Makeup wipes are easy go-to options when you don’t want to faff around with lots of different products.
But, as experts have shown, these makeup removers are not the best option for our skin.
As well as questions about their ability to properly clean, there is also another issue when it comes to wipes – how do you get rid of them?
After all, they are single use and made up of synthetic materials like polyester and plastic – meaning they are not good for the environment.
A report by the Marine Conservation Society revealed a 94% increase in wet wipes – both cleansing and baby wipes – on UK beaches.
While sending wipes down our pipes isn’t solely responsible for rubbish in rivers and the sea, it is a real concern.
With an average of 35 wipes found for every kilometre of beach, we can all do our bit by avoiding flushing wipes down the loo.
The best way to ensure you’re not contributing to environmental waste is, of course, to refrain from buying wipes at all.
But if you do use them for convenience, then there are alternatives you can opt for which are less harsh for the environment.
For example, you can buy biodegradable wipes such as the Cheeky Panda range which are vegan, cruelty-free and made from bamboo (instead of polyester which can be ocean polluting).
Caroline Jacobs-Graf, founder of conscious shopping retailer Alittlefind.com recommends biodegradable cleansing pads, a muslin cloth or cleansing bar instead of wipes.
She tells Metro.co.uk: ‘Sadly, most make-up wipes cannot be recycled and aren’t flushable, so the best and only way to dispose of them safely is in your rubbish bin. For more eco-friendly alternatives to removing make-up, try the SkinMatrix Cleansing Pads, £27, which are 100% biodegradable.
‘Alternatively, try reusable muslin face cloths, they are gentle on the skin, can be used with your favourite cleanser and contribute far less waste to the environment’
Cosmetic doctor Dr Munir Somji adds that if you do use the normal high street makeup wipes then make sure you bin them after use – never flush them down the loo.
‘Makeup wipes are not recyclable or flushable, so they must be placed in your rubbish bin,’ says Dr Munir. ‘Water UK have said that 93% of sewage blockages are due to makeup wipes.
‘Some biodegradable wipes have a “fine to flush” certification on the packaging, but the general rule is don’t flush a wet wipe.
‘Place it in your rubbish bin where it will degrade on land.’
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