Let’s Talk Makeup Wipes

Makeup wipes, should you be using them?

Listen, I get it we’ve all been there, we’re tired it’s been a long day and we don’t want to wash our face so we opt for the wipe instead. No judgement, wipes are convenient, but they are best suited for emergencies or a first step in cleansing to start removing makeup. Wipes should not be part of your regular routine and here’s why: makeup wipes, or any wipe you are using to remove your makeup (I see you over there using that baby wipe), will never take the place of actually cleansing your face. In a pinch if it’s all you can do at night it’s better than nothing but please don’t make it a habit.

Wipes are not benefitting your skin. While wipes will help to remove some makeup they will not remove all of the oil, dirt, and makeup from your face. Worse yet, some wipes may even leave a residue on your skin after using them. Think of it this way: using a baby wipe on your hands is no replacement for actually washing your hands, and a facial wipe in place of a proper cleansing is the exact same thing. They serve a purpose and get the job done when you don’t have access to soap and water.

Here’s the other thing about wipes, they are extremely wasteful. Their packaging, along with the wipes themselves are not environmentally friendly.

Food for thought: if you just use a wipe at the end of the day and then put your serum or retinol on, how well do you think those products are going to work on a dirty face? Hint, not as well if you had properly cleansed your face first.

Here’s the other thing about wipes, they are extremely wasteful. Their packaging, along with the wipes themselves are not environmentally friendly. Wipes are single use and not all of them are biodegradable and can take decades to decompose. The market is definitely offering up more earth friendly biodegradable options nowadays which is great news. If you insist on using a wipe please opt for one of these biodegradable options or one listed below.

If you must use a wipe here are my favorites:

If you must use a wipe here are my favorites. The first is not technically a wipe but it has the ease and convenience of a wipe, The Magic Mitt by janeiredale. It’s a reusable knitted microfiber cloth that you use with warm water to remove makeup. It is washable and reusable which makes it a more environmentally sound option. They are available for purchase at our Livermore location. Another wipe option I like are Water Wipes. I like them because their ingredients are simple, literally water and citrus grandis (grapefruit) seed extract, and I don’t find them to be irritating on my eyes. Plus, they are great for travel when you may need something quick and easy to clean off your hands and don’t have access to soap and water.