After a long day, a lot of us can’t be bothered with an extensive skincare routine – sometimes, rubbing a wet wipe over your face is all you can manage.
However easy it might be, it’s time to rid yourself of wipes once and for all. You’ve probably heard the occasional argument against them – ranging from the environment to your skin’s health – but it can be difficult to stop them entirely. Of course, wipes are a necessity for some people, like parents caring for new babies or those who are differently abled.
5 reasons to stop using make-up wipes
But if you’re using them to wash your face at the end of the day because it’s the easiest thing to do, it’s time to rethink your routine – and here’s why…
1. Most aren’t environmentally friendly
Many wipes aren’t biodegradable, meaning once you’ve used them to take off your make-up, they will exist for decades to come.
According to the Earthwatch Institute, every day 3.4 billion wet wipes are flushed down the toilet in the UK. This poses problems for plumbing and sewage systems, contributing to giant fatbergs in our sewers.
If you do need to use wipes, there are biodegradable options. Boots says its Baby Fragrance Free Biodegradable Soft Baby Wipes (£7.50) will degrade within three to four months.
Otherwise, use a cleanser at night, and ensure all the make-up, grime and pollution is wiped off properly, with the help of a gentle muslin cloth.
2. They don’t even remove make-up that well
View this post on Instagram
In a shocking video on Instagram, cosmetic doctor Tijion Esho demonstrates how ineffective make-up wipes actually are. He squirts foundation onto a tangerine and attempts to take it off using a wipe – but so much make-up remains. It’s a good indication of what happens on our skin, as the fruit even has little divots to resemble our pores.
It’s not just make-up you should worry about – at night, you need to properly cleanse your face to get rid of pollution, dirt and the build-up of oil that might have occurred throughout the day.
Instead of washing your face with a wipe, Esho recommends removing your make-up with micellar water or double cleansing (the process of washing your face twice, first with an oil-based cleanser and second with your regular face wash) – and always moisturising afterwards.
3. They can be harsh on the skin
Unless you’re buying all-natural wipes, many products are full of chemicals, like alcohol, surfactants and emulsifiers. Everyone’s skin type is different, but some people might find these chemicals drying or irritating, and it can cause your skin to feel red and inflamed.
Particularly if you don’t wash your face after using a wipe, these chemicals will then sit on your skin overnight.
4. They can age your skin
Even if you’re using a chemical-free product, the tugging motion of a wipe isn’t the best thing for your skin. It has the potential to cause micro-tears and encourage wrinkles and fine lines.
Instead, you should be as gentle as possible with your skin – particularly in the super sensitive areas around your eyes. Washing your face with an oil cleanser or balm will be much kinder, as the lubrication means you’re not pulling on the skin in any way.
5. They can affect your acid mantle
4. They will age you sis. Prolonged face wipe usage can lead to accelerated dehydration, stripping the skin’s natural oil content and challenging the pH of the skin’s acid mantle – this is actually one of the main reasons people think they have sensitive skin!
— THE DALLAS AESTHETICIAN (@savannaboda) May 6, 2020
Not to get too technical, but using a wipe to wash your face could affect your ‘acid mantle’. This is found on the very top layer of your skin, and is what Oskia Skincare describes as “your body’s first layer of defence against bacteria, viruses and harmful foreign bodies. It also prevents cellular water loss and keeps your skin soft, elastic and supple.”
Essentially, it helps keep your skin healthy – and using harsh wet wipes could compromise it.
Best-selling reusable cotton pads
Check out our list of best-selling reusable cotton pads on Amazon.
- 2-DOUBLE LAYER, 24 Pack Make up Remover Pads - The set includes reusable makeup remover pads bamboo terry scrub type, and finger insert type. Comes with a gift cotton drawstring washable laundry bag....
- FEEL CLEAN & FRESH FOR ALL SKIN TYPES - These super fluffy and soft cotton wool pads are great to cleanse your skin Not limited to your eye, lip, nose, or neck. Whether you're taking off mascara, eye...
- NATURAL BAMBOO & ORGANIC COTTON - START MAKERS makeup remover pads are made of ultra-soft natural bamboo and organic cotton material, 100% organic & eco-friendly. Zero waste and skin-friendly which is...
- ECO-FRIENDLY - ZERO WASTE - Replace your disposable cotton rounds with our reusable makeup removing pads. Designed to last for years of use, you’ll never have to use throwaway wipes, sponges or...
- WHY CHOOSE GREENZLA? We’ve put together the perfect pack of 20 reusable makeup remover pads, storage container and cotton laundry bag, everything you need for a home beauty regime that’s...
- BONUS EXTRAS - We’ve included a cotton drawstring laundry bag and an attractive container to make using and storing our reusable rounds even easier. Perfect for short and long trips away - just pop...
- 🌱 PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT - Upgrade your beauty routine and make a positive impact on the environment with our eco-friendly bamboo makeup remover pads reusable washable with Organic Cotton and...
- ♻ ZERO WASTE SOLUTION - Our reusable face pads are machine washable and proven to stay soft and gentle on your skin. Keeping an eco-friendly, zero-waste beauty routine is easy with these zero waste...
- 🌿 NATURAL & GENTLE - Our reusable Cotton Face Pads made of natural bamboo and organic cotton are gentle, safe, and fast for removing makeup, sunscreen, chemicals, and cosmetics, making our bamboo...
- ✅3-LAYERS 20 PACK BUNDLE INCLUDES TWO TYPES OF PADS: The cotton pads makeup remover set includes 12 Three Layers bamboo cotton terry scrub & 8 Three Layers bamboo soft cotton organic pads. The...
- ✅ORGANIC ECO-FRIENDLY & ZERO WASTE: AXATY organic cotton pads are made of natural bamboo and blended with 100% organic cotton. No added chemicals to keep your skin worry free, comes with a handy...
- ✅CLEAN THOROUGHLY: Our organic makeup remover pads are three layers organic cloth, which effectively cleans deep into your pores and pull all of makeup, sunscreen, chemicals, cosmetics out. It is...
- ♻️ ZERO WASTE: Replace your disposable cotton rounds with our reusable makeup remover pads. Designed to last for years of use, you’ll never have to use throwaway cotton wool pads, again. Use our...
- ♻️ WHY TRIBOO? We've crafted the perfect pack of 21 reusable face pads and organic cotton laundry bag, everything you need for an eco friendly, zero waste beauty routine. Our reusable pads can be...
- ♻️ WHAT'S INCLUDED? 21 bamboo cotton pads, an organic mesh laundry bag to wash and have storage for your reuseable face cleaning pads, and also a 'Skin Care Hacks' E-Book so you can discover tips...
Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
You may be interested in…
This article may include affiliate links to products and services where we may receive a small fee to support the running of this site if you make a purchase or is a sponsored article from one of our select editorial partners providing valuable advice and information to our readers.
