Is Micellar Water Worth The Hype?

Taking time to cleanse, double-cleanse, tone, and moisturize each day is great for your skin! However, all the products and time commitment may make skincare seem more like a chore than the daily refresh sesh it should be. Fortunately, there are products that do double duty in your routine. One trend that’s been making the rounds among the beauty-obsessed is micellar water: a gentle beauty water first popularized in France for its moisturizing properties. Read on for how cleansing water can make your routine more efficient than ever!

What It Is

The micellar water routine craze began in Paris as an alternative to rinse-off cleansers and makeup removers. The city is notorious for its super hard tap water, and many French skincare mavens blamed their parched skin on the harshness of their nightly rinse.

Micellar skin care water actually isn’t water at all–it’s a liquid formula made of tiny micelles (oil droplets suspended in soft water) that attract makeup, dirt, and grime. Because it’s free of harsh foaming sulfates, micellar water is especially great for dry and sensitive skin types. Just apply to a cotton pad and swipe across skin. Be sure to repeat with additional soaked pads until there is no remaining dirt or makeup residue

What It’s Not

While micellar skin care water may replace your cleanser and makeup remover,don’t clean out your medicine cabinet just yet! While it cleanses gently, micellar water is not especially effective at removing heavy foundation or waterproof makeup, so make sure to use an additional makeup removing product and double-cleanse as necessary. Although micelles moisturize as they cleanse, micellar water won’t hydrate or revitalize your skin like a serum. Oily skin types can benefit from micellar water, too; however, you might need to supplement with a traditional cleanser to wash away any lingering sebum and bacteria.

Micellar water can simplify your routine, especially when traveling or exercising—but it’s important to realize that it’s essentially a gentle makeup remover/cleanser, not a miracle product! No matter where you use it, make sure to supplement with double-cleansing as needed and follow-up with a moisturizing serum.

Have you tried a micellar water routine?  Let me know about your experience with micellar skin care in the comments!