What is the composition of micellar water?

Easy to use and boasting good skin tolerance, themicellar water has a clean aesthetic which, ultimately, has led to its success. Indeed, it simply looks like water. Far more complex than that, micellar water is a blend of purified water (90%), moisturising components, and a low concentration of micelles formed from gentle cleansing agents (surfactants) dispersed in the aqueous solution.

Developed in France, themicellar water is a gentler way to cleanse the face, as tap water is considered too "harsh" for the skin due to its potentially irritating limestone content.

• Surfactants: Key ingredients in micellar waters, these amphiphilic molecules, with a hydrophilic "head" and lipophilic "tail", organise themselves into micelles capable of attracting, capturing and eliminating impurities, whilst respecting and maintaining the integrity of the skin barrier. Indeed, they must meet several criteria: they should have good cleansing properties, a low critical micelle concentration (CMC), a good skin tolerance profile and should not have any drying effects.

  Our 7-ingredient micellar water contains a non-ionic plant-based surfactant, Poloxamer 184, which has a low critical micelle concentration, allowing the formation of micelles at very low concentrations.

• Emollient/Humectant Agents: Most micellar waters contain moisturising agents (glycerine, panthenol, aquaxyl, etc.), which enhance water retention in the skin and protect against dehydration. However, even if a micellar water does not contain these, it will cleanse the skin without stripping it of its natural hydration, unlike some other cleansers.

• pH Regulators: Most facial cleansers are formulated at a pH between 4.5 and 6, as this is the pH range physiological of the skin. Thus, these ingredients are used to alter the pH value of the micellar solution, thereby ensuring the stability of the formulation and the effectiveness of the finished cosmetic product.

  For instance, you can adjust the formula either with citric acid to lower the pH (more acidic), or with triethanolamine to raise the pH (more alkaline).

• Preservatives: Micellar water, like many cosmetics, contains water (INCI: Aqua/Water) as its main ingredient. However, the presence of water makes the formula particularly susceptible to microbial growth. Preservatives are therefore added to prevent the proliferation of microorganisms (bacteria, yeasts, and moulds) and extend the product's shelf life, ensuring the microbiological safety and effectiveness of the micellar water over time.

• Active Ingredients: In addition to cleansing surfactants and moisturising agents, micellar water can also contain soothing actives (such as chamomile, niacinamide, etc.) or purifying actives (like zinc, copper, etc.) to cater to the needs of each skin type: sensitive, oily, dehydrated, etc.

Free from alcohol, artificial fragrance, and essential oils, our 7-ingredient micellar water promotes skin hydration, whilst removing impurities and simultaneously reducing the risk of skin irritation.

Minimalist, our micellar cleansing water Typology is composed of only seven ingredients. Designed for all skin types, its formula effectively removes makeup and impurities from the face, eyes, and lips with a single swipe of a cotton pad, without the need for harsh rubbing or rinsing. It contains poloxamer, a gentle cleansing agent used in contact lens solutions, intended to help cleanse the skin gently, while the glycerine and pentylene glycol provide hydration. It thus leaves the skin clean, refreshed and hydrated.

• HORNBY S. & al. Cleansing formulations that respect skin barrier integrity. Dermatology Research and Practice (2012).