What Are Single Use Face Wipes & Pads Really Doing to The Environment
At the end of a long day the last thing we want to think too much about is our evening skin care routine. The goal is to get our makeup off as quick as possible so we can cleanse, moisturize, and get into our pjs so we can get into bed. But what if I told you that the single use makeup wipe you grab for at night isn’t the best choice for your skin or for the environment either. Although it is the most convenient option and the quickest, it is not the best option to make in the long run.
The Problem
Makeup remover wipes are mostly made of polyester and plastic fibers causing them to be almost indestructible. Single use makeup wipes can take over 100 years to fully decompose. Not only that but these wipes are the 3rd most wasteful product in the world. In one day about 1.3 billion makeup wipes are thrown away with a total of 7.6 billion wipes ending up in landfills in a time span of one year. That’s just the wipes that end up in the trash, that doesn’t include the wipes and pads that get flushed down the toilet. Even though packaging for the wipes says the wipes should never be flushed down the toilet some people still do it anyway. Since the wipes are not meant to be flushed, they tend to clog up pipes because they soak up fat in the pipes. The wipes that don’t get stuck in pipes end up in rivers and oceans causing pollution. In 2019 on the Thames foreshore at Hammersmith, England 23,000 wipes were collected by Thames21. Thames river has reefs made of wet wipes which are slowly changing the shape of the river. On top of that, the plastic fibers in the wipes breakdown into microplastic that is then consumed by the sea creatures. Microplastic also release toxins into the environment. Makeup remover and wet wipes aren’t the only single use products causing environment issues.
Cotton rounds aren’t much better either, although they don’t have plastic fibers in them, they are still very wasteful. Cotton production also requires 20,000 liters of water to produce 1kg of cotton, about the size of a t-shirt. If the cotton isn’t organic that causes another problem, that means the famers were around pesticides and chemicals which can lead to cancer and other health issues. The chemicals and pesticides are also harmful to the environment as well. The best solution to this problem is switching to reusable makeup removing cloths or pads.
The Solution
Recently reusable makeup remover cloths and pads have been taking the world and social media by storm. It isn’t hard to believe why when they are so cost effective and are great for different skin types. In the long run reusable cloths save so much money with a life span of 3-5 years, depending on the quality or the cloth. Think of all the packs of single use wipes you would go through and the money you would spend in that time frame. They are also safer and gentler on the skin than the single use wipes. Single use wipes tend to push makeup around on the skin whereas the reusable cloths and pads take makeup off the skin and pores. Reusable cloths and pads cause less irritation and most only need water to get makeup off the skin. They don’t have any chemicals or drying alcohols in the cloths in pads making them great for sensitive skin and for people with allergies. Most makeup removers are made of either polyester, microfiber, organic cotton, linen, and muslin. Reusable clothes and pads are also very easy to clean, just wash them with the rest of the towels once a week in the washer. There are three main different reusable makeup removers, which are makeup remover cloths, microfiber, and reusable makeup pads. Cloths and microfibers are great for taking of heavy full-face makeup. The pads are great for light makeup or for just removing eye makeup. If you normally use cotton pads this is a great replacement. All though it may take a little more effort at night than a single use wipe it truly is the best product for taking off makeup in so many ways.
The best way to solve the problem that is caused by single use makeup remover wipes, wet wipes, and cotton pads is to make the switch to reusable makeup remover cloths and pads. All though it sounds like a small change it will have great impact on the environment. By making this simple change there will be less waste added to the landfills and less pollution ending up in the rivers and oceans. The switch will also be a relief on your wallets with the amount of money that will be saved. The clothes and pads are also not as harsh on the skin and cause less irritation. It is safe to say the benefits out way the cons and should be your next purchase.
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