[picture credit: Natracare]

Make Up cleansing wipes have become a popular beauty item because they help to remove make-up or to freshen up in a cinch. They are also easy to carry in your purse, gym bag, or while traveling. A few swipes and you are feeling clean and refreshed.
However, depending on the brand, instead of cleansing your skin, you are leaving toxic chemicals behind. This quick video explains how:

The Dirty Truth About Make-up Wipes - click here

I checked the ingredients of 3 of the leading cleansing wipes in the market and at first glance I noticed: FORMALDEHYDE AND PARABENS. Formaldehyde and parabens are used as preservatives in order to discourage the growth of microbes. Unfortunately, Parabens are known to disrupt hormonal function, an effect that is linked to increased risk of breast cancer and reproductive toxicity.*

Formaldehyde is classified as “carcinogenic to humans” by the International Agency for Research on Carcinogens (IARC). If due to consumer demands, formaldehyde was removed from nail polishes - why is still used for cleansing wipes? “In the U.S. approximately 20% of cosmetics and personal care products contain a formaldehyde-releaser and the frequency of allergic reactions to these ingredients is much higher among Americans compared to incidents in Europe”.**

As of now, there are no restrictions in the US on the levels of formaldehyde allowed in any body-care products, no requirement to test products made with formaldehyde-releasing preservatives for levels of formaldehyde, and certainly no obligation to inform consumers that the products they use each day are likely to contain a cancer-causing chemical that does not appear on the list of ingredients.*

There are alternatives that are nurturing to the skin and as well biodegradable. Here are a few of them:

Natracare - Infused with the organic essential oils of almond, apricot and chamomile, Natracare Cleansing Make-Up Removal Wipes leave your skin moisturized, cleansed and refreshed naturally.

Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes- These handy wipes are soaked in pure, skin-balancing Argan Oil, aloe vera that soothes the skin, refreshing cucumber extract, and Vitamin E that conditiosn and refines. Each wipe is biodegradable and a portion of what you pay goes to the Natural Resources Defense Council's Polar Bear SOS Initiative.

Blum Naturals- These Towelettes are infused with natural and organic botanicals like Aloe Vera Extract, Chamomile, and Organic Ylang Ylang Oil that help remove eye & face make-up.

Yes To Cucumbers Facial Wipes - These wipes gently remove dirt, sweat and makeup without the need to rinse. Packed with green superfoods like Green Tea and Cucumbers, these all-natural, biodegradable wipes naturally exfoliate, detoxify, and rejuvenate all-in-one.

*Source: Campaign for Sage Cosmetics
**Source: EWG Cosmetics Database

The Truth about Make Up Cleansing Wipes