Are MAke up wipes really that bad?

After a long day of wearing foundation, concealer, sunscreen, or just simply wanting to wash off the oils from the day, it's likely you will cleanse your face before winding down. A simple, and common way to cleanse your skin after a long day, is to grab a makeup wipe. Though makeup wipes are efficient and seem effective in removing makeup and oils, using a wipe to cleanse may not be the best for your skin and here is why.

Baby or makeup wipes are not formulated to cleanse your skin on an everyday basis. Though the wipes will remove some makeup, they were designed to only remove organic materials from the surface of the skin. Did you know that baby wipes are not gentle, and the texture of the wipes alone is enough to destroy the acid mantle and is considered a mechanical exfoliant. Wipes also tend to have preservatives in them to help maintain shelf life or even contain fragrances. Often, these wipes will leave some residue or film behind attracting pollutants and leading to clogged pores, irritation, and even breakouts. 

So what can you do instead of using makeup wipes? Double cleanse. Double cleansing is a more effective, healthier, and gentler way to clean your skin. To double cleanse, you can simply take 1-2 pumps of an oil based cleanser and massage it onto dry skin. For an additional benefit, massage the oil onto the skin and give yourself a facial massage. You can read more about the benefits of facial massage here. Rinse with warm water, and follow with a regular cleanser. 

Though makeup wipes are convenient and can be used occasionally if you are traveling, in a rush, or need a mid-day cleanse, it should not be your primary mechanism for cleaning your face. Not to mention makeup and baby wipes are not so environmentally friendly and an unnecessary waste. Double cleansing is optimal for overall skin health and much more environmentally friendly too.