Face wipes are praised as a quick and easy way to get your makeup off. Exhausted after a long day and don’t feel like actually washing your face? Easy, use a face wipe. Coming home drunk after a night out and can’t even think about your nighttime routine? No worries, just use a face wipe. Sure, face wipes are handy and do the trick. Except- they actually aren’t all that great for your skin.
Why is that?
First, they don’t do a great job actually cleaning your face. While you might feel clean after a quick swipe, chances are there’s going to be a good amount of debris and oil left on your skin. And that leftover dirt can lead to clogged pores and acne. Face wipes will remove your makeup, but they won’t actually cleanse your skin in the same way that face wash does.
Not only do face wipes not clean your skin, but they also damage your skin. There’s a reason why we don’t exfoliate every day, and rubbing your face with a wipe is similar to that. Face wipes definitely aren’t the most gentle on your skin. The constant rubbing can lead to irritation and redness, especially if you have sensitive skin.
And if you’re trying to keep a youthful glow to you, face wipes are NOT the move. Consistent use of face wipes will dehydrate your skin and strip it of its natural oils. Rubbing your skin can lead to early wrinkling and skin pigmentation, so you can say goodbye to that youthful glow.
Have you ever used a face wipe and felt an immediate burning sensation after? Chances are this has happened to you at least once, and that’s because the chemicals in most face wipes aren’t good for your skin. The strong chemicals can mess with your skin’s pH balance and cause irritation and inflammation. From personal experience, there was one time I used a face wipe to get my eye makeup off and woke up the next morning with a red and puffy eye. No thanks!
Now, there are exceptions to the “no face wipe” rule. If you can’t wash your face at all, using a face wipe is definitely a better alternative. But just not for a prolonged amount of time. It’s good to have a pack in your bathroom just in case, but for the most part, stick to micellar water, cleansing balms, and the classic face wash and water.
