-
Why Fancy (and Foreign) Cotton Pads Are Just Better Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
There’s nothing worse than facial cotton that “frizzes” and leaves fibers all over your face — but there’s a better way. Cotton pads and swabs from prestige brands and Japanese drugstores are leaps and bounds better than the stuff you can buy at CVS or Duane Reade. We’ve spied these puffs in the kits of the world’s top makeup artists and on the vanities of beauty insiders who know what’s up. Try them and you’ll never go back — but don’t say we didn’t warn you.Photo by: Taylor Cox -
Clé de Peau Beauté Le Coton Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
These logo-stamped pads are made with three different cotton blends in the middle of the pad and high-grade silk on the front and back. They’re basically the softest thing you’ll ever use on your face.Photo by: Taylor Cox -
Shiseido Facial Cotton Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
There’s a reason these pads have a cult following: they’re the perfect blend of fluffy, smooth and strong.Photo by: Taylor Cox -
Muji Cut Cotton & Sanyou Cotton Buds Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
These unbleached plush pads are an amazing bang for your buck, and their multiple layers allow you to separate each sheet to get even more mileage out of a pack. And not only is the packaging of these cotton buds cute, the tips stay fuzz-free.Sanyou Cotton Buds, $12 for 180 buds; Muji Cut Cotton, $2.50 for 140 padsPhoto by: Taylor Cox -
Anna Sui Cotton Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
What’s the best part about these generously sized, silky pads? Their pretty lavender hue.Photo by: Taylor Cox -
Missha Cotton Swabs Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
The cotton on these diminutive wooden stick swabs from the Korean beauty brand is tightly wound, which means it won’t get fuzzy while you’re touching up your smoky eye.Photo by: Taylor Cox -
Chanel Le Coton Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
Not only do these super-soft pads come in a chic, minimal box…Photo by: Taylor Cox -
Chanel Le Coton Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
...each one is embossed with the classic double C’s. The pads’ triple layer design, developed in Japan, features Egyptian cotton on the outer layers with elastic Australian fibers in the center. How’s that for luxe?Photo by: Taylor Cox -
Spiral Cotton Swabs Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
Whether black or white, these Japanese brand swabs are display-worthy.Piyo Piyo Spiral Cotton Swabs, $5.29 for 200; Life Studio Black Cotton Swabs, $7 for 90Photo by: Taylor Cox -
Daisan 5-Layer Cotton Facial Pads Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
Lots of cotton pads can be separated into layers when wet, but these are the only ones we’ve seen that divide neatly when dry, too.Photo by: Taylor Cox -
Piyo Piyo Cotton Swabs Wendy Rodewald-Sulz
Skinny swabs are ideal for precision jobs, like touching up a liquid liner flick. Safety swabs, with their bulbous tip, help prevent a Hannah Horvath moment.Thin Cotton Swabs, $5.49 for 200; Safety Cotton Swabs; $5.49 for 60Photo by: Taylor Cox
