- Ali
I’m new to the world of Micellar Water – I know where have I been living for the past 10 years. When I heard the phrase Cleansing Waters I honestly thought we were talking about the likes of the Bath Spa and Jane Austin! Now I love a bit of Jane Austin but here’s the real facts about Micellar water!
Turns out they are a beauty phenomenon for good reason. In the dark old days, removing make-up, especially around the eyes, could be troublesome especially if you were using face wipes of a drying foaming cleanser. The arrival of French, no-rinse, micellar water was revolutionary as a single piece of soaked cotton wool would effectively and gently do the job and leave your eyelashes intact.
Micellar technology came into common use in the 1980s, with the French Pharmacy and beauty brands well ahead of the curve. The reason it’s so effective is down to the colloidal ions, known as micelles, contained within it. Micelles work like a magnet drawing impurities out of the pores. Just like a magnet they have two ends with the tail end being attracted to oil, while the head is attracted to liquid. The tails can pick up grease and grime and pull it away from the skin surface. Neat right.
They act as an excellent make-up remover and all-round cleanser and can sub for a forgotten face wash if you’re time poor or act as the first part of a double cleanse if, like me, you like to double cleanse in the evening.
Honestly, if you change nothing else about your skincare routine having read this blog, then adding a double cleanse to your bedtime routine can transform your skin. When time is on your side I recommend a double cleanse, starting with a micellar water and finishing with a water based cleanser. When it’s not, no-rinse Arbonne’s RE9 Advanced Prepwork Micellar Water RRP £19/Preferred Client £15.20 with radish root, prickly pear and apple fruit extracts nourishes the skin providing essential moisture and coconut water nourishes and conditions skin for complete hydration, so one sweep literally cleanses, nourishes and hydrates. If that’s all you have time for pop a moisturiser on top and you’re good to go but if you do have time for a second cleanse then using a water based cleanser will allow you to really get into those pores and pull out any stubborn impurities leaving your skin super clean. My favourite for the morning is the RE9 Advanced Prepwork Cleansing Polish RRP £30/Preferred Client £24 with it’s superfood cocktail of lingonberry and apricot which gently exfoliates too. While at night I’m a sucker for the RE9 Advanced Soothing Facial Cleanser RRP £36/Preferred Client £28.80. This pearlescent cleanser with sustainable orange stem cells helps improve the
the appearance of skin radiance, elasticity, firmness and texture while minimising the appearance of wrinkles by conditioning the skin. Now that’s pretty impressive for a cleanser.
And if you choose to cleanse your skin in this way, consider ditching cotton wool. Cotton is a thirsty, pesticide heavy crop, so switching to reusable cotton or bamboo pads will also save you money long term – and maybe a bit of the planet too.
What’s your current skincare routine and how effective are you finding it? I’m here to help so share your top tips for radiant skin and your frustrations.
