Micellar water: harm or benefit? (English)

Micellar water is a new, but already favorite, makeup remover. Many cosmetic companies produce their own micellar waters and develop more effective product formulations. What it is and how to use micellar water correctly can be found in this article.

Micellar water

Micellar water (“micellar”) is a liquid in which small cleaning particles, called micelles (hence the name of the product). Due to their shape, micelles attract various impurities, particles of sebum, dust, cosmetics and gently remove them from the surface of the skin.

Many manufacturers of micellar water claim that it does not need to be rinsed off after use. However, cosmetologists advise the opposite. First you need to understand the types of micellar water:

Based on classic emulsifiers (PEG). This water contains synthetic substances (ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol, etc.) that can cause dryness and irritation of the skin. Therefore, such products must be washed off.
Based on safe chemistry. Micellar water based on safe chemistry contains low-toxic and low-irritating substances (Lauryl Glucos > Micellar water may also contain cosmetic oils (for moisturizing and deeper cleansing), glycerin and panthenol (for healing the skin and preserving moisture in it), etc. The base is usually Melt or structured water is taken, purified from impurities and minerals.

Benefit

Micellar water has the following properties:

Gently and carefully cleanses the skinwithout injuring her. The micelles act like a magnet, and all you need to do is apply a dampened cotton pad and gently roll it over your face (without rubbing) to remove makeup and impurities.
Promotes skin healing. Panthenol, which is part of many products, has a regenerating effect, so with regular use, the skin begins to recover, small cracks and damage disappear.
Eliminates inflammation and soothes. Manufacturers create special lines of micellar products for problematic skin prone to rashes and inflammation. Water with micelles can replace anti-acne lotion.
Nourishes and moisturizes the skin. The product has a formula that retains moisture in the skin and prevents it from drying out. If the composition includes glycerin and panthenol, they have an additional softening and nourishing effect.

The main advantage of this product is its gentle action. In order to cleanse the skin with lotion or milk, intense friction is required. This leads to skin stretching and wrinkles. And when cleansing with micellar, no friction is required.

The product is also suitable for girls with thin and sensitive skin. It soothes the skin and relieves discomfort.

Despite the above advantages, the product has some disadvantages and can have harmful effects:

Causes allergies. Many micellar products are hypoallergenic (according to manufacturers' statements), but you need to remember that they contain chemicals that can cause an allergic reaction in the form of burning and itching of the skin, red spots, rashes, etc.
Leaves a sticky film on the surface of the skin. Many girls who used this product complained that it left a sticky layer on the face and caused a feeling of tightness and dryness. If after washing with micellar water such an unpleasant film remains on your face, then the product must be washed off.
Causes a burning sensation in the eyes. When removing eye makeup with micellar, burning and stinging often occurs, which is especially unpleasant for those who wear contact lenses. After this, you have to wash your eyes and lenses, which is not very convenient.

Girls with oily skin definitely need to wash micellar water off their face, otherwise they can cause acne and even more intense work of the sebaceous glands.

How to use micellar water correctly

Since most consumers do not understand chemicals, it is quite difficult to find truly high-quality micellar water. Therefore, the conclusion is: it is better to wash off any micellar water so as not to harm the skin and not cause dryness. Of course, in some conditions it is difficult to do this, and if you don’t wash it off once, then nothing bad will happen. However, if you regularly use micellar and do not remove it, the sensitivity of the skin will increase, it will become irritated and dry.

Usually micellar products are produced for any skin type, but sometimes you can find it on store shelves for dry, oily, normal, and combination skin. In this case, it is recommended to choose a product according to your type.

If the skin reacts poorly to all the tried micellar products (turns red, begins to itch, itch, etc.), then this means that this type of cleansing is not suitable and you should give preference to lotions and tonics.

Properly selected micellar water ideally cleanses the skin of dirt and makeup and does not cause side effects. It will help on the train, in nature, on the plane - in those places where cleansing the skin is quite problematic. Therefore, if there are no unpleasant sensations from use, then a bottle of micellar water should definitely be in every girl’s arsenal.

It’s quite difficult to imagine a modern woman’s bathroom counter without micellar water on it. However, using the product every day, we sometimes do not think about its composition, trusting advertising. In light of the fact that recently you can increasingly find warnings online about the dangers that the product contains, the need to understand the benefits and harms of micellar water and how to use it correctly is relevant.

What is micellar water and what is it for?

One of the problems in facial care is cleansing it of makeup residues. Water and ordinary soap products are not suitable for this purpose due to the drying effect, which is harmful to the epidermis. It is to solve this problem that cosmetology specialists have developed a special product designed to gently cleanse the skin without disturbing its natural physiological properties - micellar water. Its unique benefits are manifested in the ability to completely dissolve makeup and various impurities, while maintaining the hydrolipid balance and without requiring rinsing with water. Its main property is manifested in its gentle, non-drying effect. Micellar water does not harm the sebaceous glands and is great for any skin type.

The name “micellar water” itself comes from the Latin mica, which means “crumbs, grains.” Micelles are the smallest balls of components with which a colloidal solution of micellar water is saturated; they are active structures that have the properties of simultaneously attracting fats (lipophilic) and water (hydrophobic), and are able to work like magnets, binding and “washing away” sebum and facilitating its cleansing. Let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of micellar water, if any.

Composition and types of micellar water

The fact is that the contents of the bottle look no different from plain water, but if you shake it, you can see foam appear on the surface of the solution - this is where all the benefits and the whole secret lie!

An amazing fact, but micellar water does not contain alcohol or soap, and, as a rule, its manufacturing technology does not involve the presence of parabens, silicones and various fragrances. Conversely, the addition of plant extracts to the composition, which have softening properties that relieve irritation of the epidermis, has a beneficial effect on the condition of the facial skin. And also in the solution you can find the content of various minerals, for example, the benefits of zinc are manifested in its beneficial property of reducing the activity of the sebaceous glands.

Micellar water may contain:

poloxamers (pluronics, proxanols, emuxols) are synthetic active substances that promote gentle cleansing, do not cause irritation and tidy the skin. Micellar water prepared on their basis is considered harmless;
glycosides are elements of plant origin that have beneficial properties for activating metabolism inside the cell: water based on them is the safest;
glycols (hexylene glycol, polyethylene glycol (PEG), propylene glycol) are substances that contain 2 alcohol groups, but should not be confused with real alcohol. In micellar water, glycols act as a “moisture retainer”, however, they are quite aggressive: their content of more than 20% can cause harm to acne;
benzyl salicylate - an element with properties to protect from exposure to sunlight;
panthenol - a drug that promotes the healing of various minor irritations on the face, acne;
healthy plant extracts rich in vitamins, as well as various oils and other natural supplements.

It is worth keeping in mind that there are several types of micellar water:

Micellar water for cleansing

Its solution is used to remove fat and dirt from the face and to relieve irritation of the epidermis.

It usually includes:

purified water: thermal and floral waters have the highest benefits, since they do not contain minerals that dry out the skin;
hydrolates - are tinctures of plant herbs that have beneficial properties to heal minor damage and thereby restore the epidermis;
aloe, various plant extracts.

Micellar water for makeup removal

It is possible that such a product will need to be washed off with water, because its composition is often more “aggressive” than that of ordinary micellar water for washing.

It includes:

water base - most often, this is ordinary structured water without adding any salts or minerals to it;
vegetable oils are active components that perform the function of “working” particles: they are the ones who push dirt out of the pores and dissolve cosmetics;
glycerin and panthenol - moisturizing components, the beneficial properties of which are manifested in preventing the appearance of skin tightness;
glycols (surfactants) - these are the ones that must be washed off to avoid harm.

The benefits of micellar water

Thanks to the components it contains, micellar water has quite significant benefits.

For example, micelles have truly unique properties:

reduce the effect of irritating components;
deactivate harmful chemicals;
bind together and remove small particles of fat.

A significant beneficial property of micellar water is that it does not have a drying effect, which allows people with dry epidermis to use the water. And in general, all its ingredients have such delicate properties that they simply cannot cause any harm. In addition, due to its properties, micellar water does not leave a filmy feeling on the skin, as do lotions and gels for washing.

And, of course, one of the most significant advantages in the list of benefits of “miracle water” is its ability to remove even the most complex and intense makeup.

In addition, micellar water is hypoallergenic and does not cause irritation to the epidermis. Moreover, high-quality water is beneficial in itself and can eliminate various inflammatory processes.

How to use micellar water for your face

The technique of using micellar water is nothing new. Everything is standard and simple: soak a cotton sponge in the solution and apply along the massage lines. A pleasant moment: you can forget about the rule of avoiding the procedure around the eyes, although you still need to do it delicately: first, blot them, and only then rub each eyelid with movements from the bridge of the nose to the temple and return in the opposite direction from the bottom of the eye.

But as for the purpose of the remedy, you need to approach it more carefully.

For facial cleansing

Algorithm for proper facial cleansing:

First you need to remove the most persistent cosmetics - mascara, BB cream or foundation: this is done with the help of hydrophilic oil.

To moisturize the skin

Here the procedure is standard:

You need to generously moisten a cosmetic cotton pad with micellar water and wipe your face with it along the massage lines.

It is generally accepted that micellar water does not need to be washed off to moisturize. But not all experts agree with the generally accepted statement: some consider it a publicity stunt, nothing more. Let's look at this in more detail.

Do I need to rinse off micellar water?

As mentioned above, micellar water must be washed off if it contains surfactant groups (surfactants). Makeup remover water most often contains these elements, so it is simply necessary to wash off such a solution in order to avoid the harm of dryness, irritation or peeling.

Critics of the opinion that micellar water for washing is useful and does not require rinsing cite the following argument: a cotton pad is not able to remove all micelles from the skin, this is understandable. The remaining micelles can act aggressively towards other cosmetic products that make up your daily facial care. In addition, water containing emulsifiers and preservatives, which can be added by unscrupulous manufacturers, has potential harm to the skin, and this is also reasonable.

Therefore, it would be a wise decision to play it safe and give your skin the benefits of regular “general wet cleaning”, and when choosing micellar water, take into account both its composition and your individual sensations.

Experts advise paying special attention to the PEG and Polysorbate present in the composition: when using micellar without rinsing, these components can harm the destruction of the skin's protective barrier.

Is micellar water harmful?

Nowadays, micellar water has gained enormous popularity due to its unique benefits. That is why every manufacturer, trying to outperform competitors, makes its product as universal as possible. Nowadays, any micellar water that can be found on a store shelf is suitable for any skin type and for any of its features.

However, there is also a minus here: on most labels you can find the inscription “No rinsing” - this entails unkind consequences. Without reading the ingredients of the product and trusting only the label on the packaging, women do not wash it off, and then face the consequences: rashes, irritation on the face, or severe peeling. The reason for causing such harm lies in the same surfactants. Therefore, when choosing a product, you need to carefully read the composition of the micellar solution in order to avoid negative consequences.

Contraindications to the use of micellar water

There are some contraindications to the use of micellar water, which should not be neglected:

Presence of an allergy to one or another ingredient in the solution;
Oily skin tends to be prone to breakouts. With its effect, micellar water provokes the appearance of a thin film on the surface of the face, as a result of which it can cause harm in the form of impaired cellular respiration;
Pregnancy and lactation. Considering that fragrances and various preservatives are found in most cosmetic preparations, it is recommended to refrain from using them during this period;
The presence of increased sensitivity. Harmful bromides and glycerin can cause severe itching or irritation of the skin.

Sometimes the cause of negative consequences lies in the incorrect use of micellar water. To avoid harm instead of benefit, it is worth remembering the following rules:

if there is waterproof cosmetics on your face, first you need to remove it using hydrophilic oil or other special products;
Under no circumstances should you rub your face: all movements of the disk with micellar applied to it should be carried out exclusively along the massage lines;
After cleansing with micellar water, your face should not feel dry or sticky. If this effect remains, the micellar water should be completely washed off and its use should be reconsidered in the future.

How to make micellar water at home

Few people can guess that you can easily prepare healthy micellar water at home! It will take very little time, but the result will pleasantly surprise you.

For this you will need:

rose water - 90 ml;
castor oil - 3 ml (can be replaced with wheat germ, grape or almond oil);
vitamin E - 20 drops;
rosehip oil - 5 ml.

Method for preparing micellar water:

Mix all the ingredients together thoroughly: to do this, you just need to shake the bottle that is used to prepare the water.
In order not to lose the beneficial properties, it is advisable to store home-made water in a dark and cool place for up to a week.

Which micellar water is better and how to choose it

Any micellar water is completely safe for normal and sensitive skin, so for such categories the choice of products is unlimited. For oily skin, micellar water should be only one of the stages of cleansing. In addition, when using the product, you need to carefully monitor the reaction in order to avoid possible harm and consequences in the form of inflammation of the epidermis in time.

Popular brands of micellar water

Micellar water L’Oreal Paris Skin Expert

Volume: 340 (400 ml)

Beneficial properties of L’Oreal Paris Skin Expert micellar water for normal and combination skin:

cleanses and moisturizes the face well and gently;
has a calming effect.

The product has hypoallergenic properties and does not irritate the mucous membrane in case of contact with the mucous membrane of the eye. It has an exfoliating, softening and antibacterial effect.

The main advantages of the product:

delicately cleanses and moisturizes the skin surface;
has a beneficial effect on the condition of the epidermis;
affordable.

Garnier micellar water

Volume: 350 (400 ml)

Garnier, as a manufacturer of popular cosmetics, was one of the first to launch the production of micellar water and specializes in facial cleansing products.

Garnier micellar water is interesting because it can cope with makeup that was applied with waterproof cosmetics. The production uses ingredients with softening and toning properties, which creates an additional effect of tightening and elasticity of the skin. Can be used by all skin types.

works easily with waterproof cosmetics;
softens and moisturizes the skin;
gives it a lifting effect;
has no specific odor;
The bottle is convenient to use.

Conclusion

Having understood the composition in more detail, it is easy to understand that the benefits and harms of micellar water will depend on the quality of its composition and the individual characteristics of the skin - and it is easier to experimentally select the optimal product option.

But micellar water, which was chosen correctly, will not cause adverse reactions and will reward you with its beneficial effects, perfectly cleansing and toning, and easily removing makeup.

Reviews from cosmetologists and buyers about micellar water

Micellar water is a special product that contains micelles that help to gently cleanse the skin. Currently, micellar water has become a fashionable product. Almost every giant in the cosmetics industry has such a product in their collection. According to the manufacturers, miracle water is ideal for removing dirt and makeup at any time of the day. However, after looking at numerous reviews from happy owners, you can personally see that this product is not suitable for everyone, which is primarily due to the principle of action of micelles - the main component of the cleanser.

Compound

Micelles - These are microscopic particles that look like a sponge. When they come into contact with the skin, these spongy balls begin to work: they absorb impurities and waste products of the sebaceous glands.

When wiping your face with micellar water, the micelles, which have already absorbed “garbage,” remain on the cotton pad. But these particles do not always cope with their work. If the sponge ball is full, it clogs the skin pore, which ultimately threatens the appearance of redness, irritation or a pimple. That is why micellar is not recommended for use by those with oily and acne-prone skin.

For sensitive, dry and normal skin, micellar water can become an indispensable assistant, since the mechanism of action involves gentle cleansing without damaging the hydro-lipid film - the natural mechanism for protecting the skin of any person.

But do not forget that manufacturers of any product are prone to improvement, so currently in the composition of micellar waters you can find flower extracts, various fragrances and much more. Read the information on the product packaging carefully. Undesirable effects on the skin may appear not because “this water is bad,” but because of an allergic reaction to a certain component.

Features of using micellar water

Micellar water is not a toner, not a lotion, it is a skin cleanser. Many girls make the common mistake of replacing a toning product with micellar, which affects skin tone. However, it is worth saying that micellar lotions have now appeared that combine two stages of skin care: toning and cleansing. Although, judging by the reviews, such products are like 2 in 1 shampoo: there seems to be an effect of use, but two independent products work much better.
Makeup removal. As the advertisement says, “micellar” should cope with any type of cosmetics except waterproof. In fact, only a few branded and not very “water” perform this task. It depends not so much on the quality of the chosen product, but on the composition and amount of cosmetics on your face. If after using micellar water you feel that your skin is not sufficiently cleansed and there is a tightness effect, then you can safely return to using your regular makeup remover product. Leave the micellar for the morning, when the skin is not so overloaded.
To rinse or not to rinse? Manufacturers claim that micellar water does not need to be rinsed off. In fact, almost every product under the brand name “micellar water” contains a large number of substances that are unnecessary for our skin, but very important for promoting the product on the market. We are talking about fragrances, emulsifiers, propylene glycol (a substance responsible for transparency) and other chemicals that are necessary for long-term storage of the product, its attractive appearance and pleasant smell. That is why cosmetologists still recommend washing off the “micellar” with water (melt, boiled or purified).

Micellar water is not for removing makeup

A little-known fact, but there is also a type of “micellar water” that is used only for cleansing. This substance does not dissolve cosmetics. But it is completely natural. Its basis is plant hydrolates, glycerin and natural surfactants (tensins). This product was created to safely cleanse the skin as an alternative to tap water. Widely used in Europe, where the environmental aspect of the product is also valued. This product does not need to be rinsed off and not only does not cause harm, but also cares for the skin, so it is approved for use even in infants.

Few domestic manufacturers create exactly this type of micellar water, which determines the price of this product. But it turns out that such a “micellar” can be made with your own hands. At the same time, you do not need a lot of time and expensive ingredients.

Micellar water: harm or benefit? (English)

Micellar water: harm or benefit?