Make-up wipes are a quick and easy way to remove makeup, but they can also be bad for your skin. The chemicals in the wipes strip away the healthy oils on your face and expose you to irritants. While this might not seem like a big deal (especially since we all slip up and use them every now and then), using wipes regularly can have lasting effects on your skin.
Extremely dry, itchy, irritated, red, acne-prone or sensitive skin? You might just be a wipe-user. Read on to find out why you should stop using make up wipes and what to use instead...
Why Is Make Up Wipes Bad For Your Skin?
Most make up wipes are made from a combination of alcohol, oil and soap. Wipes targeted at sensitive skin contain aloe vera and other natural ingredients to soothe the skin. However, alcohol is a very common ingredient used in wipes – many people don't realize that it's actually added into the wipes, not just an unavoidable by-product of using them. Alcohol can dry out and aggravate sensitive skin and even lead to increased outbreaks of spots and breakouts.
5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Use Make Up Wipes
1. Make up wipes should not be used to remove waterproof make up
Many people use wipes to remove their waterproof make up, but this can be very damaging. The wipes are not actually removing the makeup but just spreading it around - almost like using a rag to clean your face. If you have sensitive skin or are prone to acne breakouts, wipes containing oil-based products may also cause severe irritation.
Instead of using wipe, try using micellar water to clean your face
2. Filled with harsh chemicals that can disrupt skin's pH
Make-up wipes can disrupt the skin's natural acid mantle leaving the face more susceptible to bacteria. Most wipes contain chemicals like Methylisothiazolinone, Parabens, Alcohol, and even Formaldehyde that can be very drying on the skin.
3. Makeup wipes are not designed to cleanse the skin
Makeup wipes are NOT cleansers. Those little cloths are intended to remove makeup and not wipe off grime, sweat, and tough dirt. You might think you wiped your skin clean because all your makeup was removed. But the truth is, these wipes leave out residues that might cause acne and bacteria.
4. Makeup wipes + exfoliant may damage protective layer
You might be using make-up wipes and an exfoliant together as part of your skincare routine. But it might actually be bad for you. Overdoing or over-exfoliating will damage the protective layer of your skin and may cause irritation. This means harmful pathogens can enter your body more easily, which can cause irritation and inflammation, as well as leave you more vulnerable to potential infections.
5. Horrible for the environment
The sad truth about makeup wipes is that they are not environmentally friendly.
A study conducted by scientists at the University of Florida found that make up wipes are not biodegradable and therefore should not be flushed down toilets. The reason they are not biodegradable is because they contain plastics which do not break down in normal landfill conditions. Although some wipes claim to be biodegradable, they are not labeled properly
Alternatives To Make Up Wipes
Alternative #1: MICELLAR WATER
Alternative #2: GEL CLEANSER
Alternative #3: OIL CLEANSER
Alternative #4: CREAM CLEANSER
Important Tip: Double Cleanse
Make-up wipes might be a convenient choice for when you feel lazy washing your face. Though it will remove your makeup, it won’t totally remove the dirt from your skin and might even cause bacteria to build up.
All of us want our skin to be beautiful, healthy, and smooth. The first step towards this is a proper skincare routine. Swap your makeup wipes to the 4 alternative cleansers above.
You might also like...