Micellar Water: A New Face-Cleansing Miracle?
Nobonita Chowdhury
Sometimes it doesn’t matter how many face wipes you’re going through, the makeup seems to be glued to your skin. Or at other times, you’re just not in the mood to deal with all these complications. This is where micellar water comes to the rescue. Critics have described it as a miracle product that gets rid of all those extra layers and impurities in just one swipe.
Mike Swann M.D. of Swann Dermatology says: “Micellar water has come up as an easy and less harsh makeup remover and cleanser.” The micellar water is a lot better alternative for your skin, in comparison to its substitutes available in the market. For instance, micellar water does not have the side effects that alcohol based makeup removers have, such as stripping the skin and making it drier. Following up with his earlier statement, Swann says: “We are all focused on getting away from harsh treatments for our skin because harsh treatments can cause inflammation,” he says.
So before we rave about this newfound beauty product, let us get to the basics of it. Micellar water is basically water with micelles, which are microscopic oil droplets infused within the water. Here’s what Swann says about the product’s nitty-gritties: “The micelles act as cleansers when they interact with things like dirt and makeup, then wash off because they are in the water.” Therefore the leftover micelles moisturize your skin, which is why many find it very hydrating and gentle. Sounds like a dream come through for us lazy folks who don’t want to drag through a five-step skin-care routine.
Now that we know how micellar water functions, let’s get to the question that us lazy folks have been dying to ask. Can micellar water really replace cleansers and makeup removers? For most people, probably not. While it works really well in getting rid of all those impurities and heavy makeup, some might still have to use a face wash afterwards, especially if they’ve got oily or acne-prone skin.
On the other hand, Hadley King, M.D., who is a dermatologist at SKINNEY Medspa says that for those with dry or sensitive skin, using micellar water as the only cleanser and makeup remover could be beneficial due to its simpler formula. For Swann, it’s more of a quick fix cleanser when you’re on the go, whether it be traveling or after working out at the gym. I personally wouldn’t mind either way, as long as the product is easy to use and isn’t causing acne breakouts all the time. In the end, I think that the rest of the criticism should be left up to the user.