.

I love that Green Estate is also sustainable. Through their partnership with Eden Reforestation Projects, they are committed to plant one tree for every product purchased.

So this week let's start to looking for clean swaps in our personal care products. How about finding one item that you can swap that is disposable for something that is reusable!