Facial Cleansing Wipes Reviews

As a makeup artist, I use cleansing wipes at almost every job. Sometimes models come to photo shoots with makeup on and we need to remove that before starting again, and sometimes we change makeup looks so many times we have to keep cleaning it off.

Also the great thing about wipes as compared to carrying around a bottle of cleansing oil or makeup remover, is that it won't spill in your bag - best for travelling or for the times you can't get access to water. It's really useful when I go straight to cycling from work and I'm at a far-off place where there's no bathroom, and I need to remove my makeup.

I have tried a few different wipes and here's my review of those from drugstore brands.


Nivea Daily Essentials Fragrance Free Cleansing Wipes

This is my go-to wipe for any job, because it's fragrance free, there's one less worry about irritating the skin with added fragrances.

It does remove makeup thoroughly, although on very waterproof mascara and eyeliner, you will have to hold it to the skin for a few seconds before wiping off, so as to give it some time to dissolve the makeup.

Available in single packs of 25 wipes, or twin packs of 2 x 25 (about $15) which are slightly cheaper if you use alot of it.

Nivea Daily Essentials Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes

Just like the fragrance free version, this one removes makeup effectively, but not as quickly as the former. 

On the plus side, the cotton is much much softer than the fragrance free version, so it won't irritate dry and sensitive skin.

It's also cheaper than the fragrance free version, at $8.80 for 2 x 20 wipes at Mustafa in Little India (favourite all time haunt!) 

Garnier Clean Sensitive Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes

This one removes makeup including mascara really quickly and well, but it does feel a little soapy during use, and so I usually go over the face again with a baby wipe to remove any residue of any cleanser stuck on the skin, if I am doing another makeup look. 

However, if you're going to wash your face right after, then you'll have no problem with the formula. 

Price wise it's pretty good, at $5.90 for 25 wipes (At Mustafa again, but they also do sell this in the other drugstores like Watsons.) 

Australis 3 in 1 Wipes

I was sorely disappointed with these wipes from Australis. It claims on the packaging "gently removes all traces of makeup including mascara". Hell, I could not even wipe off eyeshadow with this. 

Also claimed it was "moisture rich", but it felt dry, and therefore could not even dissolve any makeup. 

Don't waste your time or money on this. 

Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Sheets

Okay, this, my dear friends, totally takes away ANY kind of waterproof makeup you may have on your face. The Biore ads where they remove half a face of makeup cleanly? Believe them. 

For this, it is so saturated in cleansing oil, and you will have to give you face a good wash with facial cleanser after, to remove the oil, but all your makeup will come off cleanly without any tugging or rubbing. 

It comes in a hard plastic box, where you can buy refill packs of 48 sheets once the initial supply runs out. For the frequent traveller, they sell them in tiny packs of 10, and I've bought them for vacations where I don't want to be carrying around bulky packs of makeup removers. 

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So how about you? What type of makeup remover wipes do you use? Write me a comment and share with me too :) 

Oh, and do follow me in Instagram , my user name there is "silverfrond" 

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Ready, Jetset, Glow!

“Business or pleasure?” These two reasons for hopping on board a flight may separate travellers into different classes of seats, but cabin conditions, dry air, environmental stress and fatigue usually results in the same damage to the skin during travel. Many travellers usually complain of dry skin, which in the long run results in fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin and a sallow complexion.

SK-II believes that these multiple signs of aging are due to one cause – the loss in “radical firmness” (in addition to your fabulous jetsetting lifestyle).
“Radical firmness” is defined as a visible firmness in the skin, determined by the thickness and elasticity of the skin, as well as the integrity of it's basal layer.
To put it most straightforwardly, aged skin is thinner, less springy, and also does not renew itself as quickly as young skin.

The solution that SK-II has developed is Stempower, a moisturiser promising to not only combat the multiple signs of aging, but also to turn back the clock and give you skin that's 10 years younger.

SK-II Stempower contains a plant-derived ingredient (Siberian ginseng, to be exact), the Stem-Acanax Complex which helps the skin's production of “lift-proteins”, giving skin a renewed plumpness. Results are quick and visible in just 10 days, thanks to its high active penetration formula.

Measuring this 10 year improvement is possible with the SK-II Magic Ring, a diagnostic device that analyses 5 key factors in skin age: texture, radiance, spots, wrinkles and firmness.

SK-II's Beauty Consultant Training Manager Nitiwadee Songrienchai 

demonstrating the SK-II Magic Ring  

The "Ageless Vector" is a measure to gauge your skin age based on 

the angles of your skin's fine lines. The more horizontal the lines, the younger your skin looks.

For frequent fliers wishing to get their hands one the SK-II Stempower, be one of the first to try and purchase it exclusively at Singapore Changi Airport from June 1, 2012.
It will be available at the SK-II counters in Singapore and internationally from 15 August 2012 onwards.

Price(exclusively at Changi Airport): S$116 (50g) & S$167 (80g)

Price(SK-II counters in Singapore): S$149 (50g) & S$219 (80g)

Not a jetsetter but want to be one of the first in Singapore to try SK-II Stempower?

Click here to join the exclusive StyleShoppes Contest by 15th June to win a full sized SK-II Stempower (worth S$219)!

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What We Say:  Mia Tan & Joanna Koh weigh in on SK-II Stempower while sharing their travel skincare routine 

Mia Tan, 30s, Entrepreneur  

What are your main skin concerns? 

My main skin concern is combination skin, so it's difficult for me to find a moisturiser that balances the different zones in my skin. I tend to get the occasional breakouts. 

In last couple of years, I've begun to realise that my skin is not as plump and supple as before. 

I also want to even out my skin tone because I have some old scars from pimples. 

Where have you travelled to recently? 

Recently I've been to different islands in Thailand for beach holidays, and my last long-haul flight was from Singapore to Boston. 

What type of skincare regiment do you adopt while travelling? 

Before I board the plane, I make sure that I put an extra dose of moisturiser, and I will pack a moisturising sheet mask in my hand carry luggage which I use during the flight to combat the dryness. I also do not use makeup when I board the plane.

Is it any different from your regular skincare routine? 

Yes, I usually do not use as much moisturiser on regular days because I feel my T-zone gets oily.

How did your skin feel the first time you tried SK-II Stempower? 

I was pleasantly surprised because I thought it was going to be sticky since it was a cream moisturiser, but when I applied it, it did not leave a greasy film on my skin. After three days of application, combined with the unique SK-II massage technique demonstrated at the event, I could see the firming effect. 

What's your favourite thing about SK-II Stempower? 

I love that you don't have to use much, a little bit goes a long way. 

Any downsides to using it? 

At S$219 for 80g, the price is a bit steep, but because the results show, I think it is worth it. 

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Joanna Koh, 20+, Makeup Artist

What are your main skin concerns? 

As I spend many hours in the sun for work and sports, I hope to prevent and possibly reverse sun damage, which is also a main cause of aging. 

Where have you travelled to recently? 

I visited Italy on holiday this year where we spent two weeks eating and drinking our way through the country. 

What type of skincare regiment do you adopt while travelling? 

I make sure I apply sunblock with a high SPF as I know I will be out all day exploring. Also, because the air in temperate countries is a lot drier than in Singapore, I apply more moisturiser and sometimes carry around a moisturising spritz. 

However, I still felt that my skin was extremely dry when I was in Italy, possibly from the climate, and although I didn't wish to admit it, the alcohol in my daily wine consumption also made my skin dry. 

In Singapore, what's your skincare routine? 

I use a toner and moisturiser daily, with sunblock under my makeup. At night I try to moisturise my cheeks more as I have combination skin. 

How did your skin feel the first time you tried SK-II Stempower? 

The Stempower moisturiser was absorbed quickly by my very thirsty skin, it felt smooth and silky to the touch after. 

What's your favourite thing about SK-II Stempower? 

I love that I can see visible results, just after 3 days of using it, my facial contours were more defined and my skin felt firmer. 

The dry areas of my face also feel much more moisturised. 

Any downsides to using it? 

I try not to apply too much of it on my nose and forehead as I have combination skin and some pimples on my t-zone, so I was advised by Niti (SK-II's Beauty Consultant Training Manager) to use less of it on the oilier parts of my face. 

Joanna now uses the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence daily and loves it! 

Scrub-a-dub-dub.. scrub in my scalp?

While shopping online at HQhair for a kit essential, Redken Ringlet , I chanced across a new range of products by Redken called Nature's Rescue. Honestly I was more drawn to the packaging than the fact that it was paraben/sulphate/silicone-free, and since anyone who knows me knows that I'm a sucker for the ocean, so when I saw the uber cool labels showing a blurry picture of the coast layered on turquoise, I had to find out what it was all about.

Seriously, it looks this cool on my shower shelf. ok, fine, minus the great lighting. 

I decided to order the Refining Sea Polish, which is an exfoliant for the hair. I know what you're thinking, "WTF?" Trust me, I was so curious about it I had to give it a go, since I've never heard of such a product before. Clarifying shampoos, yes, but pumice in your hair? The reviews on the Redken site were all in its favour, and I was also sold on the oceanic fragrance description. I use products like promade and wax everyday on my hair, and recently I thought it was getting limp with a product build-up, so this sounded like a God-send. 

Excited to try it out once I got it, I hopped into the shower, rinsed and shampooed my hair, then squeezed out about a teaspoon of that stuff onto my palm. It felt... just like a foot scrub. 

Rubbing it onto my scalp and working it down sections of hair, it wasn't as scratchy as sugar or salt scrubs, but it really did feel like fine sand getting stuck in my hair. The pumice is very very fine, and cushioned on a creamy paste.

Washing it out was a breeze, it dissolved and rinsed out very easily, and my hair felt conditioned after. But of course, I did condition lightly it after. 

(Same theory works for body scrubs, you may feel like your skin is soft after the scrub, but upon hopping out of the shower, slather on the moisturiser.)

When my hair dried after, it was soft, felt nice and clean, no grimey residue of any product. The fragrance however, doesn't last, perhaps also because I used a different conditioner after. Maybe I should buy the Cooling Deep Conditioner then.

Try it if you're a heavy duty styling product user, or if you want some deep cleansing relief from oily hair.

It's recommended for all hair types, and safe to use on coloured hair. My hair colour did not fade or lighten from using this. 

I haven't seen this sold yet in Singapore, if anyone does, drop me a message in the comment box below.

Priced at €17.35 (S$28) from HQ hair. 

Tip: You can google for coupon codes and get a further discount too

Downside: The order placed on HQ hair took 15 days to get to me in Singapore from the UK-based site. I placed the order on 9 May, and received the parcel on 24 May. They promised 5-7 day delivery.