What's Really In Your Makeup Wipes?

Let’s face it; facial wipes are super convenient – but do you know what’s really in them? In recent years, traditional face wipes have gotten some heat for being overly drying, irritating and damaging, especially for sensitive, dry, and acne-prone skin types. Alarmingly, the back of a standard pack of makeup wipes can read like a bar cart, boasting drying alcohols, irritants and parabens a-plenty. Vigorously rubbing these ingredients into your face after a long day to remove dirt and grime can lead to a host of issues, not the least of which are premature wrinkles, breakouts, flaky skin and allergic reactions (granted, regular cleansers and improper cleansing techniques can also cause these same issues).

So in light of all this, we’ve made it our duty to assist you with your quest to finding the perfect set of makeup wipes to soothe and cleanse your skin safely and effectively, minus the nasties and harmful side effects.

BLACKLIST THESE INGREDIENTS

First things first, get acquainted with which ingredients to avoid. When reading the back of your makeup wipes, avoid nasties such as:

• Propylene Glycol, which is an irritant, but allergic contact dermatitis is also widely documented with this ingredient.
• Phenoxyethanol, classified by the EU as an irritant, restricted for use in Japan and a data sheet listing harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. Can cause reproductive damage and effects on brain and nervous system.
• Decylamine Oxide, a harsh cleaning agent usually for dishwashing detergents!
• Synthetic Fragrances (also marked as parfum), which easily irritate the skin and are known endocrine disruptors.
• Formaldehyde-releasing chemicals, which are in some preservatives, such as 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1, 3-Dio. This has the highest hazard rating on the EWG’s Skin Deep ingredient database.
• Methylisothiazolinone (also called MI), another preservative, which has caused some severe allergic reactions in the form of hand, face and neck dermatitis, and has also earned a “High Hazard” rating from EWG.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WIPE ONCE IT’S BEEN USED?

Flushed away to wash up on a beach? Or thrown into the bin to live in a landfill for the next hundred or so years? The danger with some single-use makeup wipes is that they’re using a mix of polyesters, plastics and viscose to create a strong, smooth feeling towelette that once disposed of, cannot break down. A report by the Marine Conservation Society has shown that the number of wet wipes washed up on British beaches has increased by 50% since 2013. Scary!

ECOCARE uses soft 100% Certified Organic Cotton. This is naturally grown, sustainable and biodegradable. As it comes from the earth it is the safest wipe material to go back into the earth!

SOME HANDY ALTERNATIVES

Many wipes can be harsh, greasy, or just plain ineffective not to mention abrasive on the skin, rendering the time and energy saved at the sink totally worthless.

Our wipes will never leave the skin feeling greasy or dry, but rather refreshed and rejuvenated. No residue. Better yet, they won’t make the eyes sting when removing eye makeup – bonus!

These packs are also handy to take to the gym to unblock perspiration-clogging pores and freshen up the easy and handy way. Double bonus. They are free from parabens and all the nasties, but are still effective at dissolving and removing makeup. We use as mild natural preservative system as possible, that still manages to discourage bacteria growth that can so easily occur when moistened items are stacked together in an enclosed package. Our products pass a strict process to comply with the Soil Association Organic Certification giving you confidence in safety for the skin and environment.

The two varieties of wipes available here boast naturally derived ingredients that work to cleanse and condition the skin, to leave the complexion glowing and gunk-free.

So now that you’re aware of what goes into a bad wipe, here’s what goes into a good wipe (and we promise we’re not biased!).

REFRESHING APPLE & HONEY

Delicious smelling skincare routine, right this way! There are four organic apples in each pack, to cleanse the skin of oily build-up and leave your skin feeling conditioned and firm. The organic honey adds moisture and introduces natural antioxidants to the skin, assisting with hydration and rejuvenation. This flavour is best for oily and combination skin, as the apple is so great at combatting unwanted oil.

SOOTHING ROSE & CHAMOMILE

These wipes use three variations of organic rose oil including the prized Rosa Damascena, essential for toning and balancing skin. In addition to the rose, organic Chamomile will moisturise and soothe sensitive and tired skin, and is best suited for mature and dry skin types, as the rose oil works to hydrate skin.

THE RIGHT WAY TO USE MAKEUP WIPES

We get that the makeup removing process can be pretty arduous, but it’s an absolutely necessary step in order to keep your skin at its cleanest and clearest. Thankfully, the whole routine is pretty simple.

Ultimately, you should use gentle pressure when it comes to wiping away the day’s face in small circular motions. You should especially avoid dragging the thin skin around your eyes backwards and forwards, as this can contribute to premature ageing. ECOCARE wipes are made with 100% Organic Cotton that’s as gentle on the environment as it is the delicate skin around the peepers.

Using some wipes alone without the follow-up step of rinsing with water could expose your skin to higher concentrations of the bad which may lead to further irritation or dryness. It depends on what works best for your skin. But with ECOCARE, the formulas are so natural and gentle, that an easy wipe and go is often all it takes to remain blemish-free and radiant – minus the rinse off with water or cleanser. If you do wish to cleanse post-wipe, though, we recommend opting for formulas as natural, organic and eco-friendly as possible. Look for an organic Certification on the packaging.