Two Drugstore Products That Will Make You Ditch Makeup Wipes for Good

By: Valeria Ramos

Every girl knows that feeling of coming back home after a night out. You take off your heels as soon as you step into your room, peel off the outfit you carefully planned just hours before and resist the oh-so-powerful temptation to flop right into bed, close your eyes and pass out.

Removing makeup completely but quickly is something even the laziest of girls have learned how to master, but there are a few alternatives to the trusty makeup wipes we’ve all gotten used to.

For years, makeup wipes were my go-to for removing a day’s or night’s worth of foundation and mascara. They’re quick, convenient, and they do the job. However, there are some drawbacks to running wipes across your skin over time. 

According to Dr. Joshua Zeichner, Director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mt. Sinai Hospital, “Rubbing can cause low-grade inflammation that, over time, can promote skin pigmentation and even early wrinkling.” 

Until I tried something else, I had never realized that, even though they were effective, makeup wipes might be too harsh for my skin. True, I never enjoyed the feeling of stripping my skin clean to the point where it was pink and dry, but I figured as long as every bit of concealer was off, it was worth it. 

I was hesitant to jump on the micellar water bandwagon, only because I knew it would take me longer to remove makeup this way, but I figured I would give it a shot. While I was picking up some of Simple’s Micellar Cleansing Water at the drugstore, I noticed some gentle cream cleansers as well. 

I immediately recognized Pond’s Cold Cream Cleanser, having seen it in magazines as a holy grail item for models who have to deal with heaps of makeup on a daily basis. I decided to use a dollop of this cleanser, followed by a cotton pad of micellar water as my new gentle, makeup-removing routine. 

While this duo does take longer than a few rubs of a makeup wipe, I found that it feels so much more gentle on my skin. The Pond’s cleanser does a great job of getting the makeup loose while the micellar water ensures nothing is left behind. 

I’m not going to lie, I still keep a pack of emergency makeup wipes under my sink for those nights where I need all the help I can get. However, I plan on keeping this new, more gentle combination as part of my routine.

If you’re looking for a new quick fix when it comes to removing makeup, these two affordable drugstore products might just be your new favorites!