I Tried a Reusable Makeup Removing Towel, and I’ll Never Go Back to Wipes

PSA: Disposable makeup wipes are the third most wasteful product in the world.

I always bring reusable bags to the grocery store and use public transit as my main form of transportation, but I have to confess that my beauty habits aren’t as eco-friendly. For as long as I’ve been wearing makeup, I’ve been a makeup-wipe hoarder. Really. Ever since I first applied Covergirl Lash Blast in middle school, you’d be hard-pressed to catch me without a pack of wipes in my backpack, purse, gym bag, or all three.

But not long ago, I came across a surprising statistic: Makeup wipes are the third most common waste product, partly because they take so long to break down. Yikes, right? The cold hard truth about my favorite lazy skincare vice was enough to get me to stop buying them and wash my face the old-fashioned way. But there was a disposable face wipe-shaped hole in my heart each time I scrubbed off lingering matte lipstick or stained my plush white towels with leftover mascara.

Luckily, the solution to this problem found me, not the other way around. I first laid eyes on the MakeupEraser while browsing the items that lined the checkout counter at Sephora. Truth be told, it was the box touting that it “saves money” that actually caught my eye (holding over a hundred dollars worth of skincare in your hands sharpens your senses like that) rather than the product itself, but I wish I had found it sooner because both the planet and my wallet would be in far better shape.

From my first try, I was immediately hooked. To use the makeup-erasing towel, soak it in warm water (don’t just dip it — soak it), then gently rub the cloth’s short fibered side in a circular motion to quite literally erase makeup from your face. Even when I’m wearing the most waterproof eye-makeup products in my arsenal, holding the cloth in place for just a few moments on top of my eyelids slides the makeup slides right off.

Because it's completely chemical-free and activated with only warm water, the MakeUp Eraser is suitable for all skin types. As someone with sensitive skin, I love than I can gently wash my makeup off without a cleanser and know my skin will be free of residue from even the most waterproof of formulas with no scrubbing necessary. (Hundreds of Amazon shoppers can attest to this, too.)

Before its first use, you’ll want to machine-wash the towel in hot water to activate its patented polyester blend. Since the towel is antibacterial you can use it daily, but it’s recommended you wash it at least once or twice a week. It’s safe to put in the dryer, but if you’re really committed to going green, then just let it hang-dry. That’ll help extend the life of this reusable product, which is already built to last up to five years.

If you’re ready to make your beauty routine a lot more green, you can head to Amazon to get your own MakeUp Eraser and ditch disposable wipes once and for all.

To buy: $20, amazon.com.