This Australian skincare brand has created a world-first makeup wipe that dissolves in water

Disposable, but without the waste.

In a world-first initiative, Australian skincare brand Conserving Beauty is launching a new kind of makeup wipe that dissolves in water. Combining convenience with sustainability, the InstaMelt Deep Exfoliating Day Dissolver Wipes are just as easy to use as other disposable wipes – but they don’t create any waste. 

Like all Conserving Beauty products, the wipes have been made using a waterless formula. This helps to increase the potency of the ingredients and reduce the product’s water footprint. However, the InstaMelts come with an added innovation.

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Using a proprietary technology devised in partnership with the UK company McCormack Innovation, they dissolve instantly in water, leaving zero waste or microplastics behind. You can literally watch the wipes melt away in your hands. 

“Everyone loves the glamour of single-use [wipes]… but equally, who feels good about throwing them in the bin every day?” Natassia Nicolao, the founder and CEO of Conserving Beauty, says. “So imagine finding a different solution that hasn’t been done before, where you can melt [them] in the shower on the floor or drop [them] down the toilet, and it doesn’t leave a waste footprint.”

For a long time, generic single-use wipes have contributed to the world’s waste problem on an unthinkable scale. They may be cost-effective and easy to use, but most are manufactured using materials like polyester and polypropylene, which are non-biodegradable plastic fibres. This means that makeup wipes (which are a bathroom-cabinet staple for many of us) can end up sitting in landfill for years and years. 

 

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It’s estimated that in the US alone, 20 million pounds of makeup wipes are disposed of each day. And if they’re not thrown into landfill, they’re flushed down the toilet. Although many disposable wipes are marketed as ‘flushable’, the sheer volume of flushed wipes can cause blockages and spills, exposing humans, animals and marine life to unhealthy and potentially damaging bacteria. 

With the InstaMelts, none of these problems applies, because there’s no need to bin or flush them. According to Natassia, they represent a huge step forward for the beauty industry and could significantly reduce the world’s waste problem. “It’s been really exciting,” she says. “It’s been hard to bring it to life, but we’re thrilled.” 

When it comes to removing your makeup, the InstaMelts are probably the most environmentally conscious choice you can make. They are also a healthier choice for your skin. Infused with hemp seed, jojoba oil, jojoba esters and squalene, the InstaMelts gently exfoliate the surface of the skin and melt away makeup and impurities. The wipes have a soothing effect too; they can help to reduce redness, irritation and pigmentation. 

“We’ve definitely kept the exact same formulation philosophy… we don’t use preservatives, fragrances, or any harsh irritants or palm oils,” Natassia tells me. “We wanted them to act like another variation of a deep cleanser that also [leaves] your skin feeling super soft and refreshed.”

 

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For Natassia, it was important for the InstaMelts to be good for the skin and sustainable at the same time. “[People] no longer have to make a choice between having great skin and positively impacting the planet,” she says.

This has always been part of Conserving Beauty’s ethos. And with the launch of the InstaMelts, Natassia hopes she can continue to innovate in ways that will protect our planet.

“I really [want] to disrupt the industry and redefine what it means to be a legitimate sustainable beauty brand,” she shares. “I’m just really excited for people to experience something different in beauty and solve a problem that hasn’t ever really been talked about.”

From April 22, you can purchase a box of 30 InstaMelt Deep Exfoliating Day Dissolver Wipes for $39.99 directly from the Conserving Beauty website. They will also be available in Mecca stores in May.

Head here to purchase the wipes and start taking better care of our planet.