Photo by Alexandra Gorn on Unsplash
I had one of “those days” again yesterday. You know, the days when you work too much, stay out too late, or simply can’t drag yourself out of bed to wash your face? There are tons of excuses, but at the end of the night, sometimes it’s just easier to close my eyes than cycle through several steps of my skincare routine. If you’ve ever had a facial at Facelogic, you probably have a similar voice pop into your head right around the time you decide to skip the sink, crawl in bed, and close your eyes instead of cleansing your face. It’s the voice of Heather, or Crystal, or Abby reminding you that sleeping in makeup clogs your pores, irritates your skin, and destroys your healthy glow. This is the part of the story where makeup removing wipes show up. They are convenient and simple, requiring almost 0% brainpower, but do these wipes actual do more harm than good when we reach for them in a final effort to “cleanse our skin” before bed?
Let’s Talk Lazy
The beauty industry is all about quick and easy. Everything caters towards convenience. From dry shampoo to one-step BB cream, we all find ways to cut corners and get out the door as quickly as possible. And that is ok! With everything on our plates, who has time to wash and blow dry their hair before dashing to work, school, or your daughter’s dance recital? But another place where we are all too often tempted to skimp is our nightly skincare routine. Before you reach for your stack of cleansing wipes, let’s talk about what these lazy girl’s solution to cleansing really do to your skin. Celebrity esthetician Renée Rouleau tells Refinery29 that cleansing wipes don’t really cleanse anything. “‘Instead, they just smear dirt, bacteria, oil, and makeup across the face. It’s like applying cleanser to your face and then not washing it off, or skipping the rinse cycle of your laundry. Cleansing agents are designed to break down debris within the pores, but it’s the rinsing action that actually removes it.’" These wipes rub dirt and pore-clogging oils around, leaving behind dead skin cells and an irritated face.
Photo by Alejandra Higareda
What’s In Our Trusty Cleansing Wipes?
We spend a lot of time talking about the importance of organic, especially when it comes to the sensitive skin on our faces. Avoiding harsh chemicals and opting for natural, gentler products will drastically improve the health of your skin. But then why do we undermine this by using alcohol and chemical-infused makeup removing wipes? These wipes contain preservatives to keep them fresh and are saturated with ingredients that make removing mascara and lipstick effortless. Cleansing wipes are also full of various types of alcohols. “‘These are put into the formula so they evaporate more quickly, so the skin doesn’t stay wet for long,” [Renée Rouleau] explains. “But, skin cells are like fish — they need water to live, so alcohol is simply too dehydrating.’” Though “safe”, these ingredients are not meant to remain on your skin all night long. As you read earlier, if you don’t cleanse your skin after using a cleansing wipe, all the dirt and grime you rubbed around will just seep back into your pores. I hate to say, but using a cleansing wipe without proper rinsing (and actually cleansing) is faux skincare- you sabotage healthy skin with a quick fix that claims to be a miracle product. If you’re going to rinse after the wipe, doesn’t that eliminate the reason you choose the wipe in the first place? Let’s take it back to why we cleanse in the first place.
Our estheticians will tell you that a thorough skincare routine is essential for healthy skin. Not only do we think that, but so do skincare professionals across the globe. Dr. James C. Marotta and Eminence Organics say “The easiest way to sabotage your beauty sleep is to fall asleep without removing your makeup first… Sleeping in makeup can be detrimental to the skin’s health,” clogging your pores during the crucial hours when your skin is in repair mode. As a result, your skin cannot properly shed and dirt, grime and environmental pollutants build up on its surface.” (Eminence) Not only this, but robust skincare habits keep your skin refreshed, hydrated, and supple. A basic routine of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing, supplemented by regular exfoliation, masks, and deep treatments help you maintain healthy, youthful skin.
Photo by elizabeth lies
What To Do Instead
It’s important to take care of yourself, and bad-habit forming makeup removing wipes threaten your skin’s wellness. Nonetheless, it is inevitable that sometimes we just can’t make it through our entire nightly routine. Instead of reaching for a chemical-infused wipe, try Eminence Organics’ Rice Milk 3 in 1 Cleansing Water. We swear by this stuff. This product consolidates your routine into a single step: cleansing, moisturizing, and toning all at once! And the best part is, you don’t need a drop of water to cleanse away all the dirt, oil, and makeup on your skin. Just as easy as it is to grab a makeup removing wipe, you can reach for the Rice Milk 3 in 1. Your skin will be left clean, refreshed, and hydrated rather than irritated, dirty, and clogged.
Better than nothing is not always better, and you are better than that! Cleansing wipes can be kept “for things like plane rides or bathroom touch-ups, when you might need to freshen up your foundation or erase mascara smudges. They should be tools of convenience, not necessity” (Refinery29). You might want to skip the sink, but you don’t have to irritate your skin in the process. As often as you can, opt for a more skin-friendly choice, like Rice Milk 3 in 1. The health of your skin is our priority, and we want you to be glowing!
Our estheticians are always available to educate you on best practice skincare and the products for you. Come relax with us and let us take care of your skin! Book your monthly facial today!