Disclaimer: We don't actually sell face wipes. So it might lead you to wonder why on earth we're the authority to compare and contrast them? Firstly: we think they're terrible. And secondly: one thing we do work a lot with is cleansers and with lots of skincare professionals. We're also increidbly pretty passionate about sutainability and the environment. So we thought we'd wade into the 'to face wipe, or not to face wipe' debate - breaking down the good, the bad and the ugly.
THE NATION'S LOVE FOR A WIPE
Baby wipes, wet wipes, face wipes, make up wipes, moist towelettes, a bleached bathroom wipe. The nation loves a wipe. And yes - we're getting a little more savvy when it comes to bio-degradable wipes. But there's still a glut of non eco friendly wipes out there. And we bet you didn't know: some of them take more than ONE HUNDRED YEARS to disintegrate...
THE GENETIC MAKE UP OF A FACE WIPE
The non-eco friendly versions of face wipes are made of polyester, which takes decades (centuries!) to decompose. Note: Even eco-friendly wipes don't disappear in water. No wipes should ever be flushed - they simply aren't designed to disintegrate like tissue.
The non eco-friendly face wipes and face wipes are basically a saturated plastic cloth filled with parabens, MI, MCI, SLS, un-natural alcohol, triclosan... all of the nasties. Whilst these chemicals are terrible for skin, and can trigger sensitivities, they've also really bad for our eco system. Apart from littering our planet, the plethora of chemicals have also been found to negatively affect the marine life.
In some wipes, it includes formaldehyde-releasing chemicals, solubilizers, surfactants, and emulsifiers. The nasties hidden inside of makeup wipes are housed in the cleansing ingredient. So, unless you follow your wipe down with a cleanse, you increase your risk of developing inflammation and irritation on your skin.
THE WHITECHAPEL FATBERG
Twice as long as Wembley Stadium. The weight of 11 double decker buses. The Fatberg took the internet by storm in 2017. Nestled under Whitechapel Road, the Fatberg was a congealed lump of all things nasty. Things that had been flushed or washed into the sewer system and left to buddy-up in one congealed, catastrophic lump.
"The Whitechapel Fatberg is big, fat, disgusting evidence that people can not be trusted to not flush a wet wipe - even when asked politely not to."
THE COLD HARD TRUTH ABOUT FACE WIPES AND MAKE UP WIPES
Fatberg aside, it's bubble burst time: Face wipes don't actually clean your skin. What they are really good at, is smearing. Smearing makeup, dirt, grime, sweat, sebum and dead skin cells around your face. Leaving a path of un-cleansed destruction. Clogged pores. Lightly irritated skin (in which you've just dragged daily grime and oil into). A veil of deceit in which you think your skin is clean - but it's really not.
WHAT IS THE ALTERNATIVE TO FACE WIPES AND MAKE UP WIPES?
We fully appreciate the time saving involved with whipping out a moist, pre-saturated make up remover. But as discussed - these aren't cleansing skin. So they shouldn't be used as an alternative to a cleanser. So - skip the wipe - jump straight to the cleanser.
IF IT'S A COST THING...
Bubble burst number 2: Face wipes are a false economy. If we take one of the best selling brands, which are around £5 for 25 wipes, we can break this down to 20 pence per wipe (and remember, you still need to cleanse after wiping!). Let's compare with the Capsule Collection Gentle Cleansing Milk - £22 for 200ml - or 80 uses - or 27.5 pence per use. Use with a cotton pad or re-usable muslin cloth for a much more eco-friendly approach, and enjoy the feeling of NO NASTIES on your skin!
"Bubble burst number 2: Face wipes are a false economy! Broken down into cost per use, it's just as cost effective to invest in quality cleanser, with natural ingredients, loved by skincare professionals."
IF IT'S A SPEED THING...
The haste of a wipe, we admit, is handy. However... for an early morning cleanse it's just as easy (maybe easier?!) to squirt a peas-sized blob of Illuminate Gel Cleanser on to the finger tips. Massage into skin, including around the eye area for eye make up (being careful not to get into the eye). Splash off with water, pat dry with a towel. Skin is left cleansed and really rather nourished... It's THAT quick and easy! There really is no excuse!
IF IT'S A NONCHALANCE THING (AND YOU HAVE GREAT SKIN, YOU LUCKY THING...)
If it doesn't seem to make much difference to your skin whether you cleanse, wipe, wash or simply ignore. There's nothing quite like good genetics to help the great skin cause. But imagine if you boosted with a little effort - the results would be amazing. A gentle gel cleanser, such as the Damascene Gel Cleanser, will gently nourish and cleanse skin. It also feels incredible when massaging on to skin. Splash with water, pat dry with a towel and massage a little Organic Rosehip Oil onto the face and neck to leave skin radiant and glowing. A simple two step routine that will leave you feeling smug whilst your skin glows.
"A gentle gel cleanser, such as the Damascene Gel Cleanser, will gently nourish and cleanse skin. It also feels incredible when massaging on to skin. So worth a little sk:indulgence every day!"
LET'S NOT FORGET YOUR WELLBEING...
Haste, money saving and laziness all aside, something that face wipes fail to offer is wellbeing. You probably thing we're mad - of course a facewipe can't stimulate wellbeing. But think of the choices: a swift, hasty wipe over with a wet wipe... or, take 3 minutes for yourself before bed.
Massage skin with a gentle, oil based cleanser. Feel the blood flow through the skin as you indulge in a little 'me' time. Splash with water. A spritz of skin-loving, refreshing toner - such as the cashmere soft Illuminate Facial Toner. Finish with a soothing, nourishing and incredibly uplifting aroma with the Dusk to Dawn Night Oil. Replenish & rejuvenate skin over night. The Mandarin, neroli, rosewood and starflower are all seriously uplifting and have been proven to help induce feelings of relaxation - aiding in a deep, restful sleep.
