INGE HAS ISSUES

…but for now, let’s focus on micellar

Hold up, we thought the point of micellar water was that it was, like, a no-rinse cleansing water (the clue being in the name). So what’s with all the micellar oils, foams and wipes?! Sorry, what’s a micellar again? Micelles are tiny clusters of surfactants (soapy cleansing agents) and oil droplets, traditionally suspended in a water base. They involve detergents?! Yes, but in most cases, mild ones. It’s all in the teamwork: the oil bit attracts sebum and dirt, allowing for surfactants (which lift the lot off the skin) to be gentle, as the oil’s already done half the work. Although micelles can actually be made with sulphates (skin-stripping surfactants such as sodium laureth sulphate and TEA-lauryl sulphate), so check the ingredients! Then what’s a micellar foam? It has the benefits of a micellar water (onestop gentle cleansing and make-up dissolving) without the need for cotton wool: just rub a pump or two onto your face (even over your eyes) and rinse. And micellar oil? It’s an oil with mild surfactants in it. To be honest, that’s how most cleansing oils are formulated, so I’m not sure that ‘micellar’ isn’t just a buzzword here. Same goes for micellar cleansing milks. …Micellar wipes? Micellar-water rules apply. Be sure they don’t feature sulphates, and use sparingly: like micellar water, they do leave surfactants on the skin, and you don’t want these to build up, even if they’re ultra gentle. My advice: rinse afterwards.