It may seem like cotton pads, cotton rounds, and cotton balls are all created the same and are of equal quality – after all, they are “just cotton”. But after using so many different kinds over the years for many different purposes including removing makeup and nail polish remover or applying toner, I was able to find one that works perfectly well. One of the most important aspects of the best cotton pads for removing makeup is that it works without breaking apart or dissolving even after heavy use when soaked with makeup remover or nail polish remover. Because don’t you find it annoying when you’re trying to clean your face and cotton bits end up getting stuck everywhere?
So below is my review of the best cotton pads for removing makeup and an alternative at a lower price point that I recently found.
Shiseido Cotton Pads
What It Is
I discovered the Shiseido Cotton Pads when I was working in one of my jobs in the beauty industry early in my career in 2011/2012 and I’ve been using them faithfully ever since. This cult favorite is a luxurious and high-quality facial cotton pad that has 123,000 cotton fibres woven into 28 layers which allows for less wasted product. It not only maintains its shape and form, but it doesn’t fall apart like other cotton and its fibres won’t stick to your face. It is 100% natural and is great for applying toner or for makeup removal. It is very soft and gentle on the skin and even provides gentle exfoliation.
Price
Over the years, I have noticed the price going higher and higher for the Shiseido Cotton Pads. At the time of writing this blog post (2022), it is $13 CAD for 165 sheets per pack. I started purchasing them when they were around $9 CAD per pack and although they may be a little pricier, the quality speaks for the price. But if you use cotton pads for something like removing nail polish, this may not be something you want to waste money on. However, it’s amazing for applying toner and are definitely the best cotton pads for removing makeup, especially eye makeup. I like to purchase these when they are on sale, such as during the Sephora Saving Events where you can get up to 20% off. Also, the next best time to get these are if you are traveling to Asia, these are a few dollar cheaper than what they sell it for in Canada or the US. I usually stock up on these or have someone help me buy it when in Asia such as Japan or Hong Kong.
My Take
I usually use about two cotton pads when removing my entire face of makeup. However, if I only need to remove eye makeup, I only use one cotton pad. You can use both sides of the cotton so there’s no waste and I love that it literally does not fall apart like all other cotton do. The best way to use this for removing makeup is to soak it with makeup remover, then hold it against your eyes for a minimum of 5 seconds to help with removing mascara, eyeliner, and eyeshadow. Then you can gently wipe away the makeup and this really helps your makeup dissolve and be able to be removed a lot easier.
Because of the constant increase in price over the years, I have reduced purchasing these as much as I did back in the day – but I will always have a pack on hand! Not only because of price, it’s also because I’ve been trying out different products such as the MakeUp Eraser (highly recommend since you can save money and the environment – full blog post review here) and makeup-melting cleansers. There are absolutely times when I need makeup removal pads and they are still super handy to have.
Alternative Best Cotton Pads For Removing Makeup
I will say that I found these about a year ago and saw that they looked almost the same as the Shiseido Cotton Pads and thought I would give them a try because they were at a significantly lower price point. The quality is different from those of the Shiseido – as it should be considering you do pay more for better quality. But this still works well!
Muji Makeup Facial Soft Cut Cotton – Bleached
What It Is
Muji is also a Japanese brand but they carry a variety of different items including home goods, apparel, and stationery. Their cotton pads are made of 100% percent cotton as well and are designed to be less absorbent so that you don’t lose a lot of product on them. You may find yellow or black spots on the cotton because it is a natural cottonseed shell. There are two kinds – bleached and unbleached – just make sure you go for bleached since it lasts much longer than the unbleached.
Price
These cotton pads also come in a pack of 165 at $3.90 CAD currently. When I first purchased them over a year ago, I think it was in the low $3’s. At about 60% less costly than the Shiseido pads, I think these are well worth it as you also get the same amount of product. I haven’t really seen these go on sale, but they do sell out a lot so it might be a good idea to stock up on a couple packs if you use cotton pads a lot.
My Take
Although I will continue to use Shiseido Cotton Pads when I can get them on sale, I’ve mostly been using the Muji cotton pads and my MakeUp Eraser lately. I prefer the Shiseido one still, but I just don’t feel like paying the higher price right now. And I know prices of both will continue to rise, just like everything else has. When I purchased the Muji cotton pads, I really thought they’d be the same as the Shiseido ones, and while very similar, the quality is lower. With the bleached cotton pads, I find that the fibres don’t start falling apart or dissolving until about running it the 5th or 6th pass through my face. The unbleached cotton pads were even worse – they only last about 2 or 3 swipes and leave cotton all over your face. The bleached one will leave cotton only if you use it a little too hard so you have to remember to be gentle or it’ll break.
Overall, it’s been working well and I’ve learned how to use it but you do get what you pay for. I think both of these are some of the best cotton pads for removing makeup out there considering the price, quality, and effectiveness. You can also barely tell the two apart when it comes to texture and softness. But if you want something more sustainable, better for the environment, and reusable, the MakeUp Eraser has been another great alternative for me when it comes to removing makeup. I do like to have options and it really depends on the type of makeup I wear or how much of it I have on that I need to use certain makeup-removing “tools”. A lot of the times, I use both the MakeUp Eraser and then the Shiseido Cotton Pad or the Muji cotton pads to clean up the leftover makeup under my eyes. They’re also great for applying toner or when I use my Kate Somerville Resurfacing Treatment. I think it’s great to try them all out and figuring out what you like best and what works for you!