When it comes to make-up, there are some things I think I need and some I don’t. Unfortunately, I’m usually wrong about what I don’t need. Throughout my makeup journey, I have humbly accepted my wrongs except for one thing, I refuse to buy make-up remover sheets. I have, however, discovered a sustainable way to make them.
Cleansing wipes are used to clean the makeup from the skin. It is common to clean everything off every night so the skin doesn’t have to deal with dirt and grime. They help keep pours clean and protect the skin from blemishes. However, the bigger question is what chemicals are going into your skin. The FDA for skincare and make-up has not added or removed any bans since the 1920s, so many hard-to-pronounce or read items might be a bit toxic for you. Also, makeup remover wipes are incredibly terrible for the environment. The sheets can’t be recycled, and they don’t decompose. Every person cleaning up their make-up use maybe 1-2 sheets per face. All those sheets pile up, and it takes around 100 years to fully break down, so that waste is a lot. Also, the amount needed to thoroughly remove the makeup makes these sheets so expensive. Even if one sheet is used once a day, there are an average 30 sheets per package ranging from $5-$9. Each month one spends $60 or more. While $60 is not breaking the bank, it is money that can be spent on better and cooler things. So why support an industry that is poisoning you, the planet, and your wallet? Why don’t you make your own cleansing wipes?
Making your own make-up remover cleansing is easy. I had seen a recipe close to this on TikTok and have played around with it ever since. These are the products you need;
1. A jar and a lid
2. Use a towel that you don’t want anymore.
3. Olive oil or coconut oil.
4. Castile Soap. I like Dr. Bronner’s.
5. Water. Preferably filtered, but you can do boiled too.
The first step is cutting circles in a used towel you don’t want anymore. The circles should be the size of your jar, so try using the lid as an example. Cut maybe 7-10, enough to give you a solid week. If you don’t put on as much make-up, make less. I like to do this weekly, but that’s because I am more concerned with germs.
Put the cloths in the jar with 1/4 cup of Castile Soap, 1/2 cup of water, and 2 tbsp of olive or coconut oil. Coconut oil tends to solidify, so it’s probably better to use olive oil, but I like coconut oil on my skin, so I use that too. Shake it up, and you got a perfectly healthy and sustainable make-up remover wipes. I advise you to use them for a week’s worth so no bacteria start to form in your solution. If you don’t wear that much make-up every day, make less. Your skin, the environment, and your wallet will thank you.
