Makeup wipes are all the rage these days. You can get them in tons of different scents, for lots of skin types, and in easy, transportable packages! They must be the only way to remove makeup, right? Wrong!
Although makeup wipes can be effective, they’re not environmentally friendly and some people are looking for other greener options. There are also so many other options out there to remove makeup that you might have forgotten about.
Read on to find out how to easily remove makeup without wipes. We’ll talk about the importance of removing makeup and why wipes aren’t always the best options. We’ll go through some alternatives such as micellar water, oil, and regular soap. We’ll also talk about the various kinds of cleansers and which ones might work best for you!
Why Remove Makeup?
Kuties, we know you know better than to go to sleep with a face full of makeup, but do you know why it’s so important to remove your makeup? When you have makeup on your face at night, it’s similar to going to bed with a full mask on. Your face is blocked and covered, which prevents your skin from breathing and from normal skin functions taking place.
The most common thing that can occur if you don’t remove your makeup is that you could block your pores and get breakouts and blemishes. Pimples are totally normal, but we get that they can make you self-conscious, so we need to wash our faces to help cleanse our skin to help keep it free from acne!
Your skin follows a cycle where dead skin cells are replaced by new, healthy cells. Much of this cycle occurs while you’re sleeping, so going to bed with a face full of makeup can interfere with your skin’s natural exfoliation process. If new skin cells can’t grow, your skin can look dull over time. Ensuring that you wash your face at night will allow fresh, healthy skin cells to grow and will help keep your face looking fresh!
Why Are Makeup Wipes Bad?
Makeup wipes are handy and much easier than packing different cleansers while traveling- there’s no doubt about that! However, they’re not always great for your skin or for the environment.
When it comes to your skin, you want to be careful to use soft products that won’t cause micro-tears or damage to your skin. Makeup wipes are not as soft as cotton pads or other materials and can cause repeated damage to your skin.
The skin around your eyes is especially sensitive and if you wear a lot of eye makeup, you probably have to wipe pretty aggressively to get it off. This repeated motion can cause damage to your skin when using makeup wipes.
Beyond your skin, makeup wipes are often made of materials that aren’t biodegradable. The polyester and plastics in these wipes will never break down which means they will be sitting in landfills forever. You don’t really want that responsibility on your conscience, do you?
Alternatives to Makeup Wipes
To help keep your skin healthy and protected, as well as to help protect the environment, let’s discuss a few alternatives to makeup wipes. These options will remove your makeup just as effectively, if not better!
Micellar Water
Micellar water is the holy grail of beauty products, Kuties! It’s inexpensive and can be used as a makeup remover, facial wash, and moisturizer all in one!
Now that we’ve caught your attention, you might be wondering what micellar water is. Tiny balls of cleansing oil molecules are called micelles, which are then suspended in soft water to make micellar water. Because these cleansing micelles are put in water, they can help wash your face and reduce the appearance of impurities while also keeping your skin moisturized and healthy. It’s a win-win!
This product is gentle enough to be used on sensitive skin, without causing irritation like makeup wipes might. It’s also great for people with dry skin, as it will help add moisture to your skin while removing makeup.
To use micellar water, take a cotton pad or cotton ball and squeeze micellar water on it. Make sure the cotton ball is thoroughly wet to ensure it works effectively. Gently dab the wet cotton on your face and rub in circular motions to remove makeup. You might need to use a few cotton balls to get off tough makeup on your eyes or other areas. Easy peasy!
Coconut or Olive Oil
You probably didn’t know that one of the best eye makeup removers was in your kitchen! A cooking oil such as coconut oil or olive oil can be used as a gentle and very effective makeup remover. The oil helps break down makeup ingredients, even from long-lasting mascara, or eyeliner!
To use these oils, follow a process similar to micellar water. Pour the oil on your cotton pad, or swirl a cotton ball in the oil. Gently rub the cotton over your eyes to remove any makeup. If your cotton ball becomes too dirty, start over with a new one until your makeup is removed. Use a towel to remove any excess oil and then wash your face as normal.
Cleansers
We’ve talked about a few different alternatives to makeup wipes, but we’re not done yet, Kutie! We also need to talk about using a cleanser instead of a makeup wipe.
Cleansers serve two purposes: to help remove makeup and to clean your face. For someone that doesn’t wear a lot of makeup, you might be able to skip the options listed above and use a cleanser only to remove makeup. If you wear more makeup, you’ll still want to use micellar water or oil to remove makeup but you’ll also want to follow up with a cleanser.
Let’s talk about a few different kinds of cleansers and which will work best for you!
Foam Cleanser
Foam cleansers create a foamy lather (duh) and are the strongest of the cleansers we’ll discuss today. They’re ideal for removing makeup and oil, but because of their strength could be a bit harsh on certain skin types.
If you have oily skin or are acne-prone, the harshness of foam cleanser is ideal for you. It will help ensure that all makeup residue and excess oil are removed. However, if your skin is sensitive or dry, you might want to stay away from foam cleansers. They could cause your skin to dry out even more.
Cream Cleanser
As opposed to foam cleansers, cream cleansers are extremely gentle and perfect for those with sensitive or dry skin. These cleansers will help remove makeup and dirt, while also moisturizing your skin! Some cream cleansers are more like a lotion and can be applied without water, which makes them a convenient alternative to makeup wipes!
If you have oily or acne-prone skin, you might want to steer clear of cream cleansers. The extra moisture included in these could create an excess amount of oil for you.
Oil Cleanser or Cleansing Balm
Oil cleansers help bring impurities and dirt from the surface while also nourishing the skin. Balms melt in your hands as you warm them up and apply them to the skin.
If you’re worried about too much oil on the skin, don’t be. Cleansing your face can sometimes pull oil out of your skin which will cause your body to produce extra oil. Occasionally this can result in oily skin which can lead to breakouts and other blemishes.
Cleansing with an oil cleanser can help remove impurities without removing the oil so your body won’t counteract and overproduce. Your skin will feel clean and smooth without being oily!
Double-Cleansing
One of the biggest tenets of K-Beauty is a belief in glass skin and a multi-step skincare routine to help create glowy skin. The idea of double-cleansing is an extremely popular technique used to create clear, perfect skin. K-Beauty experts suggest using an oil-based cleanser first to remove any makeup followed by a cream or foam cleanser to remove any residual dirt.
Double-cleansing your skin and creating glass skin will help allow your favorite K-Beauty makeup products to go on more smoothly and easier. The best makeup tool is clean and healthy skin to start with!
Remove Makeup Effectively for You
When it comes to removing makeup without makeup wipes, the process can be very easy. There are lots of products out there designed to help cleanse a variety of skin, so it’s up to you to choose what works best for you!
If you want to stick to something you already have at home, consider using coconut or olive oil to remove makeup. Micellar water is a great investment that won’t cost you lots of money and will serve many purposes!
Follow either of these techniques with a cleanser and make sure you pick one based on your skin type. Oily skin types should look for a foam cleanser, dry skin can use a cream or oil cleanser, and sensitive skin can stick to a cream cleanser. There are so many cleansers out there you can pick and choose what works best for your skin!
Although makeup wipes are convenient, there are plenty of other convenient and easy ways to remove your makeup. Trying a different method will be better for your skin and better for the environment—two things we can definitely support! Go forth and cleanse, Kutie!
Sources:
This Common Makeup Mistake Is So Bad For Your Skin | Refinery 29
6 Risks Of Sleeping In Makeup | Good Housekeeping
Why Do So Many People Still Use Makeup Wipes? | InStyle
What The Heck Is Micellar Water, And Should You Use It? | Huffington Post