I’m comparing Coterie Wipes which are 99% water (unscented) and WaterWipes which are 99.9% water (unscented).
I’m comparing them on ingredient safety, effectiveness, and price.
As a bonus option, I will include some info on Dyper Wipes which are also 99% water (also unscented).
This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Summary:
- Coterie wipes contain more ingredients. Coterie’s The Wipe has only 5 ingredients, each of which is of low concern, and only one ingredient carries an EWG rating of 2 (the rest are 1). WaterWipes uses only 2 ingredients in their main products.
- Coterie’s wipes are Environmental Working Group’s EWG Verified, WaterWipes has an overall EWG rating of 1 (the best rating alongside Verified) but some people are concerned with the preservative, a chemical with an EWG rating of 6, though it’s present in such small amounts that is doesn’t even count as an official ingredient (it’s listed as a trace).
- WaterWipes include trace amounts of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) a preservative in the grapefruit seed extract. BAC raises concerns for some toxicologists though it’s present as only as a percent of the 0.1%.
- With this preservative, WaterWipes products are approved by the National Eczema Alliance, the Eczema Society of Canada, and the Skin Health Alliance. Coterie wipes are also approved by the National Eczema Association.
- Coterie wipes are bigger and thicker and feel luxurious.
- Coterie is around double the price per wipe (though they are bigger so you may need fewer).
- Both brands make their wipes from cellulose-based fibers that are plastic-free and biodegradable.
Environmental Friendliness
We frequently refer to the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep database ratings for safety and toxicity.
Coterie
- Coterie wipes are made from 100% plant-based, plastic-free, biodegradable fibers from renewable wood sources.
- Coterie wipes are not tested on animals.
- The package of the wipes is plastic (like all brands I have seen).
WaterWipes
- WaterWipes has recently removed the polyester from their wipes and replaced it with 100% viscose fibers, so their wipes are now biodegradable and compostable.
- Their cardboard packaging is FSC certified, and constructed of 70% post-consumer recycled material.
- Their wipes bag is 30% post-consumer recycled polyethylene that can only be recycled at specialized facilities.
- WaterWipes does not test on animals and is approved by The Vegan Society.
Ingredient Safety
Coterie Wipes Ingredients
The Wipe (the one I tested):
- Wipes material: 100% plant-based viscose
- Water: 99% water
- Sodium benzoate: preservative, EWG rating of 1
- Caprylyl glycol: skin conditioner + preservative, EWG rating of 1
- Citric acid: pH balancer, EWG rating of 1
- Glycerin: humectant, EWG rating of 1
- Decyl glucoside: cleanser, EWG rating of 2
Coterie wipes have more ingredients than WaterWipes. The Wipe contains water plus 5 ingredients.
In 2024, Coterie removed two controversial ingredients from their formula: silicone quarternium-17 and laureth-9.
Coterie wipes currently contain no fragrance, dyes, parabens, or phthalates, and their site advertises their wipes as “hypoallergenic, pH-balanced, dermatologist tested, pediatrician approved, cruelty free, safe for newborn and eczema-prone skin.”
Coterie wipes are EWG Verified and have received the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance™.
WaterWipes
- Wipes material: 100% plant-based viscose from wood pulp
- Water: 99.9%
- Citrus Grandis (grapefruit) seed extract:* antimicrobial, EWG rating of 2
*Contains trace of Benzalkonium Chloride, EWG rating of 6
This 2-ingredient formulation can be found for their Original Baby Wipe, Adult Care Sensitive Wipes, XL Bathing Wipes, and their On the Go Wipes.
They do also have a textured wipe with more ingredients.
WaterWipes advertises their products as safe for sensitive skin.
Their wipes are approved by the National Eczema Alliance, the Eczema Society of Canada, and the Skin Health Alliance.
WaterWipes products are rated EWG 1, which is their safest score, but they are not EWG Verified.
Benzalkonium Chloride
The company discloses trace amounts of benzalkonium chloride (BAC), a controversial biocide, that acts as a preservative in commercial products and carries an EWG rating of 6.
Concerns for Toxicity
The appearance of BAC in commercial grapefruit seed extracts caused a flurry of studies in the 2000s (see here, here, and here).
One 2018 study found that BAC might be more toxic than Triclosan.
The trace amounts typical in grapefruit seed extract are still approved by the National Eczema Alliance, the Eczema Society of Canada, and the Skin Health Alliance.
Absorption?
BAC is poorly absorbed through intact skin, the risk of systemic absorption is significantly lower compared to ingestion, says Dr. Mudgal, toxicologist.
However, mucous membranes (like the genitals) can be more sensitive, and diaper rash, broken skin, or irritation, can increase absorption, says Dr. Mudgal.
Toxicologists Weigh in
Toxicologist Yvonne Burkhart, Ph.D. says we should be cautious about BAC in baby wipes.
BAC’s potential as an endocrine disruptor leads her to recommend against using WaterWipes in a video she posted in February 2024.
“I do not recommend using [WaterWipes],” she cautions, “especially if you’re going to put it around your child’s face.”
Dr. Mudgal, our resident toxicologist agrees.
She especially cautions about use around the eyes, due to potential for irritation, and around the mouth due to risk of ingestion, she says.
However, she explains that officially, it is known to be a skin and ocular (eye) irritant at concentrations greater than 0.1%, and it’s much lower than that here.
WaterWipes cited EU Cosmetics Regulations that describe BAC as safe at a level of 0.1%, and according to the company their wipes are safe to use around newborns’ mouths and faces, but they do advise against eye contact.
Digging More Into BAC
Regarding the amount of benzalkonium chloride in their wipes, they responded that BAC is detectable at trace levels only in their grapefruit seed extract.
Grapefruit seed extract constitutes only 0.1% of the WaterWipes formula, so the total BAC in the WaterWipes formula would be a percent of that.
In that past they disclosed it as 0.002% but now they do not disclose the exact percentage.
Dr. Mudgal agrees it’s present in what is considered “trace”.
Overall Ingredient Safety Rating:
We like Coterie’s The Wipe because it has only 5 ingredients, each of which is of low concern, and only one ingredient carries an EWG rating of 2.
WaterWipes use one main active ingredient but that ingredient contains trace amounts of an ingredient that causes irritation at higher concentrations.
Between Coterie and WaterWipes, the comparison comes down to comparing multiple ingredients with low risk vs. one trace ingredient with a known risk.
Smell
They both have a very faint smell (my sense of smell is at least 5x a normal person, so most people will find them odorless).
The small is not “chemically” for either one.
The chemically sensitive can check out both.
Thickness/Size/Effectiveness
Coterie Wipes are certainly significantly thicker, you can see the transparency levels of the two in the photo.
They are also bigger and stronger, they don’t tear easily.
The only down side to being bigger and thicker, is when you don’t need that it is a waste.
WaterWipes do rip easily if you pull on them, but not in a regular wiping action. They do tend to bunch up/roll up more which can make them ineffective.
Price
Coterie sells their original wipe on their site for $0.13 per wipe when you order 16 packs (896 count). Signing up for monthly auto-renew lowers the price to $0.12 per wipe.
WaterWipes does not ship directly, so price varies slightly by store. They can be as low as $0.05 per wipe when you order 12 packs (720 count), but the wipes are smaller so you may need more.
Bonus Option: Dyper Wipes
In a June 2024 article I compared Dyper Wipes with Honest Wipes and WaterWipes. Since that review, Dyper has reformulated its wipes ingredients.
Here are the current ingredients according to the Dyper website:
- Wipe material: 100% plant-based viscose from bamboo
- Water: 99% water
- *Glycerin: natural humectant, EWG rating of 1
- *Decyl Glucoside: surfactant, EWG rating of 2
- *Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract: soothing, EWG rating of 2
- *Tocopheryl Acetate: skin conditioner, EWG rating of 2)
- *Aloe Barbadensis Extract: soothing, EWG rating of 1
- Sodium Benzoate: preservative, EWG rating of 1
- *Potassium Sorbate: preservative, EWG rating of 2
* Denotes an ingredient that has been added since June 2024.
Water and sodium benzoate remain from the previous formulation. They’ve removed the grapefruit seed extract and added 6 ingredients.
The new formulation is currently rated EWG 1, while their previous product was EWG Verified.
Dyper sells their wipes on their site $0.10 per wipe when you order 24 packs (1440 count).
Brand Comparison Chart
| Coterie Wipes | WaterWipes | Dyper Wipes | |
| Cost | Around $0.13 per wipe | Around $0.06 per wipe | Around $0.10 per wipe |
| Size | 60 square inches (8” x 7.5”) | 46.2 square inches (7” x 6.6”) | 56 square inches (8” x 7”) |
| Wipes Material | 100% plant-based viscose fibers from renewable wood sources | 100% plant-based viscose from wood pulp | 100% plant-based viscose from bamboo (bamboo is more sustainable) |
| Ingredients (abridged, see charts below for full comparison) | 99% Water, 5 ingredients | 99.9% Water, grapefruit seed extract with trace benzalkonium chloride | 99% Water, 7 ingredients |
| EWG rating / approval | EWG Verified | EWG 1 | EWG 1 |
| Certifications | National Eczema Association EWG Verified FSC Certified™ Cruelty Free Vegan | National Eczema Alliance Eczema Society of Canada Skin Health Alliance Microbiome Friendly FSC Certified™ Cruelty Free Vegan | B-Corp Certified Bamboo is OEKO-TEX STeP Certified FSC Certified™ |
| Smell | Extremely mild | Extremely mild | Extremely mild |
| Effectiveness | Thick, big, doesn’t have texture but feels more like a cloth, don’t bunch up easily 5/5 | Can bunch up or roll up 3/5 | Has no texture though it is a good size 4/5 |
| Stress Test | Don’t rip easily 5/5 | Easy to rip when pulled, but don’t rip in regular use 3/5 | Fairly easy to rip when pulled, though not going to rip in normal use 3/5 |
Conclusion:
Both of these wipes are a good choice.
Coterie is a luxury product with a luxury feel, at around double the price of WaterWipes, though you do get more for your money since they are thicker and bigger.
I’ve tried 9 wipe brands and nothing has felt as luxurious as Coterie. I like that they are EWG Verified.
Some people may not be comfortable with the trace of BAC preservative in WaterWipes (I also worry about them having such a small amount of preservative and if they are safe in terms of bacteria to use to wipe my hands and face).
But WaterWipes are a perfectly good choice (with the highest EWG rating of 1 as well) if you want something more inexpensive. (Amazon tells me I have bought a box of them 5 times before writing this).
The fact that WaterWipes often bunch or roll up bothers me, so between the two, I prefer Coterie.
The Dyper Wipes can be a compromise (I have bought a box of them 9 times now).
They are a little less expensive than Coterie though are still quite thick, they have ingredients of very low concern (EWG 1), while also including what looks like a more robust preservative system than WaterWipes.
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