Skincare and taking care of our environment are two things I am very passionate about. However, it does seem like these two things are often at odds with one another. I feel as though I am constantly making decisions that sacrifice one for the other. One very easy thing we can do for both our skin and our planet is to simply stop using makeup wipes. I am not a skincare expert or an environmental scientist, however, I have done quite a bit of research on this subject, and I really want to share this part of my skincare routine with you!
About 8 months ago I decided enough was enough when it came to makeup wipes and here is why. So the truth about them is this: Makeup wipes are very abrasive and can damage your skin. They also don’t really do all that great of a job removing your makeup, and just kind of smear it around. In their article Sorry, Makeup Wipes Are the Actual Worst, Glamour has this to say about these harmful wipes "Makeup wipes are fake skincare" and go on to quote a dermatologist who says " 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." He also goes on to explain how rubbing your face with them also causes "low-grade inflammation that, over time, can promote skin pigmentation or even early wrinkling." The fact that makeup wipes lead to early aging of the skin was just about enough to get me to remove them from my routine altogether, but then I started reading about the negative environmental impact they have, and that really sent me over the edge.
Makeup wipes also contribute to a lot of unnecessary waste and are usually made of non-biodegradable plastic fibers. In addition, they often come packaged in even more plastic! According to an article by Real Simple and Diana Felton MD, a state toxicologist with the Hawaii Department of Health, “One group estimates that 20 million pounds of single-use wipes are disposed of every day in the U.S. Many wipes are disposed of in landfills, and despite claims to the contrary, most are not biodegradable and do not rapidly break down, creating too much trash to fit in our landfills.” This is just in the United States alone! Imagine the global impact these wipes are having. Basically, when you throw away your makeup wipes they most likely eventually end up in the ocean, forever. And for what? They aren't even that effective at removing your make up in the first place, and are just damaging your skin! Not worth it in my opinion.
Now I’m not perfect when it comes to unnecessary waste, but I do everything I can to do my part. Eliminating makeup wipes from your routine by switching to a balm is a great place to start. I have included several products at the top of this post that fit any budget. Plus, when you are done with the container the balm comes in, it makes a great bobby-pin holder! I even painted one of my old containers and use it as a decoration in our bathroom.
It is important to remember that in addition to something that removes your makeup well, you also need a product that cleanses your skin. This double cleaning system is literally the key to clear, clean, and healthy skin. For example, I am currently using the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Melting Balm on my Makeup Eraser then Cleansing with the Korres Greek Yoghurt Foaming Cream Cleanser. A few months ago I was using Skinny and Co Calming Facial Cleansing Balm and CeraVe SA Face Cleanser (this stuff is amazing if you are experiencing breakouts) and really liked that combo too.
I know a lot of the companies I have listed also sell makeup wipes and are therefore part of the problem. However, the truth is as consumers we really hold all the power! If we stop buying products like makeup wipes, then companies will stop making them. Your skin (& the ocean) will thank you!
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* Some of these products were gifted to me by the company, and I do receive a commission on some products. However, I would never endorse anything I didn’t 100% believe in or trust. There are many products I receive that I never talk about or post because frankly, they suck! A lot of these products I was originally gifted, but then loved so much I kept buying them. If you like, you can shop all the products in the post below, or through the links in the post. No pressure! It just helps me be able to buy more products to review for you :)