The latest beauty craze is a new category of make-up removers called micellar water.
While these types of make up removers have been used for years in France they are just now gaining popularity in North America. These make up removers are touted as non irritating cleansers that can remove a whole face of make up without disrupting the natural pH of the skin. Specifically marketed to sensitive skin types these special waters are extremely expensive. Priced anywhere from $20 to $50 a bottle many people are asking the obvious question: What is Micellar Water?
Micelles are actually quite common in nature and are simple crystals that form when specific shaped molecules are added to water. Micelles actually reduce the irritancy of other molecules and the more present they are the less irritating a compound can be.
For example a lot of "do it yourself" researchers often state how irritating sodium lauryl sulfate can be on human skin. And indeed that is true—in very low concentrations (that's right the lower the concentration of SLS the more irritating it will be). That is because at higher concentrations SLS forms micelles which then wrap around the SLS reducing its irritation level. Micelles are great for increasing effectiveness of a cleanser while reducing the risk of irritation.
The downside is micelles can also prevent the important actives from being useful in the skin.
Micelles have a great ability to trap oil in water this creating a great lubricating effect for dry skin types.
Micellar water does indeed work as a great, gentle, non-irritating make-up remover that is safe for the whole face, including the eyes.
At the end of the, though, some of the prices being charged are not warranted. For a product that is 90% water it should really not be over $50 for a cleanser.
I say yes to micellar water being used in cosmetics but shop around for a great formula at under $20.
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