Are Makeup Wipes Bad For Your Skin? + How to Properly Cleanse Your Face

Wondering if makeup wipes are bad for your skin? It seems like back in the day they were all anyone used, without any real knowledge or question about whether or not they were what we should be using. As it turns out, they *are* bad for your skin for a handful of reasons.

First, they don't really clean your skin, which is weird since that's their sole marketing purpose. Instead they remove *some* makeup from your face, while moving around the rest of it and pushing dirt and debris further into your pores. They also usually contain ingredients that are irritating and drying, in an attempt to dissolve your makeup. The formulas can sometimes be so damaging that they cause micro-tears, invisible to the naked eye but bad nonetheless!

I cannot stress this enough: your skin shouldn't feel dry and angry after you've cleansed it. If it does, you've not found the right cleanser.

A lot of makeup wipes are also terrible for the environment since they're single use and not biodegradable. I don't know about you but I prefer to use something *not* environmentally damaging whenever possible, especially when the alternative is so much better and even easier.

I also have issue with dragging anything with pressure across my face - makeup wipe, MakeUp Eraser towel - all of it. Anytime you are pulling at your skin you are, over time, creating wrinkles. I never drag something across my face unless I have a good reason to and in this case there is definitely not one!

Are makeup wipes the most terrible thing in the world? No. In fact, "cleansing" with a makeup wipe is better than just never cleansing your face period. Sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures and you gotta do what you gotta do and that's fine. But there are much better alternatives that will make your face happy, clean, and healthy, so if that's what you're looking for let's do it!

How to Properly Cleanse Your Face

The key to properly cleansing your face is - drumroll please - using a cleanser! Preferably two, actually, in order to double cleanse. Double cleansing involves first cleansing your skin with an oil-based cleanser, followed by a second cleanse with a water-based cleanser. Oil cleansing is important because it removes makeup, sebum, SPF, pollution, etc. The second cleanse using a water-based cleanser removes the water-based residue such as sweat and dirt.

If you're here just to figure out how to remove makeup, though, oil cleanser is your answer!

Step One: Oil Cleanser

The first step in double cleansing is using an oil cleanser. My favorite is the Banila Co. Clean it Zero Cleansing Balm, which is actually a solid balm that melts into the most luxurious oil once it comes into contact with your skin. All you do is scoop out a small amount and rub it across your face with your fingers. Once you're done massaging (I usually do it longer than necessary because it feels heavenly), rinse your face with water then pat your skin dry. Keyword: PAT your skin dry. Or just move directly on to step two below after rinsing!

I love this balm so much I literally look forward to using it every night - it is such a treat. You can even use it to remove your eye makeup by rubbing it over your eyes as well. If you're used to makeup wipes or another form of cleanser that leaves your skin feeling dry and tight after cleansing, you will be absolutely floored by this. As mentioned above I have incredibly dry skin yet this leaves my skin feeling nourished, while also incredibly clean! You skin should not, nor does it need to, feel bad after cleansing... it should feel fantastic.

The Banila Co. Clean it Zero Cleansing Balm comes in a few different options. Since I have dry skin I use the Nourishing one, which is packed with hydrating and moisturizing ingredients like Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Royal Jelly, Hot Springs Water, and active botanicals. Truly such a treat - I cannot recommend it enough. It's also only $19 and lasts forever!

Click here to buy it at Ulta or here to buy it at Soko Glam.

Glowbiotics also has an oil cleanser I like, the Probiotic Nourishing Gel to Oil Cleanser. Instead of being a balm to oil formula it's a gel to oil formula, which is something I haven't seen from anyone else! It's a great product and might be a better option for you if you have concerns like acne, rosacea, inflammation, etc. since Glowbiotics is a medical grade probiotic skincare line.

You can click here for more information and to purchase + use code "CHRISTIE" for 20% off anything on their site.

Elemis' Pro Collagen Cleansing Balm is another option that people absolutely swear by, but that I haven't tried yet. With 1,200+ five star reviews are counting, I'd say it's a pretty safe bet! Click here for more information on that one.

Farmacy also has a very popular Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm that is nice. Unlike the others, it conveniently comes in a mini size which I carry with me in all my gym bags so that I can clean my face with it after a workout. Click here to check that out.

If your eyes are super sensitive, you might want to use an eye makeup remover for your eyes specifically. I've been using the Lancôme Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover since I was in high school and absolutely swear by it. I do have incredibly sensitive eyes so I always have this on hand to use if needed. You can order it from a handful of places - click here to buy it at Sephora, here for Nordstrom, and here for Ulta.

Step Two: Water-Based Cleanser

The second step in double cleansing is to repeat the above mentioned steps, this time with a water-based cleanser. Water-based cleansers are designed specifically to remove water-based residue, like sweat and dirt.

The water-based cleanser I use and recommend is Glowbiotics' Probiotic Revitalizing Cleanser. I initially started using it when I was having some bad breakouts. It is perfect for all skin types and is not specifically an acne product (that’s just an added bonus!). It removes impurities without stripping the skin, leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth, adds radiance, firms, brightens, and hydrates! It contains prebiotics, probiotics, and a bunch of other powerful ingredients like smart peptide 189 (anti-aging), vitamin E, lauric acid (antimicrobial, helps retain moisture), and aloe vera (soothes, calms inflammation).⁠

Click here to get yours and don't forget to use code "CHRISTIE" for 20% off.

If you struggle with breakouts, they also have a Probiotic Acne Treatment Cleanser that was specifically developed as an acne-fighting cleanser. It's not ideal for super dry skin types so I personally like the Revitalizing Cleanser more, but if you are on the oilier side it might be a better fit for you. Click here for more info.

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