Facial wipes – are they a problem for your skin?
The short answer is yes.
I know we are all busy and sometimes the thought of cleansing seems like an arduous task but it’s a very important basic to get right as part of your skin care routine. Wipes can be appealing for convenience but there are plenty of other quick alternatives that are effective and wont damage your skin.
Cleansing is an important step to get right in your routine and is one where if you choose the wrong product it can have a real knock on effect on all of your other skincare. Cleansing leaves a clean canvas for your other products to penetrate effectively. It’s a step we want to get right. In some studies it showed that a properly cleansed skin can increase penetration of active ingredients by up to 30%! Well worth the twice daily effort.
Whilst wipes are great for convenience and fine for the odd use, it’s best to avoid in your daily life. Sometimes milder wipes can just smear makeup and build up around the surface of the skin instead of removing it effectively; this can lead to congestion and a dull complexion – something we all want to avoid. The stronger versions can carry their own problems. The ones that are very effective at removing make up often contain alcohol and other ingredients that can strip skin leaving many wipe devotees feeling constantly dehydrated. These stripping ingredients can also affect your skins natural defences which will lead to an irritated, sensitised complexion. A complaint I hear a lot of among wipe users.
Tips for a top cleanse:
• Keep a cleanser in the shower. It will only take a few seconds as part of your morning shower and will promote beautiful skin.
• Avoid soaps, wipes, shower gels and anything with a strong foaming action on your face. Choose a gentle cleanser formulated to remove dirt and grime effectively without stripping your skin.
• Keep a collection of your favourite muslins or facecloths for cleansing so you have a fresh one daily or use something disposable like damp cotton wool.
