Micellar water has become super popular over the last couple of years… but I don’t use it in my daily routine – controversial I know! let me explain. 

What is Micellar water: 

It’s a combination of water, hydrating ingredients such as glycerin, and gentle surfactants (cleaning agents). The name ‘Micellar’ comes from the surfactant ‘micelles’ – these are what do the magic. The little micelle molecules love oil and dirt, aka makeup and daily grime. They cluster around the oil/dirt particles and attach, which helps break up the structure so it can be washed away more efficiently.  

Why is it now so popular? 

Like many things, it was and still is a fashion show backstage staple. Makeup artists just like me love to use it to clean and prep models’ faces for makeup. It can remove heavy looks fast.. As well as being efficient, micellar water is super gentle to the skin. Both useful attributes in the fashion world, where models can have multiple make up changes during a shoot or show. 

How to use micellar water: 

Ok… sounds like a good product right?!  But here comes my ‘beef’ with it;  it’s not the product itself I don’t like, it’s the way some people use it. 

Looking at any brand of micellar, the directions on the packaging will tell you to wipe it over the face and then wipe clean. Now here comes the problem – some people now think their skin is clean and ready for skincare, it is not.  

You need to be rinsing micellar water off the skin, because it leaves a residue. This residue is a surfactant, and with extended contact on the skin, it can lead to irritation. 

Additionally, micellar water helps break up makeup, but then you need to rinse it away – sweeping all those broken up makeup particles with it. Also, I always advocate a two-step method two remove dirt / oil / make up and then truly clean the skin;  this is the double cleanse method, which I go into detail here. I often find people are just using micellar water and not doing the rest! 

You can 100% use micellar water as your first step of the double cleanse, but personally, I prefer an oil, cream or balm cleanser. They break down makeup, you can do a little facial massage at the same time and no need to be using cotton pads daily. 

Other uses for micellar water:

So I do use micellar water, not in my own skin routine, but for my work as a makeup artist; were washing the model or clients face with a traditional cleanser is just not feasible. I always start with a quick wipe over of micellar to freshen the skin but remember this is not part of their daily skin routine. 

I also use it as an eraser pen, dipping a small q-tip into it and cleaning up winged eyeliner or mascara marks – it does this job perfectly.

And finally… as a household cleaner! Many years ago, I was playing with makeup in my home bedroom when I got black gel eyeliner into the carpet. Freaking out I tried the micellar water on the carpet, worked a charm – my mum never knew! Since then I have used it as a spot cleaner on clothes if they’ve accidentally got marked by makeup.  

So all in all, micellar water is a great product BUT, as with anything, how you use it is key! 

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