What Is Micellar Water? Have you ever tried this fabulous skin cleanser? For years it has been a makeup artist secret but now anyone can get it. If you look inside almost any pro-makeup artist’s makeup kit you will find a bottle of micellar water and cotton pads. Prior to it being readily available in the United States I would bring back bottles of micellaire water every time I went to Paris, then once it was available at the pro makeup artist supply stores such as Naimies in Los Angeles, I would add bottles to every makeup order I placed.
This is a facial cleanser you need to know about.
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What Is Micellar Water?
Originally developed for Parisian women as an alternative to cleansing their skin with Paris’ harsh water, micellar (micellair ) water is a highly effective and efficient skin cleanser. It removes all makeup, oil, and other gunk from your pores while toning your skin. It also works as a makeup remover on the toughest kinds of makeup – from lipstick to waterproof mascara. This fantastically dynamic cleanser is all thanks to tiny cleansing micelles that cling to debris on the skin, while purifying and softening the skin
How does it work? The way micellar water works is that a mild surfactant, the natural chemical that gets rid of dirt and makeup, clusters up into tiny balls called micelles. Once you pump it onto a cotton round, the micelles rearrange themselves for optimal cleansing. All you need to do is saturate a cotton round with the micellar water, and swipe over the skin. You can see all the grime and dirt sweep away!
The two main ingredients in micellar water are soft water and surfactants. These are cool little molecules that have a hydrophilic head at one end, that is attracted to water and repels oils, and a lipophilic tail at the other end that is attracted to oil and grease and repels water. Oil and water naturally repel one another, so it is difficult for water to cleanse away oil on the skin without help. Surfactants in micellar water surround the oils on the surface of our skin and “hide” them from the water, allowing the lipophilic tail to scoop them up and take them away, leaving no residue on the surface of the skin.
Who Should Use Micellar Water?
For makeup artists these cleansers are fantastic because we can do a quick sweep of the skin with micellar water on a cotton pad, and not only remove makeup and cleanse the skin, but also leave it ready to take a new makeup application without any slime or residue gunking up the complexion and making makeup slip off.
Micellar water is also great for everyday use for you and me. It is a lovely cleanser that not only cleans our skin but also leaves our complexion balanced. My pet skin care peeve is cleansers that strip the skin, creating a cycle of oil and dryness problems. Great skin begins with a cleanser that cleans skin while leaving it soft and supple and ready to accept skincare products. Micellar water is good for everyone.
Six Reasons You Should Use Micellar Water
1. It Removes Makeup
Micellar water removes makeup, even longwear and waterproof makeup, and cleanses the skin. It picks up excess oils and cleans away dirt leaving your skin feeling fresh and clean. There is no rinse cycle and your skin doesn’t feel oily or tight or tingly.
2. It’s Good For All Skin Types, Even Sensitive Skin
Micellar water is mild and non irritating and is perfect for even the most sensitive skin. It works for those with oily complexions too – the surfactants lift away excess oil leaving the skin clean and clear.
3. Micellar Water Helps Keep Skin Clear
The cleansing agents in micellar water naturally clear the skin not only of sebum but also of the wax based substances that cause breakouts. Also, because you don’t need a washcloth there is no rubbing to further irritate the skin or cause redness.
4. Micellar Water Protects Your Skin From Harsh Water
Most big cities have harsh, hard water, full of chemicals and heaven only knows what else. Do your faucets get calcium deposits? Do your kettles and coffee makers get a build up of scales? If so you have hard water. It is no doubt drying out the skin on your arms and legs, requiring you to use lotions and body oils after you shower, and is also stripping the skin on your face. Micellar water was originally created to be an alternative to using harsh water that strips your skin and leaves it feeling tight and pulled.
5. It Leaves Your Skin Feeling Soft.
With no soaps, alcohol, detergents or chemicals to dry your skin out after cleansing, micellar water leaves your skin feeling soft and dewy.
6. Micellar Water Is Ideal For Travel
The only thing micellar water requires to cleanse your skin is a cotton pad. You don’t need a wash cloth, water, toner or additional cleansers. This makes it the ideal cleanser to keep in your gym bag, to take on a road trip or camping, and makes it perfect for airline travel and overseas trips!
You can find micellar water everywhere now, from Ulta to Sephora to Target. One of my favorite skin care lines, Skyn Iceland, also has their own micellar water. Skyn Iceland has been one of my favorite skincare brands for years. Using spectacular ingredients from Iceland they provide solutions for stressed skin. I first learned about the line from celebrities asking for their Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels. These are the best eye gels I have ever used, and are a staple in my personal skincare travel products as well as my pro makeup artist kit. They depuff, hydrate, cool and soothe and breathe life back into the delicate skin under the eyes. If you have ever not had enough sleep, been on a long flight, woken up with a hangover or allergies or just felt tired and run down, the Skyn Iceland eye gels are perfect for you – they provide instant relief!
Skyn Iceland Micellar Water contains Icelandic Glacial Water which protects, nurtures and fights free radicals, Arctic Algae Extract which detoxifies the skin, Nordic Birch Sap to boost collagen production and Aloe Leaf Juice to soothe. Plus, it comes in an easy to use pump package!
Check out Skyn Iceland Micellar Water here and also look at the Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels here.
In case you are interested I also found this info on Skyn Iceland:
Skyn ICELAND offers skincare solutions to combat and treat the damage caused by stress. Its high performance skincare system of products brings instant relief, immediate results and long term benefits addressing the five symptoms of stressed skin: accelerated aging, adult acne, irritation, dryness, and dullness. Skyn’s inspiration comes from nature, in the pure unspoiled natural resources of Iceland – with its mineral rich waters, antioxidant powered berries, soothing algaes, replenishing mosses and immunity boosting Angelica Archangelica. With these potent naturals, products soothe, stabilize, fortify and nourish skin, bringing it back into balance and returning it to a glowing, youthful state. All Skyn ICELAND products are certified cruelty free by PETA, 100% healthy and vegan.
, linked here at Amazon.com
for several years now. I use the formulation for normal to dry skin, but they also make I’m Cleansing Oil for Oily Skin. You can find it online 
. This is a lightweight but powerful ultra-nourishing gel-cream moisturizer. Your skin does all of its repair work while you sleep, so it is important to use products that help improve cell regeneration and recovery. This one also helps reduce pores, acne scars and blemishes. It is wonderful. And it is ridiculously inexpensive.
