Category: General

Developed in France, but sweeping the globe, micellar water is a soap-free skin cleanser and makeup remover you simply wipe on, and then wipe away with no rinsing.  This product is pronounced variously as “Mice-Ler” or “My Celler,” but properly as “Me-sell-air,” (you earn extra style bonus points if you can add a lovely French accent.) Originally, this was a cleansing product designed for Parisian women who live with very hard, mineralized water.  Parisian water is so hard, it makes it difficult to rinse away dirt and makeup and to really feel clean.  It can also be quite harsh and irritating to the skin.

Micellar water is a 90’s era technology based on an ancient and proven makeup removing technique, using oil for skin cleansing. In a nut-shell, Micelles are tiny balls of cleansing oil molecules suspended in softened water. When you apply micellar water to the face, the micelles bond with the dirt, lifting makeup and oil from the skin. The water rinses as you go, leaving your skin smooth and clean. Micellar waters are free of soaps, detergents, and alcohol, making them quite gentle even for the most sensitive skin types. 

The international cult favorite brand is Bioderma from France. But fortunately for us, micellar water is now available from companies worldwide and at nearly every price point.  However, not all brands perform the same, so be prepared to test drive a few and shop around for the perfect balance of performance and price.

Benefits of using a Micellar Water

• Travel – So, this is a killer product to travel with.  You can cleanse your face anywhere.  You don’t need to rinse the product off, so no sink is needed.  This makes it perfect for “Glamping” out in the wilderness or for keeping your skin clean on a long-haul flight.
• Quick Changes – Doing a photoshoot and need a variety of looks?  You can use micellar water to very quickly wipe off your makeup without leaving residue that will interfere with your next makeup application. 
• Combating Sensitivity – I have super sensitive eyes.  Practically every makeup remover burns and makes them watery, red, and irritated.  I have found that using micellar water to remove the bulk of my eye makeup reduces irritation and, frankly, stinging pain.

Downsides to Micellar Water

• Best for normal, combo, and dry skins.  Oily skinned users may not find it as effective as a traditional makeup remover.
• Not always effective against water proof makeup.  I personally use the bi-phase Garnier micellar water that includes silicone and is more effective against the waterproof makeup I wear for performance.
• Not all formulations are the same.  If you are having so-so results trying out micellar water, you might want to switch to another brand or formulation.  Every skin is different, so what works for your best buddy, may not work perfectly for you.
• Product may leave a film.  Because the micelles are oil, products with more micelles held in suspension will sometimes leave a slightly oily film to the skin.  While dryer complected people might enjoy this result, normal to oily skin types might find the need to rinse with water or even do a second cleanse with a more traditional product.

Using Micellar Water

• Saturate a disposable cotton pad, cotton ball, or cotton bud. 
• For eye makeup removal – hold the saturated pad against your eyes for a  with a gentle press.  Gently wipe the makeup away.
• For face cleaning, use the saturated pads like a wipe to cleanse all the skin. 
• Repeat if needed, especially if you’re tackling stage makeup.

More Info on Micellar Waters:

• 10 Best Micellar Waters at Vogue UK – 
• Micellar Cleansing Water: The Guilt-Free Alternative to Cleansing Wipes at Marie Claire UK 
• Can Micellar Water Replace Your Whole Skincare Routine?  at Elle

In the US, Micellar waters are available in both drugstore and department store brands. Shop around and pick one to try and see if you like the results!  Below are a list of links to some of the top ranked brands if you need a spring board for shopping. 

Dawn Devine
Feb. 23, 2016

Affordable Drugstore Micellar Waters

• Garnier SkinActive Bi-Phase Micellar Cleansing Water  *My Favorite* – At Ulta  
• Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water  – At Ulta  
• Simple Cleansing Micellar Water – At Ulta
• Boots – Simply Sensitive Gentle Micellar Water  – At Ulta 
• La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution, Sensitive skin – At Ulta

Higher End Brands

• Vichy Laboratoires Purete Thermale Beautifying Cleansing Micellar Oil –  At Drugstore.com 
• Avene Micellar Lotion – At Drugstore.com
• Bioderma Sensibio H20 – At Beautylish.com
• Caudalie Micellar Cleansing Water – At Sephora

I’m the first person to admit that I’m not a makeup artist.  That said, my initial introduction to professional quality makeup was via the world of theater.  While I was studying technical theater and learning the craft of costume design and construction back in the ’90’s at UCSD, I was required to take classes in theatrical makeup techniques.  I learned a few tricks and techniques that have stuck with me through the many years of my dance career.  Stage makeup needs to be vibrant, highly pigmented, full coverage, and probably most importantly, hold up to vigorous activity, heat, and perspiration.

Here are a few of my old favorites and new finds from the world of theater that might just help you discover a new gem to add to your makeup kit.

Kryolan – TV Paint Stick

This is one of my all-time favorite products.  In my career as a dancer, I’ve used several of these completely up. When I know that I’m going to seriously sweat, say, outdoor performances in the California summer heat, I grab this wonderful product.  The stick format dabs on easily and you can use a sponge, brush, or even your fingers to blend this full-coverage foundation into the skin.

Tip: If you are keen on highlighting, and don’t mind doing some on-the-spot mixing, get a white stick and create your own high-light shades!   Find it here

RCMA –  No Color Powder 

RCMA is a fantastic powder for setting makeup looks without adding any additional color.  This finely milled, silky smooth powder is perfect to use for setting without imparting any color.  It contains no pigment, no fillers, and best of all, doesn’t reflect back in photography. 

Tip: If you are going to use the RCMA No Color Powder to bake your face, put a liberal quantity into your baking zones and let sit a minimum of 5 minutes.  When you go back in to brush the excess powder away, be sure to dip your brush into a bit of powder first to get the ultimate smooth finish.  Find it here

Ben Nye Glitter Glue

If you need it to stick this is the product to use!  I have sensitive skin, and this doesn’t irritate me.  It’s great for doing over-the-top stage makeup and I’ve used it to mount individual sequins, small rhinestones, bindies, feathers, glitter (of course,) and once I used it to glue feathers onto my face. Be sure to moisturize after using, as it can leave your skin looking dry.  If you need to glue something to your face, well, look no further than this affordable glue. 

Tip:  This is an excellent product for reviving a favorite bindi or for wear with custom bindis that don’t have their own sticky surface pre-applied.  As a woman without pierced ears, I’ve sometimes used this product to glue rhinestones onto my earlobes to simulate earrings.  If you must don a navel jewel, then you might want to choose this great glitter glue.  Find it here

Viseart Eyeshadow

These eye shadows are highly pigmented and super blendable.  Although the rarified price of $80 per palette is out of most ordinary mortals budget, if you can swing one of these sets, it will last you for many years.  Ounce per ounce, this product is no more expensive than most department store brands, but the individual pans are quite large. I enjoy using the Cool Matte Palette 07as to produce some really deeply colored looks that don’t crease or move even through performances.

Tip: In 2015, this brand took over the YouTube beauty community by storm.  If you find this product interesting, do a quick YouTube search for tutorials and reviews to see what other people have done with these incredible eye shadows.  One example is beauty vlogger Emily Noel  –  Find it here

Green Marble Fixative

Your makeup will NOT move if you invest in this theatrical makeup setting spray.  This product is a lot more expensive than drugstore brands, but if you are prone to glowing, or dare I say, sweating, this is the product to try. Because this product is strong, I recommend that you buy the smallest size product to give it a test run to ensure it doesn’t trigger any skin irritation or allergic reactions. 

Tip:  Back in the day, we would use hairspray to hold our makeup in place.  It would create a waterproof barrier with bullet proof hold, but hairspray is horrible for the environment and not great for the skin. Find it here