Battle of the Makeup Wipes: Eight brands compete in the ultimate swipe test
Throwdown articles are some of the most fun to write and execute here at Project Vanity. We love having our favorites go head to head and finding out which one gives the best performance. So far, we’ve done micellar waters, cushion compacts, liquid lipsticks, and eyebrow pencils. Today, we’re letting you in on which makeup wipe gives the best value for your money!
For testing purposes, I used makeup products that approximate what I wear on a daily basis. I also made sure to include different formulations and finishes (cream, powder, liquid, waterproof) to see how the wipes deal with various types of makeup.
Happy Skin Don’t Get Mad Get Even Hydrating Liquid Foundation, MAC Studio Fix Concealer, Urban Decay Naked Flushed Palette, Etude House Bling Bling Eye Stick in Sunset Star, Pink Sugar SugarTint in Purrfect Pout, Eye of Horus Teal Malachite Goddess Pencil, MAC Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set in Brown Ebony, MUFE Aqua Smoky Lash Waterproof Extra Black Mascara
Watsons Cleansing Facial Wipes in Floral Herbal (P25 for 10 sheets or P2.5 per sheet, at Watsons)
The Watsons Cleansing Facial Wipes promises to remove waterproof makeup. Being the most affordable of the bunch, I didn’t quite believe it until the swipe test results. The first swipe practically removed all non-waterproof makeup and only the brow mascara, eyeliner, and liquid lipstick remained until the eight swipe. Texture-wise, I have no complaints. It was non-drying and felt ok on the face.
Purederm Skin Solutions Argan Oil Make-up Remover Cleansing Towelettes (P99 for 30 sheets or P3.3 per sheet, at Watsons)
The Purederm Cleansing Towelettes is available in different variants. I tried the one with Argan Oil because I have dry skin and wanted as much moisture infusion in my skin care. It performed well, with the ninth swipe finishing off traces of stubborn waterproof makeup. While it was non-drying on the face, I felt that the sheet was a bit on the thin-side.
Silk Secrets Organics Apricot Refreshing Facial Cleanser (P39 for 10 sheets or P3.9 per sheet, at Watsons)
The Silk Secrets Facial Cleanser is the most compact of all the wipes in terms of packaging, which makes it an ideal travel companion. It finished off the waterproof makeup only after 28 swipes since it doesn’t really claim to remove waterproof makeup. The wipes did drag a little on the face because of the texture.
Nivea Daily Essentials 3-in-1 Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes for Dry & Sensitive Skin (P185 for 25 sheets or P7.4 per sheet, at the beauty section)
The Nivea Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes claims to have three benefits: gently cleanses and moisturizes; removes makeup and waterproof mascara; and is suitable for sensitive eyes. It clocked in at nine swipes, with the waterproof brow mascara and eyeliner taking the longest to remove. The two left stubborn faint traces while the rest of the makeup had already disappeared in earlier swipes. The Nivea felt a bit dragging on the face at first but once the skin has been moistened, it went on smoothly.
Celeteque DermoScience+ Hydration Make-Up Remover Cleansing Facial Wipes (P160 for 20 sheets or P8 per sheet, at the beauty section)
The Celeteque Cleansing Facial Wipes clocked in at 25 swipes mainly because of the eyeliner. The liquid lipstick disappeared after 14 swipes but the eyeliner was just stubborn. It also did not promise to remove waterproof makeup so the result was understandable. In terms of texture, the Celeteque wipe gave the feeling of mild exfoliation, which left my face feeling a bit raw.
Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Facial Sheets (P99 for 10 sheets or P9.9 per sheet, at the beauty section)
The Biore Facial Sheets have the smallest wipes yet it removed all the makeup in just four swipes! Their unique Cleansing Oil formula made it easier to breakdown the makeup, even the stubborn waterproof ones. Texture-wise, you can feel the fibers on the sheet but you won’t have to swipe on as much to remove makeup.
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths (P249.75 for 25 sheets or P9.99 per sheet, at the beauty section)
The Cetaphil Cleansing Cloths do not mention removing waterproof makeup, which may be why it took 18 swipes to completely remove the eyeliner. If you’re not using waterproof makeup at all, these wipes are good to consider because of soft, almost padded texture that made wiping it feel very pleasant.
Simple Kind to Skin Micellar Cleansing Wipes (P299 for 25 sheets or P11.96 per sheet, at the beauty section)
The Simple Micellar Cleansing Wipes are different from the rest because of the infusion of Micellar Technology and is a good go-to for sensitive skin. The 25 swipes completely removed the waterproof eyeliner while the mascara and liquid lipstick were gone by 7 swipes. The non-waterproof makeup was gone at 1-2 swipes. The Simple wipes are the largest of the lot in terms of size nd they feel gentle on the face.
Based on the swipe test alone, the Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Facial Sheets win! Even though they have the smallest sheets out of all the wipes, the inclusion of cleansing oil in the formula makes for a highly-effective makeup wipe.
In terms of value for money though, the Watsons Cleansing Facial Wipes are the most sulit at only P2.5 per sheet. It took just 8 swipes to completely remove waterproof makeup, and the P25 peso price tag is practically a steal.
Which of these makeup wipes have you tried? What beauty battle would you want to see next?
