Truly, I always imagined The Original Makeup Erasers were just washcloths with a gimmick and now I realize that 1) I was wrong and 2) I am hooked! Since I figure I can’t be the last person to try them after being bombarded by ads and reviews, so I wanted to share my own honest review after using them for the past week.

The company sent me the new Hello Kitty x Original Makeup Erasers for my teens to try and let’s just say, we’re all now converts. That includes the 14-year-old who had been using a cheaper knock-off version, and now she’s obsessed too. I even included them  my article on The Best Summer Camp Care Package Ideas for Tweens and Teens, and our readers are snatching them up.

So, are they worth it? Here’s my experience.

Above: Dewy Glow Original Makeup Erasers.

The Original Makeup Erasers: Our Honest Review

This review is part of our Damn You, Social Media Ads! series in which we try products from the ads that are flooding our social feeds and give our honest opinion — good or bad. We may earn a small income from some purchases to support our work at no additional cost to you.

The Original Makeup Erasers: What Are They?

The promise

The Original Makeup Erasers are a washcloth and disposable makeup wipe alternative from the aptly named small business, Makeup Eraser. These premium, polyester cloths have a little tag on the back to hold them to your hand, and are made up of tiny hair-like fibers that activate when wet, and “work together like a suction to for all dirt, makeup, and oil in your pores.”

They’re machine washable, reusable, reportedly last 3-5 years to eliminate the waste of cotton rounds or disposable makeup wipes, and are promoted as being great for sensitive skin.

They are also vegan (should you think that these bunny-soft cloths were made with actual bunnies, eek), cruelty-free, and while not made in the US, they are designed here.

Most importantly, they promise to “erase ALL makeup with JUST water!” So that’s just what I wanted to try out.

Neutrals: Very practical

The set comes with 7 Original Makeup Eraser cloths, one for each day of the week (or in our case, 1-2 for each kid who instantly claimed their favorite Hello Kitty patterns.) It also comes with a cute little mesh laundry bag so you can easily wash and start fresh each week.

So, Do The Original Makeup Erasers Work? With just water?

I’m going to cut to the chase: Yes, they do!

Behold: You can see a full day of foundation, lipstick, blush, mascara and some eyeliner, removed with just water.  (Disclosure — I am not wearing full full makeup like some people do — no shadow or primer, no contour or bronzer.)

I’d say it gets all the makeup off besides maybe the base of my mascara. Let’s go with 96%.

The Difference Between The Original Makeup Erasers and Washcloths

They’re soft

I’ve never been much of a washcloth-on-my-face person (don’t judge!) — they always feel scratchy to me, no matter how soft, and I’ve had better luck with just my hands, or maybe cotton rounds if I’m using something more than a basic cleanser. Washcloths always dry stiff making them even worse after day one, or stay damp in the shower, so they get smelly by the time I’m supposed to wash my face with them and…no.

The Original Makeup Eraser cloth are just SO SO soft! Like velvety, even. Game-changer!

They stay soft when wet.

The fabric feels like a baby minky blanket when they’re dry. When wet, they stay unbelievably soft and minky-like. It feels amazing on my skin, and if you also have an odd hatred of washcloths on your face, you will instantly touch it and be like, please work please work.

They’ve got a handy tag on the back

As I mentioned, The Original Makeup Erasers have a convenient little tag on the back to hold it to your hand like you see above. It’s not only convenient, but it allows you to use it in sections, using the full surface space of the cloth over the course of a few days depending how much makeup you’re taking off. It also means you don’t have to crinkle them up, so they wipe flat, keeping them smooth and gentle.

I find the tag makes the cloths easier to control, whether you’re wiping down your whole face or spot-cleaning eye makeup or your favorite long-wearing lip color.

They’re better for the environment

I’ve amped up my efforts to cut back on single-use products over the past several years, and that includes disposable makeup wipes. While I mostly use them for travel, the fact that the Original Makeup Erasers dry so quickly means I can pop one in my dopp kit and use that instead.

They cost more than washcloths

At $25 for the set of 7 plus the makeup bag, that’s comparable to a set of 5 high-quality washcloths. You presumably won’t throw out your washcloths in 2-3 years so on price alone, classic washcloths are a better value. But if you’re like me, and don’t like to wash your face with washcloths, it’s far less expensive over time than the top-selling disposable makeup wipes — and again, more planet-friendly too.

The size is perfect

Some reviews have complained that the cloths are “tiny” but…I have no idea why anyone would think that. They’re about the size of a washcloth folded in half, and considering you don’t need to fold them like a washcloth, or wrap them around a hand to hold onto them, there’s no need for any extra fabric. I really am good with the size.

Note: If you want a larger one with more of a traditional washcloth/face towel experience, you can try the original Original Makeup Eraser, which is larger and has a short fiber side for washing, and a long fiber side for exfoliating. (I am skeptical about real exfoliation benefits from a cloth, so I’ll keep using my Aloisia Beauty Soft Peel, which is still a great product.

The Original Makeup Erasers: Comparing with Another Reusable Makeup Cloth Brand

I really like that The Original Makeup Erasers dry fast and still stay soft. Compared with a crunchy dried washcloth — well, there’s not even a comparison. But compared with other brands of soft washcloth alternatives? Eep. Massive difference.

I pick the one on the left!

Not sure if you can tell, but the Original Makeup Eraser on the left, above, is still soft, it’s dry, and ready to go again. On the right, that fluffy cloth that felt so good out of the box is still pretty damp, and doesn’t feel quite so soft anymore. Also, if something stays damp in our bathroom overnight, it starts to smell a little moldy and that’s the last thing I want on my face.

The Original Makeup Erasers: The Final Verdict

I am sold. For real. Here’s how I use mine now:

If I’m in a rush, or too tired at night to do more than wash off the day, I use the Makeup Eraser to do most of the dirty work. But more often, I’ll follow up with a gentle cleanser — right now I’m obsessed with the Hydrating Gel Cleanser that came in my Solawave Skincare Wand Kit. (Another product I’m trying and using right now and spoiler…loving it so far! It’s also 30% off right now)

As for eye makeup, I won’t say it gets off all the eye makeup, though other reviewers beg to differ. It does a great job on shadow and liner, but I still had a little work to do at the base of my lashes with Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover for mascara — an affordable drugstore choice leftover from my the pre-lockdown eyelash extension days.

I have not yet tried the cloths on waterproof mascara though reviews look promising.

While technically a 7-pack gives you a new one to use each day before washing them all once a week, you really can get 2-3 days out of each one. Especially if you use different parts of the cloth with each cleansing.

In fact, I am about to buy another pack that’s just mine, that the kids can’t touch.

I love the new Limoncello design on their website with sunny yellows and Mediterranean blues, but if you’re shopping Amazon, I’m a fan of the neutrals to keep things simple and hide some of that makeup on the cloth, or check out the beautiful color sets like Dewy Glow at very top.

There are also solids — should you, too, have kids who want to steal yours. Assign a color to each one and call it a day.

Find your favorite colors and patterns of Original Makeup Eraser 7-Day Set. at Amazon, Target or The Original Makeup Eraser website.