By Isobel Hush

Why You Should Give Up Makeup Wipes For Good

I think we all know by now that face wipes should be avoided as much as possible. It is reported that wipes are the cause of 93% of sewer blockages with 9.3 million wipes being flushed down toilets every day. While they are also filling up sewers they are also lining beaches, being found in the ocean and generally causing damage to the environment. As well as all of the damage to the environment they are also not great for your skin, here is why...

  

They don’t clean very well

Have you ever used a makeup wipe and thought you got everything off to then use either another wipe or a different product on a cotton pad for example only to find more makeup and dirt on that? While they remove the stuff on the top they don’t get deep into your skin and break up all the dirt and grime that is below the surface. Throughout the day your pores open and close, allowing whatever is on your face into your skin. Makeup wipes will remove the layer above this but anything that has gone into your pores will generally be missed. Using a facial cleanser will get much deeper and will actually clean your skin.

 

They could be stripping your skin

Sometimes products are hidden in skincare that unfortunately cause more damage than good. In wipes this is unfortunately more common than anywhere else as the chemicals used in wipes aren’t particularly friendly. Beauty Expert Jane Scrivner explains: “Face wipes are harsh on the skin because they contain strong, drying chemicals that strip the skin of its natural oils, altering the delicate pH of your acid mantle, which can cause inflammation and irritation.” Have you ever noticed your skin going red and looking irritated after using a wipe? This could be why! 

When you are wiping your face you are also just essentially moving everything around and potentially clogging more pores with the dirt you thought you had already wiped off – gross.

 

 

They could be making your skin age a lot faster

It is reported that using face wipes instead of your typical cleanser and water method could actually be aging you. 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! In the short term skin will become irritated, red, inflamed and spotty with prolonged use of face wipes. However, without having an effective cleansing routine in place, over time, skin will become more lined, wrinkled, slack and dull.”

 

Again.. They are so bad for the environment

We are at a point where single use products are just simply pretty unacceptable. Makeup wipes, as you have probably guessed, are almost certainly single use. It can take up to 100 years for one wipe to decompose. While it may be tempting to grab one and wipe away the day maybe consider picking up a flannel instead.

 

 



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References:

https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/gallery/why-face-wipes-are-bad-for-your-skin

https://www.100percentpure.com/blogs/feed/the-sad-truth-about-makeup-wipes#:~:text=The%20average%20makeup%20wipe%20takes%20a%20staggering%20100%20years%20to%20decompose.