Micellar Waters Worth Adding to Your Skin Care Arsenal
When you think of a cleanser, you typically think of one that requires you to scrub and use water, right? Well, micellar water is here and it’s here to change the game.
How I fell in love with micellar water:
I was never the biggest fan of micellar water when I first tried it solely because I felt that it was more work than using my regular gel cleanser. I recently discovered that it is 100% worth ALL the cotton rounds and/or pads that you have to use. Routines that I can do when I am half asleep and my makeup needs to come off are the absolute best, but sometimes the extra effort is necessary.
My skin went through a period of EXTREME dryness and flaking and every cleanser I tried just kept exacerbating the issue. I decided, let me take an incredibly gentle route to taking care of my skin.
I thought about k-beauty products as many are quite gentle, but I needed something immediate and Amazon Prime is simply not immediate enough for me. So this led to me Target in search of the perfect cleanser that won’t dry or irritate my skin any further. And this is where I rediscovered micellar water.
I decided I would buy a few and test out which brand my skin loves most. I tried a few of them and narrowed down my favorites.
What is Micellar Water?
Micellar water contains micelles, which are minuscule balls of cleansing lipids (oil) dispersed in soft water. Soft water has a pH closer to your skins so it does not cause irritation and dryness like hard water does. Micelles are effective in drawing out impurities such as dirt and oil from your skin while also providing moisture – win/win!
How To Use
Applying micellar water requires 1 simple and inexpensive product: cotton rounds. You pour the micellar water onto the cotton round and wipe your skin going away from the center of your face. Use as many cotton rounds as needed to remove everything and follow up with a toner. If you are using it as a cleanser without makeup, you’ll only need 1-2 cotton rounds.
Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water All-In-One Cleanser
Price: $8.99
Rating: 10/10
This is probably the most popular micellar water on the market. And trust me, the rave about it is fully justified. I purchased the waterproof version because I tend to wear waterproof makeup and setting sprays, so I needed something a little stronger. If you’re not a heavy makeup wearer, the regular version works great too.
I found this cleanser to be insanely hydrating and it removed all of makeup. It leaves my skin feeling like I just applied a light oil. The best part is when it dries down, my skin remains soft and hydrated. This can be used twice a day as a cleanser for those with sensitive skin.
La Roche Posay Micellar Water Ultra
Price: $7.99 (Travel size)
Rating: 7/10
La Roche Posay made it’s appearance in drug stores not too long ago and I am truly thankful. I first learned about them from Jouer, owner of Jouer Cosmetics, when she raved about one of their cleansers. During my Target trip I stumbled upon their micellar water in a travel size bottle for only $8 and couldn’t pass it up! I have been using it for a little over 3 weeks now and I am in love.
It’s very gentle and has a very mild scent, nothing irritating at all. As far as makeup removal, it was not as impressive as Garnier. My waterproof mascara struggled to come off with it and I eventually had to use waterproof makeup remover wipes. I loved it for cleansing on days where I was not wearing any makeup. It made my skin feel refreshed and clean, without the dry and squeaky feel but instead a moisturized one.
NYX Stripped Off Micellar Water
Price: $7
Rating: 6/10
The NYX micellar water was a pleasant surprise to find at Target mainly because I never knew NYX made skin care products. I’ve tried a few of their makeup products and have not disappointed thus far. Let’s see how this held up for me!
I used the NYX micellar water every night for 1 week to remove my makeup (I was solely testing for makeup removal) and it more than passed the test. My makeup came right off with no struggle. I actually used fewer cotton rounds with this. Might be because I was wearing a little less makeup that week, but still. It was not as hydrating as the other 3 micellar waters I tried, but it was not drying either. I was overall very pleased.
Simple Cleansing Micellar Water
Price: $7.99
Rating: 5/10
The Simple Cleansing Micellar Water happen to be my least favorite, unfortunately. Definitely does not mean it’s bad, I just liked it the least. This is initially what made me dislike micellar water and never touch it again until now. I thought I should give it another try, and I am not 100% pleased the second time around.
It simply (no pun intended) does not get the job done for me. It’s not as moisturizing as I would like it to be, and it does not do a great job at taking my makeup off. I did like that it did not dry my skin out. I also noticed that it works better when you have already removed majority of your makeup. It takes off those last bits really well, surprisingly. So if you’re not a heavy makeup wearer with normal skin, this one is for you.
