My Favourite Micellar Waters For Rosacea
Why I think everyone should have one in their stash
I’ve been raving about micellar waters for over a decade and I can’t see our skincare love affair ending any time soon.
In case you’re unfamiliar with this clever skincare item, micellar water is a liquid cleansing product that contains microscopic oil molecules (known as ‘micelles’, hence the name - which is pronounced my-sell-uh water by the way!)
This formula means that, although it feels like water on the skin, it easily breaks down make up, sunscreen, oil, dirt, and anything else that you want to wipe away.
So, let’s start at the beginning. What is micellar water for? How do I use it? When do I use it? I’ll tell you everything you need to know and then I’ll share my 4 favourites…
What You Need To Know About Micellar Water
Although micellar waters are designed and marketed as a cleansing product, personally they are not something I would use as my everyday, standalone cleanser.
If you’re wearing make up and/or sunscreen, I’d recommend micellar water as a great first cleanse. It will easily remove waterproof make up and sunscreen so that you can then use a gel or cream cleanser to ensure full removal and really cleanse your skin.
If I haven’t been outside (and have therefore skipped the sunscreen) I will use micellar water as my solo cleansing step. But I find that if I’m doing that for any longer than 5 days or so, my skin starts to look a bit dull, dry, and feels a little more sensitive. Your skin might be different and might absolutely love using micellar water as your only cleanse, but I mention this in case you want to try adding in a second cleanse every once in a while to see if it helps your skin.
I also love micellar waters for a morning cleanse. I’m an oily and sweaty girl (*tips hat at the ladies*) so I feel like I have to do some kind of skin freshening in the morning, especially in the summer. Micellar water is a speedy and ridiculously easy step that I can do even when I’m blurry-eyed at 8am and getting shouted at by my tiny dog that he urgently needs to wee.
But the main reason I think everyone should have a micellar water in their skincare stash is because it is the best option when you can’t stick to your usual routine. Flights, holidays, illness, festivals, hospital stays… Sometimes you either don’t have access to a sink or you are too ill to get to one and, in those situations, sometimes it’s best to have an easy, accessible option within grabbing distance.
I have lost count of how many times I’ve said this phrase but, rosacea thrives on routine and so being able to keep some form of cleanser in rotation - even when you’re out of your usual habits - is really useful.
With regards to how to use micellar water, you generously apply it to a cotton pad and then gently wipe it across the skin. When it comes to stubborn eye make up or long-lasting lipstick, I recommend holding the pad on the area for 5-10 seconds to let those nifty little micelles do their magic and break down the make up, before then wiping away.
I prefer reusable cotton pads, because when I think about how many single-use cotton pads I’ve thrown away in my life it makes me feel a bit sick. You can get some incredible reusable ones that are gentle on the skin and can be washed in your regular white wash (with unfragranced non-bio detergents of course).
My Top 4 Micellar Water Recommendations For Rosacea:
It should go without saying but these are my personal favourites and you should do further research to find out which suits your skin type, your rosacea, and your wallet. I’ve tried to include information I think you might find useful, but for reference I have type 1 and 3 rosacea (if that means nothing to you, you can learn more about rosacea subtypes HERE) and I have classic oily-combination skin.
The All-Rounder
The first micellar water I ever tried was the OG, the first to be sold commercially, the cult product that started it all… the Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water. If you haven’t tried it, you’ll definitely have heard of it or seen others raving about it.
I first mentioned it on my blog over 11 years ago (!) after I picked it up in France, and I have had at least one bottle in my house ever since. To me, it’s perfect.
Get it HERE.
The One For Oily/Spot-Prone Skin
Next up is the Avene Cleanance Micellar Water. Avene were one of the original skincare brands aimed at and catering for sensitive skin. I’ve used their products for years and years.
I am an oily gal but my skin also leans on the dry side, so this micellar water formula is a little too drying for me. But if you have spot-prone, sensitive skin, this may be the micellar water for you.
Get it HERE.
The One For Make Up Removal
If you wear a lot of make up, or long-lasting make up formulas (e.g. waterproof mascara, foundation, or lipstick) then you may benefit from choosing a micellar water that designed specifically to remove make up. The NIVEA Regenerating Serum Infused Micellar Water is a bi-phase formula, which means it has a two layers within the bottle, that you shake to mix before applying to the cotton pad.
FYI this product contains serum as well, so it’s designed to be a one-and-done product (e.g. no second cleanse needed). I would use this on a morning or on an evening if I’ve not been wearing sunscreen and just need a light cleanse.
Get it HERE (where it’s currently less than £4…?!)
(NIVEA also do a Soothing Micellar Water, aimed at sensitive skin, which sounds lovely but I haven’t tried that one yet. Let me know in the comments if you have!)
The New One
This is not only a new product but also one that is a little bit different from the rest of the list I’ve shared here. Bioderma have recently released their Sensibio Micellar Gel, described as ‘the 1st dermatological micellar gel with an anti-redness and soothing action right from the cleansing stage’ (you can read more about that here). It’s a really thick gel that has a similar concept as their original micellar water, in that you can apply with a cotton pad and don’t need to rinse afterwards.
It’s a bit more fiddly than using the traditional micellar water but I found it cleanses well and was very cooling in the warmer weather. You can either apply it with a resusable cotton pad, as above, or apply it to your face with fingers, massage it in, and then remove with a damp reusable cotton pad.
Get it HERE.
If you’re looking for more cleanser chat, I have a whole article with my recommendations for affordable cleansers. You can read it here:
Do you have a micellar water that you love? Let me know in the comments, I love hearing all about the products you use!
