I used to think there was only one type of wipe available in the groceries—baby wipes. Through the years, as the beauty industry developed more niche products, I’ve come across different types of wipes for almost every sanitation purpose.
While nothing beats the cleansing power of actual soap and water, these 14 types of wipes are great for travelers and people on the go. See which ones you already have, and new types you might be tempted to hoard.
1. Baby wipes. If it’s safe enough to cleanse a baby’s bottom, then it’s safe enough for non-infants to use from top to toe.
2. Makeup remover wipes. Also known as facial wipes, this removes makeup, refreshes, and moisturizes your face. There are also subcategories, such as eye makeup remover wipes and lipstick wipes.
3. Cooling wipes. Also known as sports wipes, this cools the skin on contact. It’s best for wiping away sweat and grime after working out or a long, hot day. I have yet to find one in the Philippine market.
4. Perfume wipes. This makes a lighter alternative to lugging perfume bottles.
5. Body wipes. Similar to cooling wipes, sans the cooling sensation. This is the closest thing you can get to a quick shower when there’s no water readily available.
6. Medical wipes. I’ve seen three kinds so far—acne wipes, boogie nose wipes, and hemorrhoid wipes.
7. General cleaning wipes. While this is great for disinfecting electronics, tabletops, and other personal effects, I wouldn’t recommend this on your face or intimate areas. Some are safe to use on hands, but just to be sure, check the label.
8. Pet wipes. Use it to clean pet bowls and other pet accessories when you’re on the go. But please clean your pet containers the normal way (a.k.a. soap and water) as soon as you get home.
9. Intimate wipes. It’s best for keeping women clean and fresh down there, especially during their period.
10. Deodorant wipes. Unlike fragrance wipes, this one is gentle enough to deodorize your underarms after intense sweating.
11. Nail polish remover wipes. It’s a quick way to remove a manicure without the fuss of cotton balls and a bottle of nail polish remover.
12. Antibacterial wipes. For germophobes who need extra disinfecting power. It’s great for cleansing hands, but I wouldn’t recommend it on your private areas.
13. Cosmetics sanitizer wipes. Best for makeup artists on the go, this one cleanses your brushes and sponges between clients and photo shoots. To be honest, I asked my makeup artist friends and they said you can just use regular baby wipes for the same results.
14. Lotion wipes. Unfortunately (or fortunately), this was phased out recently. It takes the same number of seconds to apply lotion on your skin as it takes to swipe a lotion-infused wipe, so why spend more money on the latter?
Featured photo from Flickr
Published: February 14, 2017
Updated: January 11, 2021