As a natural skincare formulation expert, the wildly popular micellar water was new to me. It hit the store shelves with a bang due to big-name brands and their million-dollar advertising campaigns. Micellar water is wildly popular but most women don't truly understand what is it and why they are being told to use it. It's become very trendy and who doesn't want to be on-trend? But after looking into it, micellar water is probably not a product you want to add to your regimen, despite the pretty packaging and advertising. 

Let's break it down. So, What Is Micellar Water?

Micellar water is a multi-purpose skincare product that has become a favourite among beauty gurus and dermatologists alike. It's made using water, moisturizers like glycerin, and mild surfactants, which is essentially soap. 

Micellar waters can be bad news for people with congested skin that's prone to breakouts, this is because the ingredients used in micellar waters leave a surface residue on the skin which can act as a film, blocking pores and oil disrupting oil production. That's a big no-no for those of us who have acne, pimples and clogged pores. If you suffer from any of these please use a regular cleanser like the one below and a mild toner. This will thoroughly cleanse the skin and leaves no buildup that could cause breakouts and black/whiteheads.

It might look like you are putting some innocent-looking solution on your face, however, micellar water is completely synthetic and not at all-natural. Brands are trying to tell you otherwise, using tricky marketing jargon and sales techniques to hide the real truth. What’s worse, some brands of Micellar Water are selling you something a lot more sinister, containing Polyaminopropyl biguanide (PHMB), a cancer-causing ingredient. Plus the preservatives are also used heavily to ensure it has a long shelf life. But that's no good for your skin. 

Micellar waters contain a small amount of soap, that's how it cleans your skin, however that soap doesn't get washed off. So imagine using a bit of soap with water and perfumes, that's all micellar waters are essentially, but who wants soap on their skin all day without washing it off? That's another big problem with these cleansing waters and cleansers that require no wash off, it leaves behind a film that will accumulate over time resulting in breakouts, blotchy skin and other potential problems. And if you have dry skin you're better off never using micellar waters. 

Instead of buying a product because the packaging is pretty and the ads are convincing, buy a product that has been proven to do what it promises. Something made with pure ingredients that won't cause unnecessary effects.

Using a simple cleanser followed by a toner will work better than any micellar water ever can. And that's time tested and true! 

Use these products instead of Micellar Waters for cleaner, smoother skin with no buildup or gimmicks. 

Cleansing and toning have been proven to be the best routine for wonderfully beautiful, problem-free skin that works from the inside out. I hope this sheds a little light on these popular products.

Just remember to read the ingredients and if you don't recognize what you are reading, you should probably stay clear of it. 

Here's to great skin! 

Salisha

Green Skin Ready