If you’re still using makeup wipes, you’re either a 10 year old experimenting with mom’s makeup or you hate your skin. Kidding (kind of).
Seriously, though – if you are one of those people who insists on repurchasing those same makeup wipes you’ve been buying since 2015, ask yourself why? Because it’s easy? Because it’s fast? Because they work? Let me tell you, there are SO MANY better options nowadays that work better, feel better, and don’t damage your skin nearly as much.
What we’ll cover:
- Why makeup wipes are not the best option for your skin
- What double cleansing is & the science behind why it works
- Why I love this concept & some personal favorite products
A few weeks ago, my roommates and I came back from a night at the bars. Before sitting down to eat our late-night Little Caesars pizza, one of them sighed, admitted she was out of makeup wipes, and reluctantly asked if anyone had any.
I laughed, “Um.. no, but I do have some cleansing oil and face wash if you want to borrow that.”
She did. Not only did she thank me, but her skin did too. She expressed how amazing of an experience it was and how clean, refreshed, and healthy her skin felt afterwards. This brings up my first issue with makeup wipes – why in the world are they so aggressive?
I literally cannot count the amount of Tik Tok videos, Youtube clips, or celebrity Vogue beauty routines I’ve watched where the person in the video is so aggressively attacking their skin with a makeup wipe. It made me wonder why they hated their skin so much.
Makeup wipes are clothes – typically polyester, but materials vary by brand – that are coated in cleanser for an “easy” experience in removing makeup, sunscreen, or daily accumulated dirt. Before I say anything else – doesn’t that sound like the equivalent of using a cloth with soap and water to shower in the 21st century. Like… we have showers and modern-day body wash nowadays for a reason! Regardless, my main issue with this? The rubbing! Rubbing fibers of any material on your skin, especially a cloth that doesn’t glide very easily, is really going to irritate your skin, flaring up existing problem spots and creating microtears long term.
It is basically removing a layer of skin cells and leaving your skin so vulnerable to damage. In addition, most people use makeup wipes to remove makeup that has been on for hours, so their skin is already in a vulnerable state being suffocated by foundation. ESPECIALLY with the aggressive nature that people use makeup wipes, it is no doubt that their skin is not happy after using them.
Now, the hate for makeup wipes is not a new thing. Many people have, thankfully, moved away from these skin-irritating angry clothes and found MUCH gentler yet more effective alternatives. The common terminology you may have heard is “double cleansing.” Please, for the love of God, do not mistake this with a rinse-and-repeat style of shampooing. Double cleansing does NOT mean just cleansing your face twice with the same cleanser. This will not effectively remove your makeup or leave your skin feeling clean.
Double cleansing refers to using two different products simultaneously. First, an oil-based balm or cleanser on DRY SKIN. Rinse with water. Second, your typical, everyday water-based cleanser. Rinse again and dry with your face towel.
The Science:
Oil cleansers and balms typically have two key components – an oil and an emulsifier. If you don’t know, a lot of makeup products are oil-based. The oil in the cleanser or balm is able to stick-to and dissolve other oils, such as those in your makeup products or the excess sebum in your pores. It breaks down the chemical composition of your makeup and essentially loosens it up. Now, when you rinse with water the makeup and sebum will come right off with the oil cleanser.
The next step is super important. When you add your water-based cleanser, it’s going to attack any dirt or water-based products that are still on your skin. We all know that oil and water don’t mix – this is where that emulsifier I mentioned before comes into play. The emulsifier allows the oil cleanser/balm to dissolve in water. So, your water-based cleanser is going to dissolve whatever is left of your oil cleanser/balm and anything it has attached itself to as well. After all of this, you rinse again and you’re left with clean, shiny skin!
Another thing that I love about oil cleansers and balms is that they typically contain some great-smelling essential oils that are not only super nourishing for your skin, but can also be very relaxing. Rubbing it into your skin and smelling those essential oils is literally DIY aromatherapy, and who doesn’t love a relaxing essential oil experience right before bed. Seriously, it’s like an at-home spa.
With all this talk about oil, I know a few of you must be thinking – why would I intentionally rub oil all over my acne. Seems counterproductive, right? Don’t worry, if you follow the correct steps of double cleansing, it shouldn’t make your acne worse. The oil cleanser/balm can even cling to other excess oils or built up sebum in your skin and help remove them from deep within your pores.
This method is great for ALL skin types. In fact, another thing I love so much about double cleansing is that it’s completely customizable to your skin and what it needs. If you’re concerned about acne, you could use some sort of acne-fighting cleanser for your second cleanse. If your skin is more dry, a gentle water-based cleanser might work better. The bottom line is, don’t let the word oil scare you!
As far as what to buy – there are so many oil cleansers and balms on the market nowadays. Like I said, this concept has been around for a minute. If I were you, I’d start with a cheap product so you can get to know the process and see how it works for your skin. One of my favorites – that happens to be under $10 – is the Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm. I used this product when I first started double cleansing and it consistently does a great job, is very easy to use and conveniently packaged, and goes for an unbeatable price.
After playing around with a few other products, I started using the Biossance Squalane & Antioxidant Cleansing Oil. If you want relaxation, this is the product you’re looking for. Using this after a long day or a night out is so calming and a truly luxurious experience. I literally feel like I’ve entered a spa every time I wash my face. Compared to the Inky List one, this oil is a little pricier – around the $30 mark – but one thing I will say is that this stuff does not run out. I don’t even remember when I started using this product – maybe around May 2024 – and I am still on the same bottle! That’s after using it pretty much every day. It’s November for context, so that’s like… 6 months!
The best part is, you can use whatever water-based cleanser you already have in your routine!
Needless to say, double cleansing is a super easy, pretty affordable, and not to mention environmentally friendly way to replace those stingy makeup wipes in your routine. I get it, it’s easy to stick to long-time habits and avoid deviating from what you know, but who knows – maybe you’ll love the change. And maybe – more importantly – your skin will thank you for it long-term (and me for explaining it to you)!