To get a clean that is more than skin deep, there are three things that you should implement in your skincare.

1. Stop Using Makeup Remover Wipes

There are many reasons why you should stop using makeup wipes, but the two main reasons are that they are bad for your skin, and they are bad for the environment.

Makeup remover wipes can be convenient when camping or traveling, but they can be awful for your skin and do not actually clean your skin. According to Mona Gohara, a Yale Dermatologist, “Very few makeup wipes contain ingredients that can actually break down all of your face oils, makeup, and gunk on your skin, so you’re really just rubbing bacteria, irritants, and makeup-wipe residue around your skin and into your pores.” [1] Makeup wipes are harmful for your skin not only because of the harsh chemicals, but also due to the pressure that is required to remove the makeup.

The acid mantle is a very fine, slightly acidic film on the surface of skin that acts as a barrier against bacteria, viruses, and other potential contaminants that can penetrate the skin. [5] Chemicals in makeup wipes destroy the acid mantle (pictured below) by stripping the skin of its natural oils and altering the pH which can lead to dehydration, excess oil (while your skin is trying to rehydrate), acne, sensitivity, inflammation, flaky skin, and many other issues. [2][3] Prolonged use will lead the skin to become more lined, wrinkled, slack, dull, and pigmented. [2][4]

The pressure required to ensure that makeup wipes are effective pulls and tugs on the skin, acting as a mechanical exfoliator and creating micro-tears. Most people include a form of exfoliant in their skincare routines, so using makeup wipes and then proceeding to do a skincare routine may be too much for the skin to handle. The micro-tears in your skin will also accelerate the aging process. For this reason, harsh scrubs are also discouraged (like St. Ives or Kylie Skin Walnut Face Scrub). [3]

Lastly, makeup wipes are really bad for the environment. According to Diana Felton MD, a state toxicologist at the Hawaii Department of Health, “One group estimates that 20 million pounds of single-use wipes (including baby wipes and disinfecting wipes) are disposed of every day in the U.S.” [6] Even worse, some people end up flushing these wipes, creating another host of problems. These wipes then accumulate in the sewage system and become termed ‘fatbergs.’ In 2013 there was a lump of fatberg that weighed the same as eleven double-decker buses and stretched the length of two football fields. The fatberg which consisted of congealed waste that included wipes, diapers, and other sewage was discovered in London’s sewage system. [7]

The wipes also find their way into the oceans. Based on a report by the Marine Conservation Society, the number of wet wipes washed up on British beaches increased by 50% between 2013 and 2014. That amounts to an average of 35 wipes found for every kilometer (0.62 miles) of beach. The wipes go on to pose problems for the beach animals. Five of the world’s seven remaining species of turtles regularly visit Britain’s waters for food. These turtles often mistake plastic bags for their natural jellyfish prey, and the wipes are posing a similar threat. [8] [9]

2. Use Cleansing Oil

If makeup wipes are so bad for the skin and the environment, what can you do? I’m glad you asked! Using the double cleansing method–cleansing oil followed by a face wash–is the way to go.

Traditional cleanser can irritate the skin, cause excessive dryness, and exacerbate acne, resulting in the overproduction of oil after washing your face. [10] According to a small study published International Journal of Nursing Studies, there is empirical evidence that using oils can improve the skin barrier, leading to a decrease in water loss from the skin. [11] Oil cleansers breakdown makeup without exfoliating your face. Additionally, using an oil cleanser gives you a chance to massage your face which encourages lymphatic drainage, leading to less puffiness in your face. [2]

However, as with every other cosmetic product, it is important to choose the right product for your skin. Make sure to read the product ingredient label to ensure that you are not allergic to an ingredient. Most people also tend to stay away from coconut oil (yes, it works for some people) because it can clog pores. Again, it is best to do a patch test before applying the product to your face. [10] This article in Healthline talks about some of the best oils for skin and why they work.

If you are not on board with using cleansing oil and still want a way to wipe off your makeup, try using eco-friendly products that will not add to landfills. An example of such a product is reusable makeup remover cloths. There are many different companies offering this eco-friendly product, and they can be found anywhere from Ulta and Sephora to your local T.J. Maxx and Marshalls.

3. Stop Touching Makeup Pipettes to Your Face

This one bothers me the most. We have all seen influencers applying liquid products to their faces by using the pipette from the bottle and touching it to their faces. This process inevitably creates cross-contamination. Cross-contamination is defined to be a process in which bacteria or other microorganisms are unintentionally transferred from one substance or object to another. The skin is the largest organ in your body, and there are as many as 1000 microorganisms–bacteria, viruses, and eukaryotes–on your skin. [12] By touching the pipette to your skin and then putting it back into the bottle, cross-contamination occurs.

Skincare products are expensive, and our goal should be to ensure their efficacy while they are being used–that means no cross-contamination. One way to ensure that cross-contamination does not occur with liquid products is to ensure the pipette does not touch anything besides the inside of the bottle.

By using less make up wipes and implementing cleansing oils will help protect your skin and protect the environment. And by developing hygienic habits while using liquid products will help create less cross-contamination and more consciousness in how the products are being used. Taking these few changes and implementing them in your daily choices will not only positively affect your skin but it will also help create a better environment for us.

1. https://stylecaster.com/beauty/makeup-wipes-bad/
2. https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/gallery/why-face-wipes-are-bad-for-your-skin
3. https://lisaboehmbeauty.com/blog/2019/5/22/please-stop-using-makeup-wipes
4. https://www.glamour.com/story/are-makeup-wipes-bad-for-your-skin
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acid_mantle#:~:text=The%20acid%20mantle%20is%20a,sweat%20becomes%20the%20acid%20mantle.
6. https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/green-living/makeup-remover-wipes-alternatives
7. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/sep/12/total-monster-concrete-fatberg-blocks-london-sewage-system
8. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jan/28/sea-turtles-fall-victim-to-alarming-flood-of-plastics-entering-australian-waters
9. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/19/dont-flush-wet-wipes-toilet-conservationists
10. https://www.healthline.com/health/oil-cleansing-method#how-it-works
11. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27815985/
12. Image: https://www.bebeautiful.in/all-things-makeup/everyday/how-to-remove-makeup-without-makeup-remover

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