Sorry, Makeup Wipes Are the Actual Worst
My skin care routine in my early twenties can be summed up in four letters: DGAF. But now—as I speed-walk toward the finish line of my late twenties—taking care of my face is on the top of my priorities list. Not because I want to beat back the ravages of time (I truly DGAF about that), but because I want my skin to be radiant 24/7. My skin’s luminosity pretty much flickers like the bare bulb in a horror movie basement—it’s just not reliable. Luckily, I genuinely enjoy my twice-daily face cleansing self-care rituals. Fifteen minutes of being absolutely present in my body, while also taking care of it, is something I desperately need. I love skin care products, and not just the fun, bubbly ones. I live for a good serum. I have a whole shelf dedicated to acids and exfoliants. But the one thing I don’t mess with? Makeup wipes.
I’ll grant you that they’re good at cleaning makeup off of clothes and wiping away stubborn lipstick or mascara, but they suck at cleaning your face. Makeup wipes are fake skin care, and I say that as a Bravo TV fan with a high tolerance for all things contrived. While quick and convenient, using them at night wrecked havoc on my skin. Since it looked like my makeup had disappeared, I didn’t feel like I had to follow up with an actual wash. After all, remover is right there in the product name.
That’s why they’re such a scam.
Like that one hook up buddy you keep inviting over even though they do just a meh job, makeup wipes seem like a great idea at the time. They’re not. They’re terrible. I absolutely understand their uncomplicated allure. I had a sex-friend through college and our (not-really-a) relationship seemed like a low-maintenance thing. In reality, we were creating deep-rooted problems along the way that would take a long time to remedy. It was healthier for us both when we parted ways. And it will be healthier for both you and your skin if you break up with makeup wipes.
“Makeup wipes seem like a great idea at the time. They’re not. They’re terrible.”
To confirm my suspicions, I turned to Dr. Joshua Zeichner, Director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital. And, yes, your makeup wipes are lying to you.
First things first: Makeup wipes don’t really clean your skin. Mostly, they smear around whatever makeup, dirt, and dead skin is hanging out on your face, leaving a trail of irritated skin in their wake. According to Zeichner, makeup wipes can cause irritation due to preservatives that prevent micro-organisms from contaminating the wipes. In some, that includes formaldehyde-releasing chemicals, solubilizers, surfactants, and emulsifiers. The bad stuff tucked away inside of makeup wipes is housed in the cleansing ingredient so unless you follow your wipe down with a cleanser, you increase your risk of developing inflammation on your skin, Zeichner says.
Then there’s the mechanics of scrubbing your face with makeup wipes, which can also leave you with red, angry skin. “Rubbing can cause low-grade inflammation that, over time, can promote skin pigmentation or even early wrinkling,” Zeichner told me. I’m not too tripped about wrinkles (they’re inevitable), but I’d rather stumble into my bathroom for a haphazard round of double-cleansing than risk any wack pigmentation issues.
Now, let me be clear, Dr. Zeichner did say that compared to not washing your face, wipes are a great option. But personally, I’m staunchly opposed to a better than nothing mentality. Is it a fact that rubbing cooking oil on your face will make it moisturized? Sure, there’s some hydration to be found in almost all oils, but you cannot convince me that kitchen cabinet moisturizer is better than the one I’m currently using.
If you’ve got face wash sitting in your bathroom, there’s no reason not to walk, crawl, or drag yourself to the sink and wash your damn face. It might feel smart to have an “in case of emergency” stash of makeup wipes next to your bed, but if you’re going to take the extra step to cleanse your face at all, why risk pigmentation, irritation, or a breakout? Eliminate the problem and hit up your bathroom as soon as you get home after a late night out. Lately, I’ve started this thing where I walk in the door and straight to the sink to take full advantage of my fast-draining energy. I don’t need to be 100 percent awake to Netflix-binge, but I do need to be at least 85 percent mostly-awake to go through my full skin care routine.
Of course, there are passes to be given here. I loathe makeup wipes, but there are times when I can’t drag myself out of bed, not because I drank too much—although that has been known to happen—but because I’m sad or sick or a depressive combination of both. In those moments, I’ve got a better wash-in-bed solution: I keep a bottle of no-rinse micellar water and some organic cotton pads on my bedside table. The combo works like a charm and doesn’t leave my skin dry and itchy in the morning. Break up with your wipes. Wash your face.
Related Stories:
–What, Theoretically, Should You Do If You Fall Asleep in Your Makeup a Lot?
–The Best Facial Cleansers for Removing Every Type of Makeup
–16 Things You’re Doing to Wreck Your Skin and How to Stop