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- Photo: Kleenex
I never thought I’d depend on Kleenex® until I developed a mild case of hay fever recently. Everyone at work now thinks sneezing and Sheenie go hand in hand. Atishoo! Any way the much loved brand has been wiping tears and runny noses for decades and now it boasts a new collection of products for skin care.
Now I didn’t know this little fact (and I’m sure many of you will say the same thing) but Kleenex wasn’t actually destined to wipe snotty noses. Oh no, its origins is in beauty when in the 1920s, the original Kleenex tissues were used to remove cleansing cream or make-up by women who sought a hygienic, disposable and softer alternative to towels or wash cloths. It’s funny how the name itself has been incorporated into every day language as a word when it’s actually a registered trademark.
So when you think of Kleenex, what thoughts spring to mind? Softness, quality and reliability, yes? Come on, it’s why you love their loo rolls, isn’t it? Well, it’s no surprise the same has been applied to their range of cleansing products which are Facial Cleansing Wipes and Eye Make-up Removal Wipes, Facial Cloths and Shine Absorbing Sheets.
Cleansing wipes set the beauty market alight as a quick alternative to taking your make-up off. This sounded great until the effects of using wipes was examined – landfill waste, not to mention the effect they have on your skin if used on a daily basis. Some have left me feeling…well, meh.
I cleanse thoroughly (takes longer but it has to be done). However I find wipes are so convenient when travelling (cuts down on baggage and avoids security hassles) or when you’ve had a very late night and very useful in a make-up artist’s kit. They are convenient, easy and are OK to use when the circumstances are justified.
The last week for me has been strangely busy so it was great timing when Kleenex kindly delivered the above four products to my humble abode. Come Saturday night after a long day, I found I still hadn’t taken off my make-up so I reached for one of the facial cleansing wipes. First impression? Big sized wipes! Second impression? They don’t sting your face so as the packaging describes, they are good for sensitive skin. I’m normally fortunate not to react to skin care products but in the past some wipes have felt abrasive enough to strip or irritate my visage – it’s not a pleasant feeling and I imagine anyone with incredibly sensitive skin would suffer badly.
Another point? These wipes remain damp for a long time, allowing you enough duration to cover your face more than adequately. Have you found other wipes dry up really fast? I’d often have to use two wipes at a time. You will also notice each wipe is ‘quilted’ in design to gently yet effectively facilitate the removal of make-up. Kleenex’s Facial Cleansing Wipes come in packs of 24 and cost £2.99. Here’s a rank image to illustrate the ‘before’ and ‘after’ of these wipes – it’s scraped off a lot of make-up, hasn’t it?
OK, so the cleansing wipes are not revolutionary but the Eye Make-up Removal Wipes (£2.99 for 24 wipes) are proof Kleenex is one step ahead and realised how profound eye make-up is to women. And mascara. These wipes are smaller than the facial wipes but still adequate enough to remove eye make-up from both eyes – again, without drying out. I think this product will be a hit. I realise how stubborn eye make-up can be and have often just used facial wipes on the eye area alone because they are pretty effective. I am not in favour of using cleansing wipes on the face every day but for the eyes, this is definitely so much more convenient plus I don’t indulge on eye make-up regularly so it would only be used as and when. The wipes are also not messy like cleansing creams, which if applied in excessive amounts can get into your peepers accidentally.
The third product from Kleenex is the Facial Cloths (£1.99 for 30 cloths): large quilted (what else?), soft sheets made from natural fibres designed not only for use when applying cleanser and toner but also removing face masks and even nail polishes. You can either add your own cleanser and toner or just use water so it’s pretty versatile. I tried it to remove some nail polish and it came off quicker and smoother than cotton pads which soak up the nail polish remover fast. Having said that, cotton pads are cheaper in comparison.
The fourth and final item is the Shine Absorbing Sheets (£2.99 for 50 sheets) – basically small enough to keep in your handbag for the moments when you want to blot excess shine on your face caused by oil building up on your face during the day and without messing up your make-up. I’ve never used such a product. In fact I’m not sure I need it but perhaps I will give it a go the next time I arrive at an event after being squished on the tube like a sardine in a tin. All these products are made from ecoform natural fibres, so gentler on the environment then.
And there we have it from Kleenex. Which one tickles your fancy? When I have purchased cleansing wipes, I normally go for the first one I see (or the cheapest). Having tried Kleenex’s Facial Cleansing Wipes, I feel confident to buy their product as it’s certainly outperformed the other brands I’ve tried in the past and it’s pleasant to use. I love the Eye Make-Up Removal Wipes a lot and as a range, I reckon they are all reasonably priced too. Well, I’m packing my bags for Manchester next week and I’ll be taking these babies with me.
The new range is available from Superdrug and other selected stores from September 2011 and in all leading retailers from January 2012. Visit Kleenex.co.uk for stockists.
Sheenie
*PR sample*
