Eek, I used to swipe cotton pads over my face several times a day, to apply oils, to remove make up, to take off my mascara, it is a daily essential, but it takes over 100 years to decompose..
We love numbers so here goes, the average person uses 1300 face pads every year, that's over 88k in a lifetime. Boots sell their pads for £2.69 for 200, that's a cost of £17.49 per year, not including the environmental cost of production, plastic packaging or recycling.
And if you really want to break the bank Glossier sell their "chemical free, lint free, fragrance free cotton pads" for £4 for 60! Thats an annual supply for over £86 per year.
Reusable pads are definitely the right choice, both financially and environmentally. We have options: Hemp Or Bamboo.
Bamboo
Bamboo is the Usain Bolt of plants, one specific species can grow at a speed of 0.00003 km/h, that’s 1.86 mph. Okay so Usain Bolt paces at over 40mph but as far as plants go bamboo needs less nutrition per centimetre squared of growth which means production time is greatly reduced compared to more common natural textiles such as cotton. It’s speed is one thing, but natural bamboo fabrics have many more benefits including:
Bamboo uses 1/3 less water than cotton to grow
Bamboo has the power to self-replenish – 1 acre of bamboo will yield 10 times more than 1 acre of cotton
Viscose in bamboo is one of the strongest and most affordable textiles on earth
Bamboo is naturally hypoallergenic
Bamboo is 40% more absorbent than cotton making it a great swap for facial pads and bedding ensuring
Bamboos high thread count makes the material extra luxurious, both mailable and breathable
Hemp
Rasta’s have celebrated the natural benefits of hemp or cannabis plants for centuries, not only to smoke up or lather in but its organic properties make its natural fibres one of the longest and strongest in the world! From seed to plant here is information on why these magical plants need to become mainstream in textile production.
Hemp plants can thrive without nutrition rich soil, it naturally improves the quality of the soil it grows in.
Hemp plants can product natural fibres sustainably
Hemp plants require NO harmful chemicals or pollutants for production
Hemp fibres are naturally hypoallergenic
Hemp boasts some of the longest and strongest natural fibres in the world, making it one of the most durable and breathable fibres
But how do they fee on the face. We love them both, i use the bamboo face pads for softer, more malleable products such as oils and toners as the texture is slightly softer and feels luxurious as they glide across my skin. And the hemp cotton pads have a durability that helps exfoliate, getting into my pores.
Cheeky Tip: Run them under warm water and remove soapy cleansing products in a circular motion for that glow and to reduce ingrown hairs for men!
