Why micellar water is useful and should you rinse it off

It is quite difficult to imagine a modern woman's bathroom shelf without micellar water on it. However, using the product on a daily basis, we sometimes do not think about its composition, trusting advertising. In light of the fact that recently more and more often in the network you can find warnings about the danger that is fraught with a means, the need to understand what the benefits and harms of mycelial water are and how to use it correctly is relevant.

What is micellar water and what is it for

In facial care, one of the problems is cleansing it from makeup residues. Water and ordinary soap products are not suitable for this purpose due to the drying effect, which turns out to be harmful to the epidermis. It is to solve such a problem that specialists from cosmetology have developed a special tool designed to gently cleanse the skin without disturbing its natural physiological properties - micellar water. Its unique benefit is 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 a gentle, without drying, effect. Micellar water does not harm the sebaceous glands and is great for all skin types.

The very name "micellar water" comes from the Latin mica, which means "crumb, grain". Micelles - the smallest balls of components that are saturated with a colloidal solution of micellar water, are active active structures that have the ability to simultaneously attract fats (lipophilic) and water (hydrophobic), are able to work like magnets, binding and "flushing" sebum and facilitating its cleaning. Let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of micellar water, if any.

The composition and types of micellar water

The fact is that in appearance the contents of the bottle do not differ from ordinary water, but if you shake it, you can see how foam appears on the surface of the solution - all the benefits and the whole secret are contained in it!

An amazing fact, but alcohol and soap are not included in micellar ox, and, as a rule, its manufacturing technology does not imply the presence of parabens, silicones and various fragrances. And vice versa, the addition of plant extracts to the composition, which have emollient 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 use of zinc is manifested in its useful property to reduce the activity of the sebaceous glands.

The composition of micellar water may include:

• poloxamers (pluronic, proxanols, emuxols) - synthetic active substances that promote gentle cleansing, do not cause irritation and bring order to the skin. Micellar water prepared on their basis is considered harmless;
• glycosides - elements of plant origin that have useful 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 do not confuse them with real alcohol. In micellar water, glycols act as a "moisture retainer", but rather 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;
• useful plant extractsrich in vitamins, as well as various oils and other natural supplements.

It should be borne in mind that there are several types of micellar water:

Micellar water for washing

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

It usually includes:

• purified water: Thermal and floral waters have the highest benefit, since they do not contain minerals that dry the skin;
• hydrolates - are tinctures of herbal herbs that have useful properties to heal minor injuries and, thanks to this, restore the epidermis;
• aloe, various herbal extracts.

Micellar water for makeup remover

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 - active ingredients that act as "working" particles: it is they that push the dirt out of the pores and dissolve the cosmetics;
• glycerin and panthenol - moisturizing ingredients, the beneficial properties of which are manifested in preventing the appearance of skin tightness;
• glycols (surfactants) - it is them that must be washed off without fail to avoid harm.

The benefits of micellar water

Thanks to the components it contains, micellar water is quite beneficial.

For example, micelles have truly unique properties:

• reduce the effect of irritating components;
• deactivate harmful chemicals;
• to 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 do any harm. In addition, due to its properties, micellar water does not leave the skin feeling like a film, as lotions and gels do 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 difficult and most intense makeup.

In addition, micellar water is hypoallergenic and does not irritate 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 with a solution and apply along the massage lines. A pleasant moment: you can forget about the rule to avoid the procedure around the eyes, although this must still be done delicately: first, blot them, and only then wipe 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 be more careful here.

For face cleaning

Algorithm for correct facial cleansing:

1. First you need to remove the most persistent cosmetics - mascara, BB or foundation: this is done using hydrophilic oil.
   Attention! If your makeup is very light, you can skip this step.
2. This is followed by washing your face with ordinary running water.
3. Then you need to gently cleanse the skin with a cotton sponge moistened with micellar water.
4. And finally, step two should be repeated - wash your face with plain running water in order to get rid of the micellar residues.

For skin hydration

Here the procedure is standard:

It is necessary to moisten a cosmetic cotton pad abundantly with micellar water and wipe your face with it in the direction of the massage lines.

It is generally accepted that micellar water does not need to be rinsed off for moistening. But not all experts agree with the generally accepted statement: some consider it an advertising ploy, nothing more. Let's take a closer look at this.

Should micellar water rinse out

As mentioned above, it is necessary to rinse micellar water if it contains surfactant groups (surfactants). Water for removing makeup most often contains these elements, so rinsing off such a solution is simply necessary to avoid harm to dryness, irritation or flaking.

Critics of the opinion about useful and not requiring rinsing micellar water for washing give the following argument: a cotton pad is not able to remove all micelles from the skin, this is understandable. The remaining micelles can manifest themselves aggressively towards other cosmetic products that make up daily facial care. In addition, water containing emulsifiers and preservatives that unscrupulous manufacturers can add is potentially harmful to the skin, and this is also reasonable.

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

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 protective barrier of the skin.

Is micellar water harmful?

Nowadays, micellar water has gained immense popularity due to its unique benefits. That is why each manufacturer, trying to outperform competitors, makes his product as versatile as possible. Nowadays, any micellar water that can be found on the shelf is suitable for any type of skin and for any of its characteristics.

However, there is also a minus here: on most of the labels you can find the inscription "Without washing" - this entails bad consequences. Without reading into the composition of the product and trusting only the inscription on the package, women do not wash it off, and then face the consequences: rashes, irritations on the face, or with severe peeling. The reason for causing such harm lies in the same surfactants. Therefore, when choosing a remedy, you need to carefully read into 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 that should not be neglected:

• Allergies on one or another ingredient in the solution;
• Oily skin has a tendency to break out. By its effect, micellar water provokes the appearance of a thin film on the surface of the face, as a result of which it can provoke harm in the form of a violation of 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;
• Hypersensitivity. Bromides and glycerin, which can be harmful, can cause severe itching or irritation of the skin.

Sometimes the reason for the negative consequences lies in the improper use of micellar water. In order not to get harm instead of benefit, it is worth remembering the following rules:

• if you have waterproof cosmetics on your face, first you need to remove it with hydrophilic oil or other special products;
• in no case should you rub your face: all movements of the disc with micellar applied on it should be carried out exclusively along the massage lines;
• after cleansing with micellar water, the 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.

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, and the result will be a pleasant surprise.

For this you will need:

• rose water - 90 ml;
• castor oil 0 - 3 ml (can replace wheat germ oil, grape or almond);
• vitamin E - 20 drops;
• rosehip oil - 5 ml.

Method for preparing micellar water:

1. Mix thoroughly all the ingredients together: for this you just need to shake up the bottle that is used to prepare the water.
2. In order not to lose useful properties, it is advisable to store your own water in a dark and cool place, up to a week.

Which micellar water is best and how to choose it

Any micellar water is completely safe for normal and sensitive skin, therefore, the choice of products for such categories is unlimited. For oily skin, micellar water should be just one of the stages of its 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)

Useful properties of L'Oreal Paris Skin Expert micellar water for normal to combination skin:

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

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

The main advantages of the tool:

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

Micellar water Garnier

Volume: 350 (400 ml)

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

Garnier micellar water is interesting in that it is able to cope with makeup that has been 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. Suitable for all skin types.

Use of the tool:

• works easily with waterproof cosmetics;
• softens, moisturizes the skin;
• gives her a lifting effect;
• does not have a specific smell;
• the bottle is convenient for 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 choose the optimal version of the product.

But micellar water, which we managed to pick up correctly, will not cause side reactions and will thank you with its beneficial action, perfectly cleansing and toning, and easily removing makeup.

Reviews of cosmetologists and buyers about micellar water