How Does Micellar Water Work?
The cleansing ability of micellar water is derived from its surfactants.
Surfactant molecules usually possess two poles: one that binds with oils and one that binds with water. These two poles help the micellar water bind with oil and water. This is why surfactants are always present in soaps and cleansers.
The surfactants in micellar water are ball-shaped, the hydrophilic pole faces outward, and oil-attracting pole faces inward. This unique orientation allows the micelles to float in water and bind with oils. When you use micellar water on your face, the micelle molecules bind with makeup and sebum, [1] and remove them from the skin.
Unlike other dry and harsh surfactants, micellar water is made up of nonionic surfactants [2] that are soft. This means you can leave the product on your skin.