Blog, BYKURAHOME
The dirty truth behind your cotton pads
One Oasis facial round replaces 500 cotton pads!
We have grown more conscious about what we put in and on our bodies. From the food that we eat to the products that we put on our skin, we want to ensure these items are as healthy and toxic-free as possible. And it doesn't just end there. Most of us are also getting more concern about creating as little impact on the environment as possible.
But we get it - some habits are just hard to change. We learn from watching our moms take off makeup, our friends applying toner using traditional cotton pads. We have been doing that for decades. But it's time to start asking questions.
Is the cotton pad really the best for my skin? For the environment? For my bank account? Is it acceptable to use something for a minute only to know that it will last for hundreds or thousands of years in a landfill? Keep reading to find out.
The cotton pad conundrum
To start, let’s take a look at cotton - both from an environmental and facial cleaning product point of view.
How is cotton made? According to The World Counts, the use of child labour and slavery is common in the industry, and the cultivation of cotton uses high amounts of pesticides. These pesticides end up in our water, soil and in cotton itself. In addition to this, cotton production is responsible for 220 million tons of CO2 emissions annually, the leading greenhouse gas contributing to climate change. Producing cotton also uses A LOT of water (more than 20,000 litres) just to produce one kilogram of cotton.
So what happens after you have used that cotton pad to apply your toner or remove makeup? Conventional cotton pads cannot be recycled and are non-biodegradable. This is because they have been bleached and contain many different materials which can’t be separated or broken down together. After that minute of single use, they end up in the landfill. If you use 2 pads a day, that's 730 pieces a year.
Cotton is not the best material for cleaning. It is good for absorbing, which means that cotton absorbs your skincare products. Yes, this means that less liquid touches your skin, and you have to spend more of your hard-earned cash on products.
The filthy truth behind facial wipes
What about makeup remover wipes?
When you use facial wipes, you are basically rubbing alcohol and other chemicals on your face. I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound good to me.
If you use facial wipes, you will know that in order for it to work, it needs to be wet. It takes a lot of ingredients to make sure that the fibres are soaked (and remain soaked). This is usually the case of quantity over quality, which you don’t want when considering your precious skin. The wipes also contain water. Water needs to be preserved with preservatives in order to ensure longevity. Some preservatives are good, but some are toxic. But we all know the story, the good ones are more expensive, so the cheap and nasty ones are usually used.
These wipes are often harsh on the skin, leading to dryness, irritation, and redness. This sort of constant irritation can be potentially harmful for your skin in the long term.
These wipes are single-use products and cannot be recycled. Some claim that they are biodegradable or compostable, but this is usually in back-yard or industrial compost systems which most of the world doesn’t have access to. The wipes also contain plastic fibres which when broken down become microfibres which can harm animals and ultimately our food chain.
The bottom line is that they are not good for the skin, and should not be the solution for your regular cleansing.
A light at the end of the face-cleansing, make-up removing tunnel
Enter the sustainable alternative: Oasis Reusable Facial Rounds.
BYKURAHOME is the first brand to develop three different types of reusable facial rounds, each specially crafted for different beauty purposes. Best thing is, the facial round is suitable for use on all skin types, including sensitive skin. Each Oasis facial round is estimated to last 500 to 1,000 times, depending on use.
Made with bamboo velour for a velvety soft texture, this luxuriously soft facial round is perfect for even sensitive skin. Instead of absorbing your toner and serum, it efficiently applies them to your skin.
Made with bamboo terry for a slightly textured finish, this facial round is perfect for daily gentle cleansing and wiping off make-up, while providing mild exfoliation. Cleansing more efficiently than using hands alone, the three-layered pads can be used for regular daily cleansing as they effectively remove impurities and dead skin cells while unclogging pores gently for a polished glow.
