Reusable makeup pads help keep your skin (and the planet) clean – these are our favourites

We're all looking for ways to be a bit kinder to our planet, especially when it comes to our beauty routines, and changing our habits towards single-use beauty can make a big impact in the long run. The majority of cotton buds, cotton pads and face wipes we buy contain the plastic polypropylene which doesn't decompose. They enter our landfills or our oceans, and stay there, causing havoc for the wildlife that live there.

While may not be able to change the world overnight, there are small, individual steps we can take at home to do our bit to offset our environmental footprint, as well as save money through buying less often. Number one on the hit list? Face wipes. Enter in their place: the best reusable makeup remover pads.

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While convenient, the way that we dispose of our face wipes has huge ramifications – 93% of sewer blockages are caused by the 9.3 million face wipes flushed down the loo everyday and an investigation of the Thames found that entire riverbeds had been created from the hundreds of thousands of wipes that end up there (a problem seen in rivers around the world). Given the amount of face wipes we'd personally use over to course of our lifetime, a small switch to could make an enormous difference.

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How do reusable makeup remover pads work?

Reusable cotton pads and facial cloths are the solution – enabling us to use the same piece of material over 500 times (or for up to a year). Once you're done, simply throw into the laundry basket. The majority of reusable makeup remover pads are made from natural fibres like bamboo and cotton, and biodegrade entirely within a couple of years. Worth particular note? Face Theory's Tendertouch Reusable 100% Organic Cotton Pads. Made from 100% unbleached, organic cotton, the thick pads are a generous size to help sweep away a full face of makeup, and these can be reused again and again for a year, after which, they're fully compostable. We also love Face Halo Makeup Remover Pads - £17.95 for three at Beauty Bay. Designed to be used alone with water (although we'd suggest you pair it with a cleanser if you're wearing a full face of makeup), this can be reused 500 times (!!) and has already proven a hit with makeup artists and celebs (it was even used on stage by Jess Glynne at last year's Brit Awards).

While switching may take a little bit of getting used to, once you get into the habit the effort involved is minimal. All you have to do is pop your reusable pads into the wash along with the rest of your laundry once or twice a week and you're good to go.

What are the best reusable makeup remover pads? Keep scrolling for our roundup of the best reusable makeup pads...