If you regularly use makeup wipes to cleanse your face, we have bad news: It’s time to rethink your cleansing routine.
While makeup wipes may seem like a godsend—they’re quick and easy to use, which is great for low-maintenance people and those who travel a lot—it turns out that when it comes to keeping your skin healthy, they can do more. harm than benefit. We are talking about rashes, irritation and even allergic reactions.
This doesn’t mean you need to give them up completely, but there are a few things you should know when it comes to makeup wipes and their benefits.
As Archana Sangha, a board-certified dermatology physician assistant in Anne Arundel, Virginia, explained to The Huffington Post, makeup wipes can remove some of the grit and dirt from your face, but they can’t remove all of it because you don’t usually do it. Do not wash your face after using it.
“There’s still residue on the skin,” she said. “Wet wipes have come a long way from where they were just two years ago.” However, she says they shouldn’t replace a cleanser because they don’t thoroughly cleanse the skin.
Since wipes are not completely effective at removing excess oil, using them regularly can clog your pores, which can lead to acne. In her experience, Shanga noticed more acne among patients who exclusively used facial wipes to cleanse their skin.
She says facial wipes may be helpful for some people, especially if alternative products don’t clean the face at all. However, they can’t compare to using a cleanser, massaging your skin, stimulating circulation, and then rinsing the dirt off your face. “If you wipe with a tissue, you might end up with half a film on your face,” she says.
Dr. Craig Craft, a board-certified dermatologist, agrees with Shanga. He explains that facial wipes and rinse-off cleansers use solubilizers and emulsifiers to help “remove makeup, oil and dirt from the skin.” The main difference, he says, is that the wipes are designed for cleaning and don’t have the “inherent benefit of applying the product with water during the cleaning process.”
“The limitation of wipes is that they require skin contact with a higher concentration of cleaning ingredients that cannot be washed off with water,” he said. The rinse is the part that actually removes dirt, oil, and makeup from your face; If the wipes leave marks on your skin, you may experience problems with dryness, sensitivity, irritation, or allergic reactions.
Kraft also notes that fiber makeup wipes can be quite harsh on some skin types, and wiping them over your face can damage your skin.
Although facial cleansing wipes claim to keep your skin clean, they almost always leave behind some kind of film or residue.
As Sangha points out, many wipes tout their moisturizing properties. But if they leave a sticky film on your face, “it’s really just attracting bacteria to your face, which essentially acts like mucus, attracting pollutants to your face.”
“Makeup wipes have their own challenges,” Kraft agrees. “Because concentrated surfactants and emulsifiers are needed for optimal results, they can cause drying and irritation.”
The wipes also contain fairly high levels of preservatives, which helps them maintain a longer shelf life, Kraft said, noting that these preservatives can irritate the skin or even cause allergic reactions.
Kraft cautions against using chemicals such as 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, which releases formaldehyde, a carcinogen and common allergen. Another preservative to be aware of is iodopropynyl butyl carbamate, which “should not be inhaled,” he said. On the other hand, phenoxyethanol is a “safe and effective preservative,” he said.
Dr. Angela Lamb, director of Mount Sinai’s dermatology practice in New York City, advises against using wipes with a very long list of ingredients. She particularly urges against the use of products containing cocamidopropyl betaine (a surfactant that she says is “known to be an irritant”) or fragrances.
Sanga adds that certain ingredients, namely aloe vera, panthenol and glycerin, may provide some benefit to people with sensitive or dry skin due to their soothing and moisturizing properties.
According to Kraft, people with oily and acne-prone skin “usually do best with makeup wipes,” and “dry skin doesn’t do well either.”
“People with particularly sensitive skin should exercise caution,” he said. “Reactions to makeup wipes are sporadic, but sensitive skin types are at greater risk of irritation.”
In Sangha’s experience, some wipes may not be suitable for acne-prone people, as the remaining film can clog pores and lead to more breakouts. Both she and Lamb recommend La Roche-Posay’s Effaclar facial wipes, which contain micro-exfoliating beads to help unclog pores.
For those who don’t quite know their skin type or think they belong to the combination skin club, Sangha recommends the gentle and hypoallergenic Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Wipes. For those nights when you don’t feel like washing your face in front of the sink, she prefers the classic Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes.
Three dermatologists agree that makeup removing wipes shouldn’t replace washing your face, although they can be helpful in some cases.
“Wet wipes are great,” says Lamb, “but they tend to leave a film on your face and are best used when you’re in a hurry or removing makeup before washing your face. It is best to use soft wipes. detergent and rinse with water.”
Kraft agrees, saying that while makeup wipes are quick and convenient, they’re “not the best choice for overall skin health.”
“They are great for quick cleaning when people are too tired to wash with water, and in situations where rinsing is difficult, such as on a hike, working out, traveling or other temporary conditions,” he said.
“If you have a choice between using wipes or going to the sink, go to the sink,” Sanga said. “much better.”
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Post time: Jun-03-2024