How Does Micellar Cleansing Water Work? 

The latest skin cleansing product to hit the shelves is micellar water. In the U.S., one brand came out with it, but since then, other top beauty brands have put out their own version of this unique cleanser.

What Does Micellar Mean?

Micellar is a term that refers to the tiny micelles in the product. Commonly referenced in physics, micelles are tiny, electrically charged molecules suspended in a colloidal solution. In the case of micellar water, the molecules are made up of cleansing oil, and the solution is made up of glycerin. Depending on the brand, the glycerin solution may include other beneficial ingredients, such as chamomile extract.

What’s Micellar Water Like?

The word “water” is misleading because micellar water isn’t like water at all. Micellar water isn’t like a soap and isn’t like a water in the sense that it doesn’t need to be rinsed off, and it doesn’t feel like water on the skin.

Who Invented Micellar Water?

As with many of the best skincare products in the world, the French came out with the first recent brand of micellar water. However, the concept of using oil to cleanse the skin isn’t new at all. In the days before indoor plumbing, when clean water wasn’t readily available, people commonly used oil to cleanse themselves.

How Does Micellar Water Work?

Oil is a natural surfactant, and it attracts other oils, dirt, and grime. When you apply it to a cotton pad and wipe the skin, dirt comes right off. However, micellar water might not completely remove some eye makeup, such as waterproof mascaras and eyeliners, since these are not oil-based products.

Is Micellar Water Worth a Try?

Anecdotal reports indicate that micellar water works well. It’s also a great product to use if you sometimes want to skip all the extra skincare steps of toners and moisturizers. Because micellar water is based on an age-old practice as well as on the laws of physics, there’s no doubt that it does what the manufacturers claim it does. It’s probably definitely worth a try, especially if traditional cleansers tend to leave your skin feeling too taut or dry. If you like it, micellar water can become a part of your regular skincare regimen.

After using micellar water for a while, it’s a good idea to check in with your skin care professional to see how your skin is doing compared to the time before you started using micellar water.

Header photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash.