Face Wipes, the Naked Truth

Since the increased need to balance a busy work and social life, there’s been an influx of quick 'n' easy cleansing products to the market, and over past few years, the question that’s been on everyone’s lips is; "what’s better for my skin - face wipes or cleansers?”

There’s no doubt that every woman has different needs when it comes to taking off their makeup - and face wipes are quick and convenient. But, are they really doing their job properly?

From Garnier to Bobbi Brown, there’s now a brand and budget to suit everyone. In the battle of wipes versus cleansers, face wipes are the obvious easy ‘go-to’ option for when you’re in need of a quick removal. But the truth is, they’re just not as effective as the original facial cleanser or modern cleansing waters.

On the whole wipes and cleansers tend to use similar ingredients, but wipes are missing the key component that washes the dirt away: water. Because of this, research now suggests that using a wipe actually creates a thin layer of dirt over your face from where the pre-soaked cloth hasn’t cleansed the skin properly. Instead of giving your face a deep clean, the wipe essentially drags the dirt around your skin rather than removing it. In truth, gentle cleansing alternatives such as micellar water, cleansing gels and balms provide a deeper clean - as you wash away the dirt and product with water. These also tend to be a lot kinder and softer on more delicate skin.

Another huge downside to cleansing wipes is they tend to contain a lot more chemicals than your average cleanser. Most wipes contain alcohol, which can be extremely irritable for the skin, and leave it dry and dehydrated. Even though we all have different skin types, no one wants a dry face with a layer of invisible face wipe residue and dirt left on!

Other chemicals in face wipes include preservatives, which can be used in very high percentages to keep an open pack of face wipes fresh for weeks. These preservatives can irritate the skin and for some people can even cause an allergic reaction (fragranced wipes are often a culprit for this). An open pack of wipes is also a breeding ground for nasty bacteria that can also cause infections and prompt unpleasant reactions. 

In our opinion, facial cleansers also tend to be a lot kinder to the skin than wipes do. When using a wipe you can often find yourself stretching the skin - which has been proven to aid wrinkles and increase the chance of skin sagging.

One of the main areas of concern for skin aging is the delicate eye area. When trying to remove a stubborn mascara or waterproof liner, we know all too well the vigorous scrubbing that takes place when a wipe’s involved.

However, if wipes are your only option for removing eye makeup, try ones that are designed to be used around the eye area. These will be softer and soaked in more product to allow for easier removal. Using a cleanser in any form will help to eliminate skin stretching as the products are softer, smoother and glide over the face with ease. 

‘Beauty gurus’ and bloggers often post their latest skincare routine on YouTube and very rarely is there a face wipe in sight. There’s a reason for this.

In the small number of cases where wipes do make an appearance, they are used to take the majority of makeup off the face before cleansing with another product, or used for ease when water isn’t easily accessible (think Glasto).

Wipes do allow for swift and (mostly) stress-free makeup removal when wearing a full face of makeup - that would otherwise take a significant amount of time to remove. But, if you’re after clean skin that’s hydrated and clear, then combining the two makeup removal techniques could prove to be the best and most effective way to give you skin a deep cleanse.

If using a wipe is your only option, try some of the following tips to maximize their result:

• Make sure you rinse your face with water after use to remove any excess and unwanted chemicals from your skin.
• Look out for wipes without too many preservatives or other nasty chemicals.
• Follow up with a cleanser to ensure the best clean possible
• Apply a good moisturizer after use to put some goodness back into your skin.

By Bethan Winner