The insights of La Saponaria

Micellar Water: what is it, when to use it and how to apply it?

Written by Cecilia | Sep 22, 2023 9:20:24 AM
On the shelves of all cosmetic stores, micellar water is the foundation of a skincare routine that suits any skin type. But how can you use it effectively within your beauty routine, and at what stage should you apply it? Let's discover together!

We all know that removing makeup is essential to have clean, fresh, and purified skin. Among all the products we use to take care of our faces, micellar water holds an essential place in our skincare routine. It's the first step we take to remove makeup, so it's important to understand how to use it best and which steps to follow to maximize its benefits.

Before unveiling all the secrets of this product, let's understand what micellar water is, what it does, its benefits, and what makes it different from other products.

What is Micellar Water and what does it do?

As the name suggests, micellar water is a water-based solution made up of "micelles." Micelles are surfactant molecules that form microspheres capable of encapsulating makeup residues or impurities when they come into contact with them.

Micellar water allows you to remove makeup, excess sebum, and other impurities, unclogging blocked pores. Its success is due to two factors: first, it is a very versatile product that suits all skin types, even the most sensitive ones. Second, it allows you to remove makeup easily and quickly.

How and when to apply micellar water?

In the makeup removal phase of your skincare routine, which we never tire of emphasizing as the first phase never to skip, micellar water is one of the products that can be used for makeup removal. Simply pour a bit onto a cotton pad—preferably a reusable one—and gently pass it over your face and eyes to remove makeup, excess sebum, and other impurities. If you didn't know, you can also use it in the morning to remove impurities that accumulate on your face overnight.

The most common question is about rinsing: should you rinse after using micellar water before moving on to the next steps of your routine? There are different opinions on this topic: some argue that due to its viscosity, micellar water should not be rinsed because it glides over the face and does not leave the skin dry. Others recommend rinsing the face so as to remove the surfactants that may deposit on the skin.

The correct answer to this question depends on how your skin feels after applying micellar water, the products you use afterward, and your skin type. In any case, if you have doubts about the steps to follow for a proper and complete skincare routine, you can take inspiration from the oriental world, particularly Korean skincare. The steps for a complete beauty routine amount to a total of 10, but they can be summarized as follows:

  1. Cleansing: The double cleansing involves two phases—an initial cleansing with an oil-based cleanser using cleansing oils or milk cleansers, and a second cleansing with a foaming cleanser. It's during this second phase that you can use our Micellar Water. The second phase cleanses the skin deeply, removing any residue from the first phase.
  2. Exfoliation: One of the fundamental steps in treatments that stimulate and accelerate the renewal of skin cells. Exfoliating treatments should be performed with variable frequency depending on their specific function.
  3. Toning: The toner—specific to your skin type—should be applied immediately after exfoliation (or after cleansing) to remove stubborn dirt and cleanser residue.
  4. Hydration and Nutrition: Creams, emulsions, fluids, or gels—always depending on your skin type and needs!
  5. Eye Care: It's essential to treat this delicate area with specific products.

If you're wondering when to apply a face mask, if you follow the steps of the Korean skincare routine, you should know that it should be applied after toning to restore the skin's hydro-lipid balance, protect it from environmental factors, and address specific dermatological issues. Face masks can hydrate, revitalize, tone, detoxify, purify, nourish, soften, exfoliate, and firm the skin. Their composition and usage vary depending on their function.

What are the benefits of micellar water?

Returning to the first step of every respectable skincare routine, let's see what the benefits of micellar water are.

You may have already guessed it, but let's reiterate for clarity: micellar water is a product that suits all skin types, including the most delicate ones. In addition to its versatility, another advantage of this product is its speed of use. Micellar water is a single product used for makeup removal.

Another benefit is related to its texture: being a water-based solution, micellar water is a lightweight product that leaves the skin fresh and prepares it to receive the subsequent products in your skincare routine. This is because it frees blocked pores from makeup residues and other impurities.

If you still have doubts about its use, here are four reasons why micellar water is good for your skin:

  1. It keeps the skin hydrated.
  2. It's a 2-in-1 product: cleanses and removes makeup simultaneously.
  3. It can be used on sensitive areas, such as eyes and lips.
  4. It gives a feeling of freshness and deep cleanliness.
Micellar water is a constant in your skincare routine due to its versatility and ease of use!

What makes micellar water different from other products?

Let's be honest... micellar water has taken the lead over the traditional cleansing milk + toner combination, both for its versatility and its speed and simplicity of use. Basically, the main difference lies in the technology used to remove makeup and impurities: while micellar water uses micelles to encapsulate makeup residues and other impurities, cleansing milk relies on its lipid components, mixing with them to remove makeup and impurities. Furthermore, being a water-based solution, micellar water has a lighter texture, while cleansing milk can feel heavier and oilier on the skin. Plus, after using it, cleansing milk residues need to be removed with toner or water and clean cotton pads. Given the creamy consistency of cleansing milk, it is more suitable for those with dry skin, but be careful: it should not be used around the eye area. For this area, it's better to use a specific makeup remover. In contrast, micellar water can be used to remove eye makeup because it has a lighter and gentler formulation. In our Micellar Water, cornflower takes care of this sensitive area, allowing us to remove makeup while respecting our eyes.

If you're on the lookout for beauty routine innovations, here's a small but useful insight into Korean cleansing water since it's becoming increasingly popular. The difference between micellar water and Korean cleansing water lies in the fact that the Korean product is made up of water with surfactant molecules and plant extracts that, depending on the formulation, have a cleansing, soothing, or moisturizing effect. The main difference is that Korean cleansing waters must be rinsed.

Our Micellar Water: What is it and how to use it?

Our Micellar Water is an infusion of flowers and nature designed to remove makeup, cleanse, and pamper all skin types. Its formula, enriched with cornflower and natural prebiotics, gently removes makeup, sebum, and impurities without leaving a heavy feeling on the skin.

It is suitable for all skin types, including the most sensitive and delicate ones. The application is very simple: just pour a bit of the product onto a cotton pad—preferably reusable—and gently pass it over your face. After application, your skin will be invigorated with feelings of freshness, lightness, and radiance. With our Micellar Water, you don't need to rinse your face, but always listen to your skin. It can also be used as the second step in the Double Cleansing!

What's inside our Micellar Water?

Our Micellar Water is made up of a blend of soothing and moisturizing actives and natural prebiotics that will help you take care of your face every day with a simple gesture. It removes makeup even from the eye area, as our micellar water is enriched with cornflower, which provides relief and freshness to tired and fatigued eyes while gently removing makeup from this area.

Fun fact: popular belief holds that an eye wash made from cornflower blossoms is suitable for those with blue and sensitive eyes, due to the affinity between the delicate color of its flowers and light-colored eyes. Cornflower is, therefore, a key component of products that can come into contact with the eyes, which is why we've included it in our Micellar Water, suitable for all skin types, even the most delicate!

The gentle action of our Micellar Water is enhanced by calendula and chamomile, which have soothing and anti-redness properties; hyaluronic acid, rose, and betaine moisturize the skin, leaving it soft and plump.

Our Micellar Water is perfect for removing makeup, hydrating, and cleansing your facial skin. When combined with other products, it can help you create a skincare routine that suits your skin and environmental needs.

Regardless of your skin type, always start with the first step of skincare using Micellar Water and replace the following products with ones that better suit your needs. The only constant and star of the show will still be our Micellar Water!

If you don't know what type of skin you have, take the test!