Cleanser vs Micellar Water: What’s Better?

Figuring out the difference between micellar water and a face cleanser is important in order to build a proper cleansing routine and choosing the appropriate cleansing agents for the particular problem.

Both the products are meant for cleansing the skin yet they have a totally different action. Opting for the best one depends entirely on your skin concerns. Also wearing makeup and cleansing it effectively demands using the right cleanser from both available products.

A traditional face wash is formulated with surfactants or cleansing agents. It could be a foaming or non foaming cleanser. It helps by lifting off the dirt, oil, sweat and other buildup from the face and helps clearing the impurities from the face. It is a rinse off product that needs to be washed with water to clear the skin.

Whereas micellar water is a water based formulation which contains tiny oil droplets also referred to as micelles. It works by lifting off the oil and makeup from the surface of the skin. It doesn’t need to be rinsed and is easy to use.

What is micellar water?

Micellar water is ideally a cleansing water based product which consists of tiny molecules called micelles incorporated in soft water. These micelles have a hydrophilic head and a lipophilic tail which enables it to properly lift off both the oil based and water based impurities. This dual cleansing action of micellar water allows it to properly cleanse the makeup from the face. It does not strip the skin at all. They are no-rinse products.

What is a face cleanser?

Face washes or cleansers are traditional formulations which need to be rinsed off with water for cleansing. It is a liquid, gel, foam or oil cleanser that is formulated with surfactants or detergents which work by lifting off the impurities from the skin and upon rinsing with water give a clean skin. It is a traditional cleansing product used on a regular basis for clearing skin impurities.

Skin cleansing action

Traditional face washes and cleansers have a deep pore cleansing action. These cleansers after application on the skin can help a lot for pore cleansing. Massaging these products helps them enter the openings of the pores and cleanse.

This deep penetration action clears the sebum, sweat, and pollutants from the pores as the surfactants bind to these and upon rinsing with water it removes the loose impurities from the face and gives a clear skin.

Micellar water on the other hand works on the surface and acts as a magnet. The tiny micelles work on the top layer of the skin and are applied using a cotton pad. Because micellar water is not massaged into the skin or lathered it does not cross the pores of the skin as it is not rubbed into the skin.

Instead it works like a surface magnet pulling away all the impurities sitting on the surface of the skin like makeup, sebum, sweat and dirt. It mostly clears the buildup of makeup from the surface.

Micellar water does not require rinsing which removes makeup and dirt without using water. But you can rinse off your face with water afterwards to clear any left residues in order to prevent skin irritation.

Which Cleanser to choose according to skin type?

Skin type plays an important role while selecting the best type of cleanser that works well. People with dry and sensitive skin can mostly use micellar water as it is more comfortable.

It does not cause skin irritation while cleansing which is suitable for sensitive skin. It also helps in keeping the skin barrier intact as no rising is required and no oils are removed.

For people with oily or acne prone skin a traditional face wash might be a better option for evening cleansing. The strong surfactants in a face wash can help in removing excess sebum effectively from the pores and helps in keeping the pores uncongested. Also people with oily skin can use micellar water during the day routine when deep cleansing is not required.

Double cleansing using micellar water and face wash

Double cleansing has been popular as it helps in providing dual action by incorporating makeup removal action of micellar water along with deep skin clearing action of face wash.. It is a better approach for your skin if you wear sunscreen or makeup daily and face environmental pollution daily.

First you need to use micellar water in order to clear the makeup. Soak a cotton pad with micellar water and gently wipe it off throughout the face to clear makeup. Use 2-3 pads for clearing the whole face. It clears the makeup without harsh scrubbing.

Follow by using a face wash to clear the leftover impurities from the skin and pores. This double cleansing method ensures complete cleansing without stripping the skin barrier.

However, double cleansing isn’t necessary for everyone as it helps in clearing the makeup and sunscreen effectively.

Final Thoughts

Both micellar water and face cleanser ideally work well in their own way. One has a surface cleansing action while the other helps in deep-pore cleansing. So choosing the best one totally depends on your skin type and the impurities you want to clear from the face. Both deliver cleansing action differently and it depends on the action your skin requires.