Micellar water lifts impurities out of your skin like a magnet — here's how it works, plus a guide to the best ones

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• Micellar water cleanses and hydrates skin, removes makeup, and can be used without rinsing. 
• It's great for dry or sensitive skin, traveling, and anyone who wants to maintain their skin's natural moisture barrier or avoid harsh astringents.
• Below are 10 of the most popular cult-favorite micellar waters, and why people love them.

Micellar water. If you’ve been backstage at a runway show, visited a French pharmacy, or just more attentively perused the beauty aisle of Target lately, you have heard the name.

But what exactly is it? Before hearing rave reviews from other skincare-obsessed colleagues and picking up my own go-to version in France, I had chalked the product up to essentially "fancy water" and filed it away. 

In fact, micellar water is soft water with micelles in it. Micelles are tiny balls of oil that are attracted to dirt and oil, naturally lifting impurities out of the skin without requiring astringents or abrasive rubbing. The micelles make it possible for the water to function as a cleanser, moisturizer, and makeup remover all in one. Rather than needing to be worked into the skin like traditional cleansers, micelles draw impurities out on contact and bind to them like magnets, protecting the skin's natural barrier. Some micellar waters don’t even require you to rinse after using them. 

Micellar water is a great option for people with sensitive or dry skin, late nights where low maintenance is required, traveling or camping when access to water is limited, and anyone who wants to restore or protect their skin's natural moisture barrier or avoid harsh chemicals. Micellar water is non-abrasive, hydrating, and easy to use correctly. 

You can use micellar before a cleanse or in lieu of one, but if you wear heavier makeup or waterproof mascara, this may not be the final step in your routine. Some micellar waters can remove full coverage and waterproof cosmetics as easily as everyday grime, but you may still need a backup makeup remover. You'll want to pick up cotton pads — they help you “grab” more impurities than your hands.

If you're looking to try a micellar water, below are 10 of the most popular options out there to try, plus what most people love about for each one. 

If you're still looking for great skin care finds and have many Google pages to go before you sleep, check out our team's favorite cheap skincare buys, best skincare splurges, and the products we swear by to help us combat adult acne.

Below are 10 of the most popular micellar waters you should start with:

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water

Amazon

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water

Amazon

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water, available at Amazon, $6.61

Garnier's cost-effective micellar water is a fan-favorite for its low price, efficacy on "waterproof" makeup, and suitability for multiple skin types. 

Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Water

Amazon

Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Water, available at Amazon, $6.57

Noted as one of Business Insider editor Sally Kaplan's favorite cleansers, the Simple micellar water is "kind to skin" — meaning it’s gentle, non-irritating, and doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. The Simple micellar water also claims to boost skin's hydration by 90%. If you have sensitive skin, this might be the best place to start. 

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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