It’s the start of Spring and the time where a lot of us make change in some way, and that may include switching to a more eco-friendly way of doing skincare. This is a great one because it’s good for the environment, produces far less household waste, and is a good habit for your skin.
The best way to get started with a habit is start small and build up, not expecting everything to change at once. So we suggest having a go with one small swap and seeing how it fits into your daily life!
One Easy Swap
One easy swap to make is buying bars of shampoo, conditioner and body wash instead of bottles, this cuts down on plastic waste in the home, and actually a lot of people say it's much better for their hair and skin anyway, usually only using natural ingredients.
Another swap you could try is the way you take off your makeup or cleanse your face at the end of the day. Reusable skincare pads are a great swap for those cotton pads, and they're more durable while in use, and better for sensitive skin too!
Here's what our red squirrel skincare pads look like, a set of 6 is a great amount to get started and see how it suits you and your daily routine.
The Initial Cost and Some Pad Math
I think cost is always a factor when people are thinking about making an eco-swap, and I've definitely been there! When I was looking into natural deodorants, I was a bit shocked at first by the £15 initial cost of the one I chose at Fussy, but that's only because I've been using £2 rubbish for years that honestly didn't work anyway. After that initial investment, the refills cost around £5, which again seems expensive compared to an aerosol can, but it lasts so much longer, works far better, and is much better for the environment.
I think the initial cost of pads can be a concern for people too, but look at it this way. If you cleanse and tone your face every morning and night like I do, that's 4 cotton pads daily. Since I switched to reusables, I only use one in the morning and one at night because they're big enough to me to use one side for each.
Now for the math!
Over a year that's 1456 cotton pads, or 12 reusable pads washed 60 times.
You can get a pack of cotton pads for around £1.50, usually for a 100. So to cover that amount of cotton pads, it would cost you over £21. For less than £15, you can get our complete 18 pack of skincare pads (which takes the yearly washes down to 40 times) and already in less than a year, money has been saved.
It may not be huge amounts, but we all know the pennies add up, and then going forward, your pads could last you for years and that's money you won't have to spend in the future. Over five years it's more than £100 spent on cotton pads, now think if you made a few swaps like this, how much more money could you be saving with an eco-friendly skincare routine and some natural changes around the home?
The Alternatives
We also offer alternatives for cleansing and washing your face, our face cloths are made from the same material but preferable to those to wash their faces and need more surface area to dry or remove product, or our exfoliating pads, also reusable, with a slightly rougher texture to exfoliate the skin. The pads themselves are still soft and could be used as normal skincare pads, but with a grainy exfoliator they’ll be great to smooth away those dead cells and leave a smooth surface.
If you are looking to make the first dip into sustainable skincare, buying a set of skincare pads and a washbag is a great start! Our sets include six pads, which is enough to cover most of the week if you like to use in the evenings. Give them a try every evening and then put them in the washbag, and throw them in the wash on the last day for them to be ready for the next week ahead. If you want to read more about eco-friendly skincare routines, we wrote a blog called How to build the perfect sustainable skincare routine where we discuss the actual products you put on your skin as well!
If you like them, it may suit you to stock up and invest in a nice collection. We offer full starter kits for sustainable skincare, or as mentioned before, our complete 18 pack is a great choice for a heavier user, who still wouldn't have to wash every week.
Personally, I tend to take the ones out that turn out a bit wonky or marked, so my collection is over twenty from the past couple of years of making them and this suits me because I only put a wash on when I absolutely have to!
A habit like this may be trial and error, maybe pads are too fiddly for you and just a simple facecloth would work better, so it’s worth experimenting a bit and seeing what you would make the best use of in your daily routine.
You can shop the whole collection of eco-friendly skincare accessories with us here, and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any queries around our products or building your sustainable skincare routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sustainable skincare and why should I switch? Sustainable skincare involves using eco-friendly products and reusable alternatives that reduce waste and environmental impact. Making the switch helps reduce plastic waste in your home, saves money over time, and often uses more natural ingredients that are gentler on sensitive skin.
How much money can I actually save by switching to reusable skincare pads? If you cleanse twice daily using cotton pads, you'll use approximately 1,456 disposable pads per year, costing over £21. A complete set of reusable skincare pads costs less than £15 and can last for years with proper care. Over five years, you could save more than £100 on cotton pads alone.
Are reusable makeup pads really effective for removing makeup? Yes, reusable skincare pads are very effective at removing makeup and cleansing the face. They're more durable while in use compared to cotton pads, gentler on sensitive skin, and their larger size means you often only need one pad instead of multiple disposables per cleansing session.
How do I wash and care for reusable skincare pads? Simply collect your used reusable pads in a washbag throughout the week and throw them in the washing machine on the last day. They can withstand multiple washes—typically 60 times per year if you have 12 pads, or 40 times per year with an 18-pack set. This makes them incredibly durable and cost-effective.
What's the best way to start an eco-friendly skincare routine? Start small with one easy swap rather than changing everything at once. A great first step is purchasing a set of 6 reusable skincare pads with a washbag to use in the evenings. Try them for a week to see how they fit into your routine, then expand your collection if you find them beneficial.
What are the alternatives to reusable skincare pads? Besides reusable makeup removal pads, you can try face cloths for larger surface area washing, exfoliating pads with a slightly rougher texture for smoothing away dead skin cells, or switching to bar shampoo, conditioner, and body wash instead of bottles to further reduce plastic waste.
How many reusable skincare pads do I need? This depends on your usage. A set of 6 pads works well if you use them once daily in the evenings and wash weekly. For heavier users who cleanse morning and night, a complete 18-pack set provides enough pads to reduce washing frequency to every few weeks, making the routine more convenient.
