REUSABLE MAKE-UP REMOVER PADS

We’re kinda surprised that these haven’t taken off better as a cleanser category, because – as this year’s winner proves – they really are super-effective at make-up removal. The Gold winner is a straight swap for cotton wool; you use them with your usual cleanser – but wash, dry, repeat, rather than throwing the pads away after use.

The Silver winner is slightly different: they work with water alone, due to a clever ‘weave’ in the fabric. Sounds miraculous? You’ve got to read the comments to believe it.

Testers, meanwhile, truly appreciated having one less piece of daily waste to toss in the bin.

GOLD AWARD Boots Botanics Reusable Cleansing Pads

From within Boots’ most natural own label range, these come in a pack of 10 ‘velvet’ pads suited to everyday cleansing, plus four ‘scrub’ pads which have a slightly more exfoliating effect. You use them in conjunction with your usual cleansing milk or cream/micellar water (and/or eye make-up remover), then smooth over the face, making sure to get into any nooks and crannies, before removing. The pads work with toner, too. They should be washed after each use in the mesh bag that’s provided with the pack, at 40°C to 60°C – and Botanics recommend putting them through a wash before first use, too. 

£12.50 for 4 pads - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘Would I buy again? Absobloominlutely – we've all GOT to quit single-use products and frankly, you're saving money in the long run using these, too’ • ‘Worked better than face cloths, cleansed deeper and felt softer on the skin’ • ‘Fab reusable product – cleanses your skin well and washes like new!’ • ‘I was worried I would lose them in the washing machine, but they wash in a netted bag which is great; I didn’t think they would be as clean as using cotton wool pads, but they came out of the washing machine like new, over and over again’ • ‘These felt lovely on the skin – nice and smooth and soft with no drag’ • ‘When it came to cleaning them, simples – pop in with my usual white wash and bish, bash, bosh ready to use again. Really great product, I am converted’ • ‘Was sceptical, but the pads felt so lovely on my skin, and they just went into the washbag provided and came out like new. Would definitely buy another packet’ • ‘Totally recommend – fab reusable product, cleanses your skin well and washes like new!’ • ‘These were like lovely little pillows on the skin, so superior to what I had been using which in comparison felt threadbare’ • ‘These worked better than face cloths – they cleansed more deeply and felt softer’ • ‘All in all, a great product and something I will happily continue to use and replace when the pads are well used. I will purchase additional sets of these as I use at least three pads every day. Trialling these for Beauty Bible has really made me think about how many single use pads I was using (though I’ll still have to buy cotton pads for nail polish removal, alas.’

£12.50 for 4 pads - click to buy 

SILVER AWARD and BEAUTY STEAL Seoulista Magic Cleanse

These were Gold winners, last year, from a 'K-beauty' (Korean beauty) brand; – and in fact, this innovative way of cleansing the face hails from there, originally. Seoulista's cotton pads promise up to 200 washes each and come in a pack of three. They're double-sided: one is slightly textured, to exfoliate the skin, while the flipside is softer, working gently to remove make-up and other debris from the complexion, including the pores, thanks to the unique (you could indeed call it ‘magic’) weave. Just add water – honestly, that's all it takes. And remember to launder after each use. A couple of testers noted that these are sold in a plastic pouch, and since we’re talking about sustainability, here, cardboard would be more appropriate. We can’t help but echo that.

£7.99 for 1 pad - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘I was pleasantly surprised – I was very cynical before using, not liking the idea of not using a cleanser. However, having tested them, they do the trick; I used them to remove make-up, then to check their performance, washed my face with a cleanser which I removed with a flannel – and there was no make-up left!’ • ‘Ideal for travelling as they are so light and only require water, to use them. I also like that they are reusable and would save me a lot of money, as I need to buy less cleanser’ • ‘These pads are amazing at removing make-up just with warm water; they seem to be like a magnet for make-up’ • ‘I love these pads!  I can't believe that people still use disposable cotton pads when these are available – such a waste and harms the environment’ • ‘The soft side feels like velvet on my skin.  The slightly rougher side is enough to give a little gentle exfoliation and freshen my skin, which feels so clean afterward’ • ‘They don’t pull on my older skin and glide gently over my complexion’ • ‘I was delighted to see this in my bag of trial products; there are so many similar products on the market now it's a minefield. The instructions are clear; performed well’ • ‘They only need a little water to work, so they will not only save you money but are good for the environment too. A great dual-textured makeup remover pad. It can be used on its own – perfect to take away with you when space is at a pinch.’

£7.99 for 1 pad - click to buy