Some Alternatives to Makeup Wipes (Product Suggestions Included)

As much as we all know both how important it is to remove our makeup at the end of the day and also how convenient using a makeup wipe can be to get it all off, the bottom line is makeup wipes are not the most environmentally friendly way to complete the task. Of course, there are more and more companies coming out with recyclable or biodegradable wipes, but they still do not comprehensively address other issues that can be problematic when using wipes such as the harsh detergents they can use and the filmy residue they leave on the skin, or the one-time-use and therefore costly nature of disposable wipes. So I would like to share some of my other favorite methods for thoroughly removing makeup (and one is just as fast as using a wipe).

Oil Cleansers and Cleansing Balms: Oil cleansers and cleansing balms can be a kind of slow roll when it comes to removing makeup because they require thorough massaging to make sure all traces of makeup are broken down and will be washed away when it is time to rinse, and many, if not most, of these products will need to be removed with a cloth. There are, however, many oils and balms available nowadays that do contain an emulsifer (an agent that creates that mixes with instead of repelling water) enabling the oil to be washed off at the sink with no wiping required. So really, it is just like using a normal face wash but with extra makeup removing power. While many people use oil cleansers and cleansing balms as a precursor to then going on to washing with a normal face cleanser, I must say that there has been many a night where I've just simply removed my makeup with one of these types of products and called it a night. But because of the skin softening and supportive ingredients often found in these types of products, my skin feels like it has been pampered in just one single step. Some famous in this category iare the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, the ever popular Clinique Take the Day Of Balm, Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm (highly recommended especially for sensitive skin) and Mahalo's Unveil (a great emulsifying cleansing balm that is particularly good for oily skins or those who like a lightweight but effective cleanser).

Cold Creams and Micellar Waters: Cold creams are one of the most historic and classic beauty products out there, and have been a part of people's beauty routines for centuries. Similar in concept and texture to a cleansing balm, a cold cream is a thick cream that can be rubbed on the face to remove makeup. Cold creams are looser in texture than cleansing balms, however, and more resemble a thick cream moisturizer. However, they differ from cream moisturizers in that cream moisturizers are oils (or oil laden substances) mixed in a base of water, which allows them to eventually absorb into your face, whereas cold creams are a base of oil with a bit of water mixed in. This allows the cold cream to stay on the surface of the skin and be massaged around in the same way you would a cleansing balm, but, I find, with less work to get the product to spread around. Unlike cleansing balms, you have the option of wiping off a cold cream without any water or dampness to your cloth for the makeup removing process and most of the cream but leave a layer of comforting, occlusive skincare on the skin. Essentially, it is like removing your makeup and putting on a bit of night cream in one step. While I personally wouldn't recommend cold creams for makeup removal all the time, especially if you intend to continuously use them in the partial leave-on method, they are great to use when you are very tired or in a hurry or if you have very sensitized skin that is sensitive to too many products and also being touch and handled a lot. Cold creams are not a product that is widely available across brands, but French pharmacie brand Avene makes a highly recommended one as do the brand Prai Beauty, which I am very keen on trying in the future.

Another completely water-free way to remove makeup is a micellar water. Micellars are manufactured suspensions of soften water and suspended droplets of cleansing oil that are usually quite gentle on facial skin and around the eyes. These products have their origins in France and became very popular for use in Parisian magazine shoots and fashion shows where makeup needed to be removed quickly and effectively for changing out looks to match different outfits but without damaging models skin. I find overall, these types of removers work best for quick eye makeup removal, but also can work through lighter weight foundations, and while they do need to be sponged off, a reusable, washable cotton round works perfectly. Brands like Simple, Garnier, and, again, French pharmacy brand Avene and other French pharmacy brand Nuxe one if not multiple micellar waters as a part of their lines. Yes 2 is another brand that features multiple micellar waters across their range, each catering to a specific skin type-- the Yes 2 Coconuts for dry skin and the Yes 2 tomatoes for oily or acne-prone skin as to examples.

Polyester or Microfibre Cloths: Polyester and microfiber cloths have long been touted for their gentle and effective cleansing and mildly physically exfoliating properties when used in conjunction with a cleanser, but there are some versions of these types of clothes or sponges that simply require an addition of warm water to plow through makeup much more deeply than a standard towel or washcloth and reveal cleansed and smoothed skin. Products like this include the Face Halo and the Makeup Eraser. While both of these specific items retail for around $25 USD (Face Halo's are sold in packs of 3) these items stand up well to washing and can be put in the washing machine to make sure they last for months and years longer than a standard makeup wipe.

Taking off your makeup is always something that should be a priority for all of us beauty lovers out there. These three methods and tools, however, make the daily chore a pleasure for both our effort, our skin, our wallets, and our planet far beyond the conventional makeup wipe.