Friday, June 10, 2016

Can Micellar Water Replace Your Whole Skincare Routine? And what exactly is it, anyway? One editor investigates.


My mother and I are over four decades apart, and over the years we've butted heads on everything from school to dating. But on one thing we've always agreed: the importance of a great skincare routine. Growing up, she told me never to forget to wash my face, to slather on SPF, and to let my skin "breathe" with a few makeup-free days (mind you, this was long before the no-makeup makeup trend became a thing). And I listened. While I'll happily use dry shampoo to get out the door faster in the morning, I've never rushed my skincare regimen.
To wit, I've done my fair share of experimenting with products and I've learned there are plenty of skincare labels out there that don't live up to their expectations. They don't clear up your zits while you sleep, or make your under-eye bags disappear in a matter of a minutes. So when I was first introduced to micellar water, which is meant to be the magical, no-rinse cure-all that could replace your cleanser and moisturizer in a single step, I had a healthy dose of skepticism. Despite the fact that models swear by the French pharmacie staple and nearly every makeup artist totes a bottle in his or her kit, to me, it sounded like a lazy girl's solution to makeup removal (what do you mean you don't have to rinse it off?). It also sounded like a beauty recipe for a breakout. Fast-forward a month later, and I've officially ditched my face wash and cream in favor of micellar water.
Turns out micellar water has been around for over a hundred years, first gaining momentum in France, where it was designed to help Parisians deal with the region's infamously harsh water supply. The formula is made of micelles, which are tiny oil molecules suspended in soft water. "The technology of it is actually quite old, dating back from research at the University of Bristol in 1913," says dermatologist and Simple skincare expert Dr. Debra Luftman. "Micelles are attracted to dirt, grime, and oil, and they draw out impurities without drying out your skin," she explains. Rather than containing a foamy solution that strips your skin and leaves behind harsh chemicals, micelles cling on to the dirt and makeup on your skin and dissolve them while leaving behind a glowy, hydrated finish.
This all means that even after my extensive nighttime routine of makeup remover wipes, double cleansing, exfoliation, and toner, micellar water still picks up residue that none of my other products could. Unlike a traditional pre-soaked makeup remover wipe, it's designed to be swept away with a completely clean cotton pad, so it doesn't just smear your makeup around your face like those wipes can do. And unlike toner, the solution doesn't contain alcohol and never stings, meaning you can use it around the sensitive eye area.
"Considering the fact that it requires absolutely no rinsing and is suited for all skin types—especially super dry, sensitive, and acne-prone skin—the water is a serious game changer," says Dr. Luftman. "It's great for travel when you don't have access to your full toiletry bag, too," she adds.
Overseas, the luxury brand Bioderma is an industry favorite, but now with the launch of stateside versions like Simple's much-anticipated one, the French import has some stiff competition. I'm a month deep into using Simple's new micellar water to wipe off my daily layers of tinted moisturizer, blush, and bronzer, and though sometimes the product falls short of removing really stubborn eye makeup, ("You might still need a separate eye makeup remover, especially for the waterproof kind," Dr. Luftman advises), it's streamlined things for sure. I've certainly pared down the use of multiple products. And best of all? My skin's never looked better.

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