LastRound vs Cotton Rounds: Reusable vs Disposable Pads (2026)
LastRound vs Cotton Rounds: Reusable vs Disposable Pads (2026)
Disclosure: LastRound is made by LastObject, the company behind this store. We've done our best to represent both products fairly. Pricing data is accurate as of May 2026.
If you remove makeup or apply toner daily, you probably go through a lot of cotton rounds. A single pack disappears fast, and the waste adds up faster than most people realise. That's the premise behind reusable alternatives like LastRound — but are they actually worth it compared to a reliable, cheap option like Amazon Basics cotton rounds?
This page breaks down both products honestly: what each is made of, how they perform, how much they actually cost over time, and what choosing one over the other means for your bathroom bin.
Quick Summary
| LastRound | Amazon Basics Cotton Rounds | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Reusable (7 pads) | Single-use (100 pads per pack) |
| Price (May 2026) | ~$16 / ~£16 | ~$2.41 per 100-pack |
| Total uses | ~1,750 (250 per pad) | 100 per pack, then replace |
| Material | 30% cotton, 70% wood fibre | 100% cotton |
| Machine washable | Yes (up to 60°C) | No |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes | Yes |
| Compostable | Yes (end of life) | In theory; rarely composted in practice |
| Laundry bag included | Yes | No |
| Customer rating | 4.8 / 5 (1,470 reviews) | 4.7 / 5 (~39,000 ratings) |
| Best for | Daily reusers, eco-conscious shoppers | Occasional use, travel, budget-first buyers |
Product Breakdown
LastRound by LastObject
LastRound is a set of seven reusable makeup-remover pads designed in Copenhagen by LastObject ApS. The company raised funding from over 9,000 Indiegogo backers and has built a range of reusable personal-care products around the same core idea: make single-use everyday items obsolete.
Each pad is made from a blend of 30% natural cotton and 70% wood fibre. One side has a terrycloth texture for light exfoliation and better product uptake; the other is smooth for applying liquids like toner, micellar water, or serum. They're machine washable up to 60°C and rated for around 250 wash cycles per pad — meaning the seven-pad set is designed to replace roughly 1,750 single-use cotton rounds over its lifetime.
The set comes with a mesh laundry bag to keep the pads together in the wash and a recycled-plastic storage case for the bathroom. Packaging is plastic-free FSC-certified cardboard. At the end of the product's life, the pads themselves are home-compostable.
Available in: Turquoise, Black, Red, Blue, Peach, Green
Sizes: Original and Large · Warranty: 2 years
Amazon Basics Hypoallergenic Cotton Rounds (100 Count)
Amazon Basics cotton rounds are straightforward: 100 single-use, 100% cotton rounds per pack, hypoallergenic and soft enough for sensitive skin. They're designed for makeup removal, toner application, nail polish removal, and general skincare use.
At roughly $2.41 per 100-count pack, they are among the cheapest cotton rounds available. They have over 39,000 customer ratings at 4.7 stars, which reflects mainstream adoption. They are soft, absorbent, and consistent, and they work well with all standard skincare products.
The key limitation is that they are single-use. Each pad is used once and discarded. There are no sustainability certifications listed, no compostability claim, and no reuse instruction.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | LastRound | Amazon Basics |
|---|---|---|
| Reusable | Yes | No |
| 100% cotton | No (30% cotton, 70% wood fibre) | Yes |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes | Yes |
| Dual-sided texture | Yes (terrycloth + smooth) | No (uniform texture) |
| Machine washable | Yes (60°C) | No |
| Laundry bag included | Yes | No |
| Storage case included | Yes | No (cardboard box) |
| Plastic-free packaging | Yes (FSC-certified) | Not specified |
| Home-compostable | Yes (end of life) | No practical pathway |
| Colour options | 6 colours | One option |
| Available in large size | Yes | No |
| 2-year warranty | Yes | No |
| Star rating | 4.8 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 |
Cost Analysis
Per-Use Cost
Amazon Basics: $2.41 per 100 rounds = $0.024 per use
LastRound: $16 for 7 pads × 250 uses each = 1,750 uses total = $0.009 per use
LastRound works out at approximately 2.5× cheaper per use once you factor in its full lifespan. Even measured against Amazon Basics' very low price, the reusable maths still favours LastRound over time.
Lifetime Cost: Daily Use
| Scenario | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | 5 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Basics (365 uses/yr) | $8.79 | $8.79 | $8.79 | $43.95 |
| LastRound | $16.00 | $0 | $0 | $16.00* |
*Assuming the full 1,750-use lifespan is reached with daily use across ~4.8 years. A second set may be needed after that point.
Net saving with LastRound over 5 years: ~$27.95. At two uses per day (morning and evening), the payback period drops to under a year.
Note: This comparison does not include the marginal cost of washing (water, detergent, energy), estimated at under $0.50 per year on a cold cycle with other laundry.
Performance & Daily Use
Makeup Removal
Both products perform well for makeup removal. Amazon Basics rounds are soft and absorb product quickly. LastRound's terrycloth side provides slightly more friction, useful for heavier makeup, while the smooth side works well with micellar water or oil-based removers. Personal preference and product type will determine which texture you prefer.
Toner & Skincare Application
For applying toner, essence, or lightweight serums, the smooth side of LastRound behaves very similarly to a standard cotton round. Amazon Basics rounds are equally effective. Both are gentle and appropriate for sensitive skin.
Convenience
This is where Amazon Basics has a genuine advantage. There is no washing involved — you use a round, drop it in the bin, and reach for the next one. For people who travel frequently or prefer not to think about laundry, disposables are more convenient.
LastRound requires rinsing after use (recommended), machine washing regularly, and air drying. The included mesh bag makes this straightforward, but it is an extra step.
Environmental Impact
At one use per day, a single person gets through approximately 365 cotton rounds per year. Over five years, that's 1,825 pads — most of which go to landfill.
Cotton is a resource-intensive crop: the World Wildlife Fund estimates that producing 1 kg of cotton requires up to 20,000 litres of water. A single set of LastRound pads replaces 1,750 single-use rounds. Based on lifecycle analysis data, reusable alternatives like LastRound break even on environmental impact after approximately 50 uses — meaning the remaining 1,700+ uses represent a substantial net reduction in resource use and waste.
LastRound's 70% wood-fibre content is worth highlighting. Wood fibre is typically sourced from sustainably managed forests and requires significantly less water to produce than cotton. The 30% cotton content contributes to the soft feel, but the overall material mix is lower-impact than 100% cotton by a meaningful margin.
Pros and Cons
LastRound — Pros
- Replaces 1,750 single-use pads
- ~$0.009 per use vs $0.024 — 2.5× cheaper long-term
- Dual-sided design (terrycloth + smooth)
- Home-compostable at end of life
- Mesh laundry bag + storage case included
- 2-year warranty
- 4.8-star rating
LastRound — Cons
- Higher upfront cost ($16 vs $2.41)
- Requires washing and drying between uses
- Different texture — may take adjustment
- Not ideal for very-occasional or travel-only use
Amazon Basics — Pros
- Extremely affordable ($2.41 per 100)
- 100% cotton — familiar soft texture
- No maintenance required
- 39,000+ ratings at 4.7 stars
- Ideal for travel and occasional use
Amazon Basics — Cons
- Single-use — significant ongoing waste
- More expensive per use over a full year
- No reusability or end-of-life sustainability plan
- Higher ongoing resource consumption
Who Should Buy Each?
Choose LastRound if you:
- Use cotton rounds daily as part of a morning or evening skincare routine
- Want to reduce single-use waste without changing your skincare habits
- Are willing to pay slightly more upfront to save over time
- Care about product lifecycle — materials, compostability, packaging
- Use both sides of a cotton round for different skincare steps
Choose Amazon Basics if you:
- Use cotton rounds occasionally or irregularly
- Travel frequently and want single-use convenience with no laundry
- Have a very tight budget and prioritise the lowest upfront cost
- Prefer the exact texture of standard 100% cotton
Verdict
For daily users, LastRound is the better choice on almost every metric that matters over time: cost per use, waste reduction, material impact, and functional versatility. The upfront cost of $16 pays for itself in under a year against even the cheapest disposable option.
Amazon Basics cotton rounds are genuinely good. They're soft, reliable, hypoallergenic, and cheap. If your use is infrequent or you need a travel-friendly option with zero maintenance, they're a sensible choice.
But for anyone using cotton rounds daily, switching to LastRound is one of the easier sustainability upgrades available. It costs less in the long run, produces far less waste, and doesn't require changing your skincare routine at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times can you use LastRound pads?
Each LastRound pad is rated for approximately 250 wash cycles. With 7 pads in the set, that gives a total of around 1,750 uses — equivalent to replacing 1,750 single-use cotton rounds.
Are reusable cotton rounds cheaper than disposable ones?
Yes, over time. LastRound costs approximately $0.009 per use across its full lifespan. Amazon Basics cotton rounds cost approximately $0.024 per use. For daily users, LastRound pays for itself within a year and saves money over time.
Are Amazon Basics cotton rounds biodegradable?
Cotton is a natural fibre and will biodegrade over time, but most cotton rounds are discarded in general waste and end up in landfill where decomposition is very slow. They are not certified compostable and have no practical end-of-life sustainability pathway in most households.
Can LastRound pads be composted?
Yes. LastRound pads are home-compostable at the end of their life. They are made from 30% natural cotton and 70% wood fibre — both plant-based materials that break down in home compost conditions.
How do you wash LastRound reusable pads?
Place the pads in the included mesh laundry bag and wash in any regular laundry cycle at up to 60°C. They can be tumble dried or air dried. Rinsing them after each use helps maintain hygiene between washes.
Pricing data sourced from better-objects.com and amazon.com as of May 2026. Prices may vary. Environmental statistics sourced from World Wildlife Fund cotton water-use data and published lifecycle assessment literature.