I Haven’t Bought Makeup Remover In A Year Thanks To This Magic $25 Cloth
(Photo: Lavoh/Rob Trendiak)
I love a smoky eye. But I don’t love shelling out $25 for micellar water to get all that kajal, eyeshadow and mascara off. Nor, as a gigantic ecogeek, do I love the single-use plastic packaging that makeup remover comes in.
Then, in December 2024, a new Canadian brand sent Chatelaine a very interesting product. Lavoh, founded in Vancouver by Eliza Trendiak, makes reusable facecloths that promise to take off your eye makeup using only water. Of course, I had to try it.
How It Removes Makeup Using Only Water
The cloths are made of textured polyester microfibre; one side is a little rougher than the other if you need some extra scrubbing help. The brand recommends machine washing your cloth before its first use, which I did. Then, you soak the cloth in warm water, and gently wring it out. Let me tell you, it really works. It gets all my eye makeup off, even my tubing mascara, with minimal rubbing and zero residue. It also doesn’t irritate my contacts.
My Year Of Testing
I’ve kept two Lavoh cloths in rotation ever since. I recommend choosing a darker colour, like navy or dark purple, as you can’t see any stains. I’m able to use my Lavoh for a few days on repeat before having to wash it (the cloths are 20 cm x 20 cm). It also dries really quickly—I just hang it up to dry after a load of laundry. After more than a year of regular use, my cloths remain in excellent condition.
Lavoh Pricing And Value
The cloths cost $25 each, or come in a bundle of two for $40. I’ve only used the full-sized cloths—Lavoh makes smaller cloths too, 11 cm square, but when I’ve tried smaller makeup wipes from other brands in the past I’ve found them a pain to wash (you need to put them in a mesh bag or they will mess up your washing machine; I speak from experience).
The brand says each cloth will divert about 3,500 disposable makeup wipes. I’ve never used makeup wipes—once again, I’m an ecogeek—but my Lavohs have definitely saved me a few plastic bottles' worth of micellar water.
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Born in London, Ont., Gillian was Chatelaine’s former deputy editor, digital. She has also worked at Toronto Life and the National Post. Gillian cares deeply about fighting climate change and loves birds, sad lady singers, bikes, baking and wide-legged denim. She lives in Toronto's east end with her partner, two children and Rosie, her very exuberant Bouvier des Flandres.
