By now you’ve probably heard that makeup wipes are horrible for your skin. They don’t fully cleanse the skin and they carry irritants like fragrance that could end up damaging your skin barrier. But are they really all that bad?
How do makeup wipes work?
Without a doubt, makeup wipes are just really convenient. After a long day, all you want to do is get in bed. But, if you have makeup on and don’t necessarily want to wake up to a pillow smeared with makeup then you can simply reach for a makeup wipe and quickly clean it off, right?
Sure, makeup wipes do visibly remove makeup, but the question is are they really getting it all off. When looking at makeup wipes’ composition, lots of them have surfactants and other cleansing and makeup removing ingredients. However, while the action of rubbing the wipe over the face may remove most of the makeup, it's not really getting it all off the skin.
Relying on just makeup wipes to cleanse the skin at night can result in residue on the skin that can build up over time and clog pores. This can be especially troublesome for acne-prone skin types. If you have acne-prone skin you are already pretty susceptible to clogged pores, so you should be thoroughly cleansing the skin at night to make sure you are getting rid of potential breakout triggers.
This doesn’t mean that you have to toss out your makeup wipes altogether, but you should consider taking a double cleanse approach if you want to keep using them. We understand that in a pinch you may only have makeup wipes as an option but it shouldn’t be your go to if you truly want to cleanse the skin.
If you choose to keep using makeup wipes you want to make sure you are using the right type of makeup wipe. Some may carry harsh ingredients for sensitive or dry skin types like certain types of alcohols (including denatured alcohol) that can irritate and strip the skin. And if you are sensitive to fragrance in your skincare you may want to watch out for makeup wipes that include fragrance.
What can you do instead?
As mentioned above, you don’t have to get rid of your makeup wipes, but it is a better practice to follow it up with a traditional cleanser if you still want to continue to use face wipes. Or, if makeup removal is your main concern, then you can easily find wash-off cleansers that adequately remove makeup.
Since makeup wipes function by rubbing the wipe over the skin, there is still some residue that is left on the skin which could be lingering traces of makeup or even the ingredients from the makeup wipe. For that reason, you’ll want to actually cleanse the skin with a cleanser that you can wash off.
For makeup removal, cleansing balms and cleansing oils help break down even stubborn mascara to help remove makeup in one go. And, the double cleanse method is a great way to ensure that your skin is completely free of makeup, sweat, and oils accumulated on your skin throughout the day.
How can I choose a cleanser that’s best for my skin?
If you are looking to switch to a cleanser after using makeup wipes, there are tons of options of traditional facial cleansers that can help remove your makeup and cleanse the skin.
Cleansers also continue to evolve when it comes to the ingredients they are made with. Some cleansers have active ingredients like Salicylic Acid for those with acne-prone skin and others are formulated to be gentle for sensitive and reactive skin types with calming ingredients like Oat.
And there are lots of different textures that can work for different skin types. For example, if you have easily-irritated skin then you can opt for a milky or cream cleanser that is gentler on the skin. Or, if you have oily or combination skin then foaming cleansers may be your go-to to help thoroughly remove excess oil on the skin.
For example, our Pore Cleanser is a foaming cleanser made with Niacinamide and Salicylic Acid to help target clogged pores. Salicylic Acid helps break down impurities trapped in pores while Niacinamide helps improve the overall look of enlarged pores. And the foamy action of the cleanser helps remove makeup and excess sebum, which is great for makeup users and oily skin types alike.
And as a cool little bonus, our Pore Cleanser also acts as a quick face mask. Simply leave the cleanser on the skin for 3 to 5 minutes and watch as it becomes a bubbly, foamy face mask. This helps to provide the pores with a deeper clean.
Last thoughts…
While a derm probably won’t ever recommend that you use a makeup wipe, that doesn’t mean they are totally evil. But, you should be careful about using them if you have certain skin concerns like sensitivity or acne. Typically traditional cleansers are your best bet if you are looking to target a specific skin concern or even just looking for a good makeup remover option.
