Hi friends! It's Chloe again with another sustainable scrap-busting project: sewing reusable make up pads! If you're just tuning in, I've started a blog series all about how to use your fabric scraps to make new projects in the name of sustainability. You can read my first post all about how to make a bowl cozy here!
If you take a look around your living space, there are lots of little things that can be done in a sustainable way without making big changes. For example, I love playing with makeup. What I don't love is taking a disposable cotton round, using it for 30 seconds to remove my makeup, and then tossing it in the garbage. It just feels like such a waste!
These little reusable makeup pads are so easy to make, and so handy. Use one to remove your makeup, then put it in a jar in your bathroom. When the jar is full, just toss it in the wash with some towels and voila! The cycle begins again, with no waste created. It's an extra bonus that reusable makeup pads can be easily made with leftover sewing scraps.
For this tutorial, you will need:
-A scrap of your choice for the backside of the pads- it can be jersey knit, printed cotton, whatever you have on hand.
-A second scrap for the makeup removing side- you can use a microfiber towel, a regular towel (if you don't have reactive skin like me), fleece scraps, etc., as long as it's soft enough for your skin and non-irritative. Denim probably isn't the best choice for the makeup removing side.
-A glass, jar or other round thing to use as a template. I used the top of a fancy candle that I stole from my sister (thanks Helene).
-Sewing scissors or a rotary cutter.
-A marker for tracing the circles.
I used some plush fleecy jersey, some striped cotton, some white cotton batting, and a retired washcloth to made a few makeup pad variations.
First, use your round template to trace circles on your two fabric scraps. You will be using two fabric rounds for each makeup pad.
Once you have traced your circles, cut them out using a rotary cutter or sewing scissors.
Next, match up two circles, right sides out. Pin together. If they don't match up exactly, feel free to trim away excess. They don't need to be perfect; we're using these to wipe our faces, after all.
Once you have all your fabric rounds pinned together, it's time to sew.
If you don't have a serger, you can still make these reusable makeup pads! Simply use a wide zig-zag setting to sew around the edge of your pads. If your machine has an overcast stitch, feel free to use that setting as well. I usually go around the pad twice when using a regular sewing machine, to make sure the pads are durable.
I like the look and security of a serged edge, so for most of my reusable makeup pads, I serged around the edges. It can take a couple of tries to figure out your preferred technique for serging around the edges of a circle, but it's pretty easy to get the hang of it. Remember, these don't have to be perfect.
Once you have the amount you want, that's it! Put your reusable pads into a cute container in your bathroom and you are good to go.
Here's a non-sewing tip: I just mix a little bit of water and jojoba oil together in the palm of my hand for makeup remover. It's non-comedogenic, less expensive and more sustainable than buying makeup remover from the drugstore. This mixture works great with these reusable makeup pads as well!
Do you have any sustainable secrets or techniques for your skincare or makeup routine? Let us know in the comments!
