Cleansing Wipes
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August 1, 2022
By Lisa Petrison
Because cleansing wipes have the propensity to harbor microbial growth, they almost always include particularly high levels of chemical preservatives.
It is mostly for that reason that I have tended to avoid them (plus I don’t feel that they do a very good job of cleansing my skin).
However, I can see how these products might be helpful for some situations, such as camping, travel or heavy exercise.
I therefore have listed information about a few products that might be considered acceptable options if people do want to purchase these.
Burt’s Bees Sensitive Facial Towelette with Aloe Vera – $6
Overall Rating: 
(4 / 5)
Performance Rating: (4 / 5)
Ingredient Rating: (4 / 5)
Lisa Irritation Level: None
Processed Fragrance: None
The description of this product reads, “Be kind to your sensitive skin with our soft, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic towelettes. In one cleansing step you’ll wipe away dirt, oil and makeup while moisturizing and soothing skin with Cotton and Aloe—no rinsing or scrubbing necessary. Softening Cotton Extract helps skin replenish its outer layer and minimize the effects of potential irritants such as harsh soaps or cleansers. Making it the natural ingredient to pick for sensitive skin care.”
Although these wipes include a few ingredients that I would prefer not to use on my face, I tried them on a few occasions and felt like my skin did okay with them.
I might use them on a camping trip or other similar activity when I did not expect to be able to wash my face thoroughly in water,.
Size: 36 count
Ulta Rating: 4.2 Stars (4890 reviews)
Credo Clean: Meets Criteria
Clean at Sephora: Meets Criteria
Drunk Elephant Clean: Meets Criteria
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
EWG Product Rating: 2 (green)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 4 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Phenoxyethanol (4), Benzoic acid (3), Sodium benzoate (3)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Water, glycerin, honey, sunflower seed oil, rice extract, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, tocopherol, citric acid, fructose, glucose, inositol, sucrose, trehalose, benzoic acid, polyglyceryl-4 caprate, disodium cocoyl glutamate, sodium cocoyl glutamate, sodium citrate, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, phenoxyethanol
CeraVe Makeup Removing Cleansing Cloths Ultra Gentle – $10
Performance Rating: Not Yet Rated
Ingredient Rating: 
(3 / 5)
Processed Fragrance: None
The description of this product reads, “CeraVe Makeup removing wipes has 25-count cleansing wipes that gently removes foundation makeup, waterproof mascara, dirt and excess oil. 3 essential ceramides help restore the skin barrier. Hyaluronic acid helps retain the skin’s natural moisture. Fragrance-free, sulfate-free, non-drying, non-irritating, ophthalmologist-tested, sensitive skin-tested, and non-comedogenic so it will not clog your pores. Accepted by the National Eczema Association. Developed with dermatologists.”
I have yet to try this product.
Size: 25 count
Target Rating: 3.5 Stars (379 reviews)
Credo Clean: No
Clean at Sephora: Unclear
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Think Dirty Rating: 6 (yellow)
EWG Product Rating: 2 (green)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Mineral oil (3), PEG-40 stearate (3), Dimethicone (3), Ceteareth-20 (3), Phenoxyethanol (4), Laureth-7 (3), Polyacrylamide (4)
Fragrance Ingredients: None
All Ingredients: Water, Mineral Oil, PEG-40 Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, Dimethicone, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Edta, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Laureth-7, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyacrylamide
Honest Makeup Remover Wipes – $8
Performance Rating: Not Yet Rated
Ingredient Rating: (4 / 5)
Processed Fragrance: Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Lavender Oil, Siberian Fir Oil, Patchouli Oil, Lemongrass Oil, Rose Geranium Flower Oil, Roman Chamomile Oil, Linalool, Geraniol
The description of this product reads, “Take the day off with our Grapeseed + Olive Oil infused Makeup Remover Wipes. These thoughtfully formulated wipes are gentle and easy on the eyes, and won’t overdry or strip the skin.”
The wipes contain several essential oils, including lavandula hyrbrida, lavender, patchouli, palmarosa, rose geranium, and Roman chamomile.
They also include polysorbate-20 (a preservative), linalool and geraniol (processed botanical-based fragrances), licorice extract, and aloe vera.
I have not yet tried this product.
Size: 30 count
Ulta Rating: 4.4 Stars (45 reviews)
Credo Clean: No
Clean at Sephora: Unclear
Drunk Elephant Clean: No
EU Compliant: Meets Criteria
Think Dirty Rating: 3 (green)
EWG Product Rating: 3 (yellow)
EWG Ingredient Rating: 6 (yellow)
EWG Problem Ingredients: Polysorbate-20 (3), Licorice extract (4), Aloe vera (3), Rose geranium flower oil (4), Linalool (3), Geraniol (5). (Also contains Lavandula hybrida oil, Lavender oil, Siberian fir oil, Patchouli oil, Lemongrass oil, Roman chamomile flower oil.)
Fragrance Ingredients: Matricaria flower water, Calendula flower extract, Cucumber fruit extract, Lavandula hybrida oil, Lavender oil, Patchouli oil, Palmarosa oil, Rose geranium oil, Roman chamomile oil, Linalool, Geraniol
All Ingredients: Water, Polysorbate 20, Isopropyl Palmitate, Olive Fruit Oil, Matricaria Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Licorice Root Extract, Cucumber Fruit Extract, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Maltodextrin, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Lavender Oil, Abies Sibirica Oil, Pogostemon Cablin Leaf Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Rose Geranium Flower Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Citric Acid, Silver Citrate, Xylitol, Tocopherol, Linalool, Geraniol
Shopping List
This section lists products that seem that they may have potential and that I am hoping to try in the near future.
Readers are highly encouraged to bring other relevant products that they have tried to my attention so that I can add them to this list.
Beekman 1802 Pure Goat Milk Facial Cleansing Wipes – $7
RMS Beauty Ultimate Makeup Remover Wipes – $16
About This Website
The Living Clean in a Dirty World shopping website is designed to provide guidance to those seeking out products that are relatively low in toxicity and that provide generally positive user experiences.
Although the skincare and makeup sections have a particular focus on products appropriate for women who are in their 40’s or beyond, the information provided may be useful for other people as well.
The products are curated by Lisa Petrison, who has been focused on helping people to improve their health by avoiding toxicity since 2008 and who heads the Paradigm Change organization.
Her Living Clean in a Dirty World blog site discusses a variety of topics of relevance to those who are working to pursue a more natural lifestyle with less exposure to harmful toxicity.
Lisa is the author of several books, including A Beginner’s Guide to Mold Avoidance (co-written with Erik Johnson).
She also runs the Paradigm Change website (focusing on issues related to toxic mold illness) and the Mold Avoiders Facebook group (designed for the discussion of all topics of interest to those pursuing the mold avoidance approach described in the Beginner’s Guide).
Lisa was born in August 1964 and has yet to try cosmetic surgery, Botox or other cosmetic treatments requiring interactions with a physician, or beauty products containing retinoids.
In her former life, Lisa worked as a business school professor, as a marketing consultant to a variety of large companies, and as a reporter covering the advertising industry.
She holds a Ph.D. in marketing and social psychology from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University as well as B.S./M.S. degrees from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern.
Lisa would like to extend a special note of appreciation to Ellen Kleiman-Redden for her help in trying out products and discussing issues related to this project.
She also would like to thank the many members of the Mold Avoiders community who have shared suggestions of products to be included here.
A Note From Lisa
Products that I have tried or researched and that I have not found to be acceptable from a toxicity standpoint have been omitted entirely from the discussions on this website.
However, since a goal of this project is to introduce people to a range of options in terms of price and functionality, some products discussed on this site include ingredients that may not be appropriate for everyone.
It’s my hope that all individuals making their way to this site will find at least a few options from each product category that meet all of their own needs and wants from a variety of perspectives.
The vast majority of cosmetics marketers now offer affiliate programs in which Internet content creators may earn commissions if people who are referred to the companies’ sites by clicking on links end up making purchases.
I participate in quite a few individual affiliate programs as well as in the Sovrn/Viglinks program (which automatically converts regular links into revenue-generating links).
Links on this page that may result in affiliate income may include – but are not necessarily limited to – those from the following companies: Amazon, Beekman 1802, Burt’s Bees, Honest, Pharmaca, RMS Beauty, Ulta, and Vitacost.
Reader comments about products discussed on this website are very welcome.
Thoughts may be shared either by posting them in the comments section at the bottom of this page or by sending them directly to me at the following email address:
info at paradigmchange dot me
Companies that would like to offer me complimentary products to try out may contact me at this address as well.
Individuals who are seeking out less-toxic products or who are interested in pursuing a cleaner and healthier lifestyle may want to sign up to receive occasional email newsletters from Living Clean in a Dirty World.
Those signing up will receive a free PDF copy of the book Back From The Edge (describing the extraordinary life of mold avoidance pioneer Erik Johnson) and also will be automatically entered in sweepstakes giving away a variety of cleaner products.
Thanks very much for visiting the Living Clean in a Dirty World shopping site!
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