TIP OF THE WEEK: My Make Up Removal Routine #DitchTheDisposables

I am always looking for new ways to ditch disposable products and reduce waste. Reusable products are not only better for your pocket and the environment but also for your health! Many disposable products are made with harmful ingredients. I ditched my disposable make up remover pads years ago and I don't miss it one bit!

Reusable cosmetic pads are one of my favorite products at my Mama Cloth Boutique . I use mine everyday for make up removal, toner, and my daughter uses them in the bath for washing her face.  A few friends of mine have mentioned that they love them for travel use as well because they can be used to wash/clean your face but also remove make up, you can wash them in a hotel room and never run out while you are on holidays! The best part is about these puppies is that they are machine washable!  Very rarely do I use more than one at a time to take the make up off my face.  Cosmetic Pads are sold in packs of 5 and measure at approximately 4" each. They are made from Organic Bamboo Velour (the super soft side I use to remove most of my make up), filled with absorbent Cotton Fleece, and backed with a cute flannel printed fabric.  

MY MAKE UP REMOVAL ROUTINE:

 USING WASHABLE COSMETIC PADS

 

 I store my cosmetic pads in a 4" round ceramic container from IKEA.  

One cosmetic pad usually does the job to remove all of my 'everyday make up'.  Sometimes I have to use 2 if I am rocking more of an 'evening rockstar/lady of the night' look. ;)

For make up remover I prefer Body Shop's Chamomile make up remover but after recently reviewing the EWG.org Cosmetic Data base I may be switching back to my own home made solution. After doing my research this product isn't as toxic free as I had hoped. I don't always buy make up remover.  Often I use something out of the kitchen like coconut oil and throw it in a small jam jar for my bathroom.  I know some people use Olive Oil or Almond Oil as well.  There are a lot of options that you can use that come right from your kitchen! Before making your selection READ THE LABEL!!! EWG.org Cosmetics Data base is a great resource! If you haven't used that website in the past I suggest you check it out. They also have an app (which I have yet to try). It's a great way to get a rating on any beauty products you are buying.  Make your selection wisely. 
 

 

Apply some make up remover of your choice to the cosmetic pad and gently wipe away dirt/make up. I find that one cosmetic pad is more than enough for the amount of make up that I wear.  The 4" round pads are the perfect size for both eyes and my eye brow pencil removal.

 #NoMakeUpSelfie right here ;)

Now just rinse the cosmetic pad in water! I never have to apply stain remover to my cosmetic pads because I always rinse them upon using them.

Be sure to squeeze the pad out a few times to remove anything that was absorbed to the core of the pad.

Toss in the wet bag with your cloth wipes, diapers, mama cloth or towels!

For washing instructions on my products please go HERE

Don't forget to follow me on my socials for new products, giveaways & more!!! My Facebook page is almost at 1800 Likes! Every 100 likes I host a giveaway so head over and give me a LIKE! ;)

Have a wonderful week!!!

-Meg.

Website/Shop: www.mamacloth.ca

My Socials:

Facebook Page

Twitter

Instagram

Google +

Pinterest Board

TIP OF THE WEEK: Don't get your panties in a twist! ;)

Hello Ladies!

I hope everyone is having a fabulous week!!!

Last week we discussed Cloth Pad shifting and touched a bit on cloth pad bunching. These issues can arise if your cloth pads aren't fitting the underwear that you have selected. For this weeks blog post I wanted to introduce a new product to Mama Cloth Boutique that will help with anyone experiencing cloth pad BUNCHING. Welcome CLOTH PAD WING EXTENDERS!

Do you find your pads are bunching? If your underwear gusset is a wider (like a boy short style) or if you are plus sized and have a wider underwear gusset this can happen with cloth pads.  Unlike disposable pads cloth pads don't stick to your underwear to stay in place so it's important to make sure they fit correctly to avoid shifting/bunching which could cause leaks. Since we are all different shapes & sizes it is possible that your cloth pad could be too tight around the gusset of your panties causing a bit of bunching.  I personally prefer a snug fit & a bit of bunching doesn't bother me at all.  I would rather it too tight than too loose (which causes shifting of the pad on your undies and could potentially cause a leak). For those that are experiencing too much bunching causing discomfort, I have introduced a new product to fix the problem. Read on...

Wing Extenders are made from 1/2" wide braided elastic & kam snaps. The snaps are available in a wide variety of colours (Black, White, Bright Pink, Light Pink, Light Blue, Bright Green & Lavender). Gotta make it fun right??? ;)




Cloth Pad Wing Extenders add approximately 1" to the width of your pad! Don't get your undies in a twist! Just snap the extender on and you are ready to go! If you need even MORE of an extension you could snap 2 together adding a 2" increase to your pad (but I doubt this is necessary). A cheap solution at only $2.00 per extender!

 


CARE/WASHING:  To increase the longevity of your Cloth Pad Wing Extenders, avoid machine washing them. Please be sure to remove your extenders before tossing your cloth pads in the washer. Because they are positioned under the pad, it is unlikely that they will become soiled. If you do need to wash your Extenders, we suggest hand-washing them and air drying OR using a Cloth Pad Drying Strap! Drying snaps are coming soon to Mama Cloth Boutique!

 If you have any questions or comments please feel free to leave a message below.  :) Don't forget to follow me on my socials!

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Google +
Pinterest

SHOP NOW @  www.MamaCloth.ca 

Have a wonderful week! :)

-Meg.

TIP OF THE WEEK: Cloth Routine & Accessories for Cloth Pads on the go!

Mama Cloth is just as simple on the go as it is at home. I know some people are turned off by the idea of dealing with cloth pads on the go but it really isn't that difficult as long as you have a few handy accessories to make your life easier.

The key is the accessories! Travel Wet Bags & Pad Wrappers make traveling with cloth pads so much easier!

Travel Wet Bags are for sale at my Mama Cloth Web Boutique.  Each travel wet bag has 2 pockets. 1 pocket is zipped (normally that's where I store soiled pads so they are sealed away securely) and one pocket has a snap closure for clean pads ready for use. Travel wet bags are approximately 9 1/2" x 7 1/2" and hold several pads (depending on the size of the pad your carrying). Wet bags are made from PUL fabric which is a waterproof breathable fabric (used to make cloth diapers).  They keep wet/soiled items contained on the go. Each wet bag also has an elastic loop which you can use to hang on bathroom doors so they are up off the ground while you do your thing. The best part is they are machine washable & eco friendly!

Wet bags have many uses around our home. Not just for pads! Soiled hankies, wet swimsuits, soiled baby clothes, kitchen rags/ dish cloths, cloth diapers, cloth nursing pads, cloth wipes & more. They are a great addition to an environmentally conscious home. Wet bags are also available in MEDIUM SIZE at my web boutique (great for household use) and custom orders are also available in larger sizes for your nursery or laundry room.

Pad Wrappers are a MUST for my "On The Go" routine. Pad wrappers are for sale at my web store $3.50ea  or 3 for $10.

It doesn't matter what time of the month it is I am ALWAYS carrying at least 1 wrapper stuffed with a clean pad. You never know right?? I don't often carry a wet bag if I am not expecting my period, but rarely do I ever leave home without a clean pad stuffed in a pad wrapper!

Like wet bags Pad Wrappers are made from the same PUL fabric protecting your soiled pad from anything else it may come in contact with.

Pad wrappers have many uses around our home.  My husband and I have devoted a few for items such as ear buds (otherwise they would be a tangled mess in the bottom of my purse), bandaids (again..lost in the purse of Narnia without these wrappers), and my daughter uses them to hold reusable hankies in her backpack.  Pad Wrappers come in many different colours/prints. I have a chevron wrapper for my pads, a lime green wrapper for my ear buds, and a purple one for bandaids.



Okay, so we have gone over the accessories. Now what about a public bathroom routine?  I don't feel comfortable rinsing my cloth pads in a public sink.  No judgements here if that's what you do. What I do is use the reusable wrapper and deal with it once I am at home.  I remove the fresh pad from the wrapper for use. The soiled pad then goes in my pad wrapper.  To keep things even more contained and sealed I put the wrapper in my travel wet bag. This step isn't necessary but it just makes me feel better considering my 4 year old often enjoys rummaging thru my purse. Once I am at home, I deal with the usual treatment and stain removal of my pads. Voila! Not as hard as it sounds right? No rinsing in public. It's like it never even happened ;)

For more info about these products please check out my web store or feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how to care for your pads & cloth accessories.

All washing instructions are available HERE on my website. I also have a FAQ page worth checking out. You Tube has a LOT to offer in terms of washing routines and care suggestions. I plan on posting some videos of my own this year so keep watch for those! I have tried a few washing methods. Some people soak them until they are ready for the washer. I usually rinse and stain remove them immediately and just leave them in the wet bag until laundry day. Using cloth products isn't as difficult as it sounds. The important part is to find a routine that works for you. Some people make more work for themselves then needed. Do your research and find something that works for you. Please feel free to contact me at any time for suggestions.

Have a good week!

-Meg
Mama Cloth Boutique

TIP OF THE WEEK: Cloth Pad Shifting & Bunching???

 Hello & Happy New Year!!!

Part of my New Years Resolution for my business is to Blog more, Sew More, & Post More!!!

One of my goals is to post weekly tips that have to do with Greener Living and Cloth! So watch for that!

This weeks topic is... PAD SHIFTING!!! Say whaaaat???

You heard me. Pad shifting! Have you ever gotten weird shifting using cloth pads? Since cloth pads are snapped together vs. stuck to your undies like disposable pads, it is possible that cloth pads can shift/bunch around on your underwear.  For those of you experiencing these issues I have some tips for you...

1) Adjust your Snap Setting: Always check the snap setting of your cloth pads.  Proper fit is important.  If your pads are not snug around the gusset of your underwear they may shift.  It is important to select the pad setting that allows a snug fit for our cloth pad.

2) Blame Your Undies:  I personally have what I call my "Period Panties".  Usually a boy short or bikini style with a wider gusset.  If you are wearing slinky bikini underwear with a gusset (crotch of your panty) that isn't wide enough you may experience shifting.  I often select underwear that is snugly fit and has more coverage for 'That time of the month". You want the pad to be snug to the crotch of your underwear. The more secure the pad the less risk of leaks & movement!

3) Pad Extenders: For many plus sized women (or women that tend to purchase styles of underwear with a wider gusset) the issue can also be that pads are TOO tight to the gusset of your underwear. This may cause bunching. If this is the case PAD EXTENDERS (much like bra extenders) can be purchased.  If this applies to you please contact me and I can custom make some extenders for you at little cost.

Hope this post helps some of you! Please keep a watch for weekly tips on Healthy Living & Cloth Everything!!

All the best for 2016!

-Meg
xo