Johnson's Make Up Be Gone Wipes at £1.75: The Watermelon Reformulation Buyers Can't Agree On
A long-standing drugstore favourite quietly swapped spring flowers for watermelon, and a chunk of loyal buyers are not quiet about it. Here's what the new formula actually delivers, who's loving it, and who's reaching for the old blue pack instead.
If you've bought Johnson's face wipes more than once over the past decade, you probably have an opinion about the new ones. The packaging looks similar enough that the change slipped past plenty of regular shoppers. The scent is the giveaway: spring flowers gave way to watermelon and Vitamin C, and the reaction in the reviews is sharply split between buyers who think the upgrade smells lovely and buyers who threw the pack across the room.
At £1.75 for a pack of 25, this is one of the cheapest dedicated makeup-remover wipes you can buy on Amazon UK. The 4.6-star average across more than 4,600 ratings makes it easy to assume a slam-dunk recommendation. The reality in the recent reviews is more interesting than that, especially if you have sensitive eyes or you've been buying these for years.
The Reformulation Nobody Asked For (Or Did They?)
Johnson's have changed the formula. That isn't speculation, it's the dominant narrative across recent reviews. The old wipes were sometimes sold in blue packaging with a softer floral scent. The current pack ships infused with watermelon and Vitamin C, and the reformulation is what most three-star and below reviewers are reacting to.
One long-time buyer wrote, "Been using these wipes for years. But so disappointed that they've changed the formula. The wipes aren't as thick or soft and the smell has changed too, watermelon, totally changed the scent." Another, who left a three-star with six helpful votes, said, "Totally unnecessary, why add an ingredient that's not needed."
On the other hand, a substantial group of buyers love the new scent. "Smells amazing with a hint of watermelon" is a recurring note, alongside "Smell amazing. Remove make up well" and "My daughter doesn't really like the watermelon scent but I thought it was lovely." The same change has produced rave reviews and angry returns from people in the same demographic. If you bought these years ago and stopped, this isn't the same product you remember, and that may or may not be a good thing depending on your nose.
What They Actually Do
Setting the formula debate aside for a moment, the wipes are doing the basic job well for the majority of buyers. Johnson's claim removal of up to 99% of waterproof makeup using a 5-in-1 formula that cleanses, refreshes, smooths, removes, and supposedly doesn't dry out. The lotion is 92% naturally derived, the wipes themselves are plant-based fibre and plastic free, and they're dermatologically tested for use around the eye area.
Reviewer feedback supports the waterproof-removal claim more than most cheap wipe brands manage. Multiple buyers mention specifically that they handle waterproof mascara, long-wear lipstick, and even child's face paint without scrubbing. "They remove all traces of makeup easily, including waterproof mascara, without leaving any greasy residue," one five-star reviewer wrote. Another, more bluntly: "Melt your eyeliner off and soft."
The other recurring praise is moisture content. Several reviewers complain that competitor wipes dry out before the pack is finished, but Johnson's seem to retain moisture well if the resealable closure is used properly. One savvy buyer's tip: "I suggest you store your packs upside down so top one doesn't dry out too quick."
The Sensitive-Eye Problem Worth Knowing About
The new formula has a more serious downside for some buyers. Among the one-star reviews, a cluster of buyers report stinging, redness, and burning around the eyes after the reformulation, including some who had used the old version safely for years. One reviewer wrote, "Burnt all the skin away. I was convinced it was my eyelash glue. After a month of issues to finally work out the cause but really shocked it was these wipes." Another said, "My wife's eyes immediately on use, causing redness on white eyes and soreness around area."
This isn't every sensitive-skin user. A roughly equal number of reviewers with sensitive skin describe the wipes as gentle and non-irritating, including one who specifically calls out, "I have terribly sensitive skin and these don't cause any break outs at all." The pattern suggests the new fragrance ingredients (likely the watermelon component) are triggering reactions in a subset of buyers who tolerated the old formula fine.
If you have a known fragrance sensitivity, particularly around the eyes, treat these as untested. Patch test on your wrist or jawline first, and avoid eyelid use until you know how your skin responds. For the price of a single pack, that's a cheap experiment.
Who's Buying These on Repeat
Three buyer types are showing up consistently in the five-star reviews. The first is the loyal repeat buyer who liked the old formula, doesn't mind the change, and keeps these in the bathroom because they remove makeup quickly. "These have been my go-to face wipes for years, they're gentle, effective, and consistently reliable. Now even my 19-year-old granddaughter has started using them."
The second is the value-driven buyer who bought because of the price and stayed because the product works. £1.75 for 25 wipes works out to seven pence per wipe, which is hard to beat without dropping into supermarket own-brand territory where the moisture content typically falls off. "Great price and a lovely product. Nice amount of thickness and water content," wrote one repeat buyer. "Bargain for the price keep the wife going a while save pennies while at it."
The third is the travel buyer who likes the resealable pack and the size for handbags and weekend trips. A 55-year-old reviewer specifically recommended them for travelling, calling them "almost as cleansing as cotton wool and micellar water." Several other buyers mentioned the pack staying moist for ages once resealed properly, making it a sensible travel option that doesn't dry out mid-trip.
Smarter Ways to Use Them
If you decide to give these a try, a couple of small habits get more out of the pack. The first one comes straight from a five-star reviewer: pair the wipe with a splash of micellar water for stubborn eye makeup. "Just use a little micellar water with the wipes and even the most stubborn makeup products come right off." The combination is particularly effective for waterproof products that wipes alone struggle with on the first pass.
The second is what the three-star reviewer who reported eye stinging recommended after the fact: rinse your face with water afterwards. Whether the cause is fragrance, residue, or sensitivity, a quick water rinse before moisturising removes anything left on the skin and dramatically reduces irritation reports. It's a small extra step that turns these from quick-fix wipes into a proper light cleanse.
Finally, store the pack horizontally with the resealable label firmly pressed down, or upside down if your bathroom shelf allows it. Several reviewers who complained about dry wipes admitted the seal hadn't been pushed down properly, which lets the moisture evaporate over a few days even in an unopened pack on the shop shelf.
The Verdict at £1.75
For most buyers, these are still a strong buy. They remove makeup including waterproof products, leave skin feeling soft rather than dry, and cost less than a coffee for a pack that lasts most people a fortnight or more. The 80% five-star rate is real, the praise is consistent, and the brand's drugstore reputation is doing a lot of work in the background.
The caveats are real too. If you're sensitive to fragrance, especially around your eyes, the new watermelon and Vitamin C formula is a meaningful change from the old version, and a small but vocal group of long-term buyers are not happy about it. Patch test before going near your eye area, and if you've reacted to fragranced wipes before, consider a fragrance-free alternative instead.
For everyone else, particularly buyers looking for an affordable travel-friendly pack that works reliably on waterproof makeup, the wipes do their job well. They're not a luxury cleansing experience, they're not replacing a proper double cleanse, and they shouldn't be your only step on heavy makeup days. As a quick-grab face wipe at this price point, they remain one of the better options on the Amazon UK shelf.
Johnson's Face Care Make Up Be Gone Refreshing Wipes - Pack of 25
Soft, plant-based wipes infused with watermelon and Vitamin C lotion that remove up to 99% of waterproof makeup at a drugstore-friendly price.