Micellar waters are a makeup-artist favorite worldwide and they certainly are very useful (and quick!) for light makeup removal and cleansing. Micellar cleansing waters may have been limited to French pharmacy brands till a few years back but more and more drugstore skincare brands are jumping on cleansing water bandwagon. While brands like Garnier and Nivea haven’t yet introduced their very popular and affordable micellar cleansing waters in the Indian market, we do have options like Bioderma, Avene, Vichy and Yves Rocher to try out!
Micellar cleansing waters basically look and feel just like water but on a microscopic level, they contain tiny oil molecules that attach themselves to dirt and oil on the skin, which are then cleansed off. They are simple to use – just soak a cotton pad with the micellar water, rest on the skin for a few seconds and wipe off. The cleansing agents using in micellar waters are mild and in low concentration, so there is no stinging or tingling, making them ideal for sensitive skin. But for the same reason, they are not the most effective choice for waterproof or long stay makeup and you may need several rounds of cleansing to get stubborn makeup off.
But the no-rinse formula and ease of use definitely makes these very handy for travel and for situations where you may not have the luxury of a proper cleanse with running water. And you can use them for the entire face, including the eyes and the lips. I personally love the fact that micellar waters feel really gentle and leave the skin cleansed and refreshed.
I’ve shared my thoughts on a few cleansing waters that I’ve used below.
Bioderma Micellar Cleansing Water (Rs 615 for 100 ml)
This is hands-down the most popular micellar water in the world and it was the first one I tried. It doesn’t have any noticeable fragrance and feels and looks just like water. It is fairly effective on light makeup but doesn’t remove waterproof mascara as effectively. It feels gentle and hydrating on the skin though on days that I’m particularly oily, I don’t enjoy the hydrating feel as much. It does leave a slight feeling of a residue on my skin which I don’t notice when my skin is feeling a bit dry or dehydrated. Its definitely a bit pricier than its competitors but a good option for sensitive and dry skin in my opinion.
Available online at Amazon.in.
Vichy Purete Thermale 3-in-1 One Step Cleansing Micellar Lotion (Rs 1050 for 200 ml)
I love the new packaging of this micellar water and it feels quite nice to use in the summer. It has a mild, fresh fragrance which I find very pleasant though people with very sensitive skin (who are allergic to added fragrances in skincare) might want to steer clear of this one. In terms of efficacy, it gets rid of mild makeup without difficulty but you need a lot of product and several rounds to remove waterproof and long stay products. It contains glycerin which is a humectant so the skin feels soft and hydrated without any perceptible residue after cleansing.
Available online at Flipkart.com.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Purifying Micellar Water (£12.00 | Rs 1150 for 200 ml)
I got this when I attended the Effaclar Bootcamp by La Roche-Posay in Paris earlier this year and its an excellent one for oily skin. In terms of ingredients, its similar to the Vichy one with 2 exceptions – its doesn’t contain any added fragrance and contains Zinc PCA which is anti-microbial agent that helps in controlling excess sebum. It also contains thermal spring water which has a soothing effect on irritated skin. This is an excellent option for people with oily/acne-prone skin but unfortunately, this is not available in India yet.
Yves Rocher Hydra Vegetal Hydrating Micellar Water (Rs 525 for 200 ml)
Yves Rocher is a French brand that is foraying into India in a big way. You may have seen their gorgeous counters in Shoppers Stop stores. The Hydra vegetal micellar water is clear in color but has a noticeable, slightly floral scent. I personally quite like the fresh scent and it feels relaxing and soothing at the end of the day. If you have very sensitive skin that doesn’t react well to added fragrance in skincare, I’d suggest Bioderma or La Roche-Posay instead. In terms of formula, this one cleanses just as well as any other micellar water and additionally contains certain flower and leaf extracts. It has a hydrating after-feel so normal-to-dry/combination skin types would like how the skin feels after the cleanse but oilier skin types may feel a tad sticky. This is the most affordable option in the Indian market at the moment! You can buy it online via the Shoppers Stop website.
Yves Rocher 3 Detoxifying Teas Cleansing Micellar Water (Rs 850 for 200 ml)
I quite like tea based skincare and I was expecting this to have a nice, fresh green tea scent. Unfortunately, this smells quite similar to the Hydra Vegetal version (see previous) which was a little disappointing since I was hoping for a clean, tea scent. If you have very sensitive skin that doesn’t react well to added fragrance in skincare, I’d suggest Bioderma or La Roche-Posay instead. It contains several organic ingredients like camomile flower water, rose hip oil and green tea leaf extract. And it cleanses mild makeup without any difficulty. It has a cleaner after-feel as it doesn’t have the hydrating effect that the Hydra Vegetal Micellar water has. Available online at Nykaa.com.
I’ve also used the Avene Micellar Water (Rs 1200 for 200 ml) in the past which is an excellent alternative to the Bioderma. Its feels just as gentle with a barely-there fragrance and leaves the skin soft and hydrated. You can buy it online at Nykaa.com.
Hope you found this post helpful.
Have you tried Micellar Cleansing waters? Share your comments below!