text: Face wipes have long been a lazy part of our beauty routine to cleanse skin and shift make-up. But a new generation of wipes — known as radiance pads — promises not only to remove eyeliner and mascara, but also to retexturise and brighten skin and, in some cases, even do away with fine lines and age spots. Scroll down for video . Face wipes have been part of our beauty regime for years now but there are a new range of wipes now that promise to not only to remove eyeliner and mascara, but also retexturise and brighten skin (stock image) Infused with exfoliating glycolic and fruit acids, as well as skin-soothers such as mango extract and liquorice, these new pads are beauty game-changers, offering all the benefits of a professional facial in a simple at-home swipe. With the expertise of top Harley Street dermatologist Dr Nick Lowe, Lauren Libbert puts some of these latest new-generation wipes to the test . . . SKIN-BRIGHTENER . Origins Modern Friction Instant Brightening Pads, £31 for 40, boots.com . THEY CLAIM: A quick sweep of these fruit acid-infused pads is like a professional 30 per cent glycolic peel, and you’ll see results in under a minute. Use twice-weekly. THE TEST: These have a strong, antiseptic-type smell and are a bit abrasive, leaving tingling that lasts a minute or so. Skin feels squeaky-clean and looks instantly shiny and smoother. EXPERT VERDICT: ‘Definitely not for sensitive skin and should only be used twice-weekly, as advised. The fruit acid strips off dead cells and works to make skin brighter and smoother. ‘But the harsh ingredients do open the skin to moisture loss, so follow with a moisturiser with a high SPF to protect skin.’ GENTLY GLOWING . First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads, £22 for 60, feelunique.com . THEY CLAIM: Cucumber and Indian gooseberry tone the skin, while lemon and liquorice root leave it glowing. The pads reduce visible pores, improve clarity and diminish appearance of fine lines. Use once or twice daily. THE TEST: These circular pads are moist and gentle. They leave skin feeling damp and soft, with an instant, youthful glow. EXPERT VERDICT: ‘A good starter pad. Skin-soothing cucumber counteracts the harsh glycolic and lactic acids. Liquorice is a known skin-brightener and fruit berries are good antioxidants. ‘Start slowly with these — once a week — to avoid irritation, and build up to daily use.’ SENSITIVE SKIN . Simple Kind To Skin Radiance Wipes, £3.29 for 25, amazon.co.uk . THEY CLAIM: Ideal for sensitive skin, these help cleanse, exfoliate and remove impurities. Added moisturiser hydrates skin. THE TEST: These look like old-school wipes: big, rectangular, damp tissues that remove make-up easily and effectively. My skin feels soft and plump afterwards, but I’m not left with a radiant glow. EXPERT VERDICT: ‘Ideal for most skin types, with a combination of clever skin-soothing and moisturising ingredients. Mango extract and bisabolol (an extract of chamomile) soothe, while glycerin is an ultra-efficient moisturiser. ‘A step up from regular wipes and good for twice-a-day use.’ ONE-MINUTE FACIAL . Nip+Fab Glycolic Fix Exfoliating Facial Pads, £12.95 for 60, superdrug.com . THEY CLAIM: Pads are soaked in glycolic acid, which retextures and resurfaces skin, while witch hazel helps to tone. Moisturiser with hyaluronic acid and soothing blue daisy leads to brighter, smoother skin. THE TEST: These have a strong perfume smell and a quick swipe leaves the skin tingling. My face instantly feels brighter, smoother and refreshed — like a facial, only a hell of a lot quicker. EXPERT VERDICT: ‘The glycolic acid lifts dead cells, leaving skin refreshed and renewed, while hyaluronic acid traps moisture. The retexturising and resurfacing are likely more subtle than claimed, but this works well as a weekly brightening boost.’ INSTANT PEEL . Cane & Austin Retexturising Treatment Pads, £18 for 25, beautybay.com . THEY CLAIM: A one-step, at-home glycolic treatment that gently exfoliates, while helping to rebuild collagen. Reveals a clearer, more radiant complexion. For sensitive skin only. THE TEST: Each small, square pad comes folded in its own neat little wrapper. Cool and wet, it cuts through dirt and impurities and leaves a slight stinging sensation, like after a facial. Skin is left instantly youthful and has more of a glow. EXPERT VERDICT: ‘A very logical approach to skincare. After the high-grade glycolic acid strips away dead, dull skin cells, the vitamin A — a retinoid — helps to stimulate new cell growth. ‘This is a highly efficient wipe, but should only be used at night, as vitamin A is damaged by visible light. Best to use once or twice a week at first, then build up to nightly use.’ DEEP CLEANSE . Nivea 3-in-1 Daily Exfoliating Wipes, £3 for 20, tesco.com . THEY CLAIM: The textured side exfoliates dirt and impurities, while the soft side cleanses and removes make-up. The magnolia extract refines and improves the skin. THE TEST: The wipe feels abrasive as you sweep it across, but the collection of dirt is impressive! My face feels clean afterwards, but a bit dry and dull. EXPERT VERDICT: ‘More of a mechanical exfoliant. The act of dragging it across the skin will remove dull cells and stimulate growth of newer, efficient ones. ‘But don’t overdo it, or you will remove too much of the skin’s protective layer. Once or twice a week is enough.’
target: Face wipes have long been a lazy part of our daily beauty regimes .
  But a new generation of  wipes promises to retexturise and brighten skin .
  Dr Nick Lowe and Lauren Libbert decided to put them to the test .