For quite a while I have been thinking about an alternative to the cotton make-up pads I have been using. It's annoying that you only get to use it for - maybe 30 seconds before you toss it in the bin. It just feels like such a waste.
These reusable make-up pads are very easy to make and super useful. Once you have used one, collect all the dirty once in a container before your wash them with some towels until you use them again and again ... What is great that they can be made with very little leftover fabric scraps.
Here is what you need:
Fabric Scrap of choice for the backside of the pads - it can be knit or woven fabric, printed or plain - whatever you have on hand
A second scrap piece for the make-up removing side. Here you should use something softer like a towel, fleece scraps etc ... as long as it is soft and doesn't irritate your skin.
Template - now here you can be creative: you can either use a jar for a round shape or why not a rectangle that way you will have less scrap from cutting the corners off the circle.
And of course your sewing machine, pins & needles, scissors or rotary cutter, mat and ruler
I used some regular towel as well as jersey for the back and a variety of cottons - sticking with blue tones to match the bathroom colours :)
Use your template to trace circles on two of your fabric scraps. You will need two fabric circles per make-up pad. Cut them using your preferred method.
Match up two circles with wrong sides together and pin. They don't have to match up perfectly, just trim away any excess. Now it's time to sew our pinned fabric circles together.
If you don't have a serger, you can still make the reusable make-up pads. Simply use a zig-zag stitch on your machine. Increase the stitch-length to sew around the edges. You could also use an overcast stitch if your machine has one. To make the pad durable, you might want to go around twice when using the sewing machine. You could also use a straight stitch and finish the raw edges with pinking shears. This method might be the least durable method - still longer than single use cotton pads.
I used my serger. Take your time when going around the edges. They don't have to be perfect, just make sure you catch all edges so that you can reuse them over and over again.
Once you think you sewed enough, place them in a container in your bathroom and you are good to go. Now I just have to find a homemade make-up remover too.
I have been using them for quite some time to test the feel on my skin. The tower is bit rougher but exfoliating so I am using these in the evening and the softer jersey in the morning, if necessary. I will make a few more but rectangle shapes to have even less fabric waste.
Thanks for hanging out with me. Happy sewing!
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