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Friday, April 5, 2013

My Holy Grail Cotton Pads (for removing nail polish)

After many, many years of searching, I can finally say that I've found my Holy Grail cotton pad for removing nail polish. I can't even tell you how many different shapes, sizes and brands I've tried over the years, and although some seemed like they were going to my favorite, they ultimately ended up letting me down in one way or another. That is, until I found these...

 Eture Cotton Pads by Selena
(retail: around $3 for 70 pads)

Before I even get into why I'm in LOVE with these cotton pads, let me tell you where you can buy them, in case you're included to do so. They're available for purchase on the Marukai e-store for $2.98 and they're also available on Amazon for between $2.77 and $4.98. I'm sure you can find them elsewhere online, but I didn't dig too deeply because I buy these at my local Mitsuwa Marketplace (a Japanese market here in San Diego that also has other locations in California, Chicago and New Jersey). 

Keep reading to find out why these blow the lid off any other cotton pad I've ever used to remove nail polish...





You get 70 pads in a box and as you can see, these look like (sorry in advance) little pantyliners:

front

 back

Here's a photo that's pretty close to the ACTUAL SIZE of one of these pads:


And here's a photo after using just ONE pad to remove a sky-blue nail polish (three coats plus top coat) from four of my fingers:


Some people may think it's a little weird to use a cotton pad that looks like a miniature pantyliner, but you know what? That's exactly why these rock. Not only do they keep the cotton fibers INSIDE the pad (and away from your fingers) but these pads absorb your nail polish remover and keep it trapped inside the pad as well. Which means that you can use just one pad for a VERY long time before the polish remover dries out. I can remove all of the polish from one hand, turn the pad over, add a bit more remover and remove the polish from my other hand, no problem (note: not with reds or deeper shades; I use one pad for every two fingers for deeper shades and/or glitter or any type of polish that can easily transfer or stain).

Getting back to those pesky cotton fibers: you have to be VERY hard on one of these pads before you'll see even one stray fiber on your nails. I've very hard on my cotton pads and it's only after I've used one pad for more than five fingers that I start to see even one or two fibers emerge from inside the pad.

In case you're curious if I use these on my face as well, the answer is no. That's not because I don't like them for the face (they're fine for removing eye makeup, etc.) but I just prefer a softer Japanese cotton pad for my face, but that's for a whole different post (I could go on and on about Japanese cotton pads for days, trust me).

So there you have it. These are officially my Holy Grail cotton pads for removing polish.

What type of cotton product do YOU use to remove your nail polish? Have you ever tired Japanese cotton pads to remove your polish?

The products featured in this post were purchased with personal funds. For more information, click here.
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32 comments

  1. I've only tried the regular ol cotton balls from CVS.. but these look great!

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  2. Hmmm ... maybe a new use for real pantiliners? ;)

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    Replies
    1. Lol! But the sticky side would probably get in the way. ;)

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    2. they have ones that arent sticky! i remember seeing them in the store and thinking why they heck would anyone want to use those....they seem like a terrible idea lol

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    3. Sometimes I do use panytliners to remove polish from one hand while keeping the other hand unaffected by remover; I just left the paper on so the sticky part did stick on anything :)

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  3. Swissper sp? Has a similar one! I got mine at Wal-Mart a few months ago. It's way more expensive though. I think like almost $5 for about the same amount. I love them so much. Wish they weren't so much though.

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  4. I use felt. Super cheap and one small rectangle gets all of my nails. If I'm doing the math right, I get 32 rectangles from each 8.5x11 sheet, and at $.20-$.25 per sheet, it's less than a penny per use.

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    Replies
    1. OMG, Jen, I think I did a post back in 2009 about using felt for that and I STILL haven't tried it! Lol! Thank you for letting me know it works for you!

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    2. felt, is SERIOUSLY the only way to go! so much less waste and it cleans everything off soo well, all the nooks and cranies so fast and clean! waaay better then any cotton pad, ever. lol but good review anyways!

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    3. I tried using felt after hearing a rave review like yours, but find that it doesn't absorb much liquid. While it wastes less remover, for me, it meant having to waste more time adding remover to the same felt applicator. I would only have to do it once on a regular cotton ball. Now I only break out the felt for removing the glitter in a pinch.

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  5. These look nice! My current favorites for removing nail polish are from Big Lots - they're fantastic, and only about $1-2 for 80, they are completely lint free. I think the brand is Royal, but I'd need to double check.

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    Replies
    1. Yes! I use those too lol. One round is enough for one hand :) But I use soy based remover with these. I think they are 1.20 a package at my big lots.

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  6. What? The Chicago location is in the next town over from where I live! *does Carlton's Tom Jones dance around the house*

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  7. I use ones that look exactly like that, only I get them at Walgreen's, and they are the Studio 35 brand. I don't have the package anymore so it might be the same thing. The Walgreen's ones are around $6 a pack, so if I can find yours in a local Asian store, I'm switching.

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  8. I use these too and I love them! I've got a couple of boxes of back up just in case... :D

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  9. I've only used regular cotton balls, but now I'm interested in trying pads like this. ^^

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  10. Ever since my cat Cleo swallowed a (clean) cotton ball, I can't use them for anything. She's fine, (stupid cat), a cotton ball????

    I use cotton squares, the Walgreens kind, but not exactly the ones mentioned above.

    This is the same cat I had to rush to the vet to remove a string from her behind last year.

    Maybe she needs more fiber?

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  11. G--thanks for this post!

    I, for one, would love to hear about which brands of Japanese cotton brands you use for your face and where to get them. I've only heard of the DHC and the Shiseido one's but I can't find them here so I was about to order them. Can you think of any other brands I should try?

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  12. i buy these from sally's and they are amazing:

    http://www.sallybeauty.com/Nail-Cosmetic-Pads/GRAHAM3,default,pd.html?cm_vc=SEARCH

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  13. As someone who does not live near a Japanese market, I appreciate you including some online options!

    I've been on the lookout forever for removal options that don't leave fibers on the nail. I will definitely have to check these out if my Big Lots do not carry the Royal ones as mentioned by Emi.

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  14. Oooh these sound very good! I kind of like how they look like little mini pantyliners, it's weirdly cute :P

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  16. Felt for nail polish removal. Felt rules. But these cotton things look cool for other applications!

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  17. I love the ones you can get at Sally's that have a paper backing on one side so the remover doesn't soak through and ruin the polish on your other hand. They're very absorbent, and when I use the Zoya Remove Plus remover than I can use one pad for all 10 fingers.

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  18. I am just still laughing at the panti liner posts actually a good idea in a pinch. I think I may get some felt and try it!

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  19. Are these cotton pads exclusive to the San Diego area? I like that it keeps the cotton away from the nail.I might try panty liners too.If it works, ,what the heck!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Thalie! Please see the second paragraph of this post for details. :)

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  20. Those look just like the DHC Cotton Squares that cost $6.50 a box. I wonder if you've turned me onto a cheap alternative!

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  21. I used to use the ones from DHC, because I love Japanese cotton pads for removing makeup and nail polish, but the DHC ones are way more expensive... I'll have to look for these at my local Japanese market!

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  22. Hey G! Being Asian, these are the only types of cotton I use to swipe toner over my face. You can tuck a few fingers in the opening so that it'll hold still while you swipe your face. I have a fairly good access to these cotton pad products at my local Japanese dollar store (well, more like $1.50 store since the products are imported). They sometimes come in a pack of two generously sized boxes. I think each box is somewhere between 50 to 80 ct. Anyhow, the store is called Daiso and they're located worldwide (their online store has a sad inventory, unfortunately), but I'm in Seattle and there are a few around me. I'm fairly positive they're only $1.50, not including tax. Let me know if you need me to stock pile a bunch for you and I'll get all of the exact details!

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  23. what kind do you use on your face? :)

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  24. I live in NYC and found a comparable product today at Bed Bath and Beyond called Swisspers cotton squares, 100 count for $4.79. (I found your blog from alllacqueredup.com, and I love it!)

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