What is micellar water and what are the differences between this make-up removal product and cleansing milk? Makeup removal is a very important step in daily skincare, but is it enough to remove makeup to purify the skin before going to bed?
The answer to all these questions can be found by comparing these make-up removal products based on their specific characteristics. Both have the same function, which is to remove makeup gently and at the same time soothe the skin, but with a substantial difference: while micellar water can be applied to the face, eyes and lips, cleansing milk is often only indicated for the face and not for the eyes. This aspect depends on their different composition and texture, details that we are now going to deepen.
Micellar water: what it is and how it works
Micellar water is a facial cleanser designed to remove make-up and impurities from the face and eye area. It is practically odourless and colourless precisely because of its characteristic watery base. Its peculiarity lies in the technology of micelles, surfactants that agglomerate into microscopic spheres capable of incorporating impurities, sebum, make-up and traces of smog while eliminating them. These micelles, in fact, have the ability to capture the substances that are removed from the skin as if they were attracted to them, binding with both water-soluble and liposoluble substances without altering the physiological balance of the skin or changing its structure. In addition, in micellar water, in addition to its constituent elements, there are often also active ingredients and natural extracts with a moisturizing and soothing action that further contribute to restoring the skin of the face clear and at the same time nourished.
How to use micellar water
One of the characteristic aspects of micellar water is its practicality: it is sufficient to moisten a cotton pad with a little of this solution and dab on the face leaving the micelles to act for a few seconds on the most make-up areas of the face, such as the eyes. Usually, micellar water does not require rinsing, on the contrary: tap water and the limescale contained in it could weigh down the skin, making the purifying action of this cleansing product ineffective. In any case, it may happen to feel the need to further clean the face because of the more or less consistent patina that remains after passing the disc soaked in product. For this reason, rather than rinsing the face, it is recommended to use a tonic or a cleansing gel to optimize the effect of micellar water.
Cleansing milk: characteristics and composition
The cleansing milk takes its name from its unique formulation that gives this detergent a milky fluid emulsion, precisely. As with micellar water, its action is both cleansing and protective as it does not affect the natural hydrolipidic film protecting the skin. Unlike water, on the other hand, cleansing milk has a lipid base that can emulsify impurities and make-up residues by mixing with them and then dispersing them. In this way, the impact on the skin of the face is reduced and the skin does not suffer alterations. Even cleansing milk is often made up of active ingredients and natural extracts with emollient, soothing and moisturizing properties that gently nourish the skin. For this reason, it is a product suitable for preparing the face for the following phases of treatment, i.e. the application of serum or facial cream; a sort of preliminary step in preparation for skin hydration.
How to use cleansing milk
The application of the cleansing milk can be done either with a cotton pad or directly with the fingertips making circular movements useful to facilitate the emulsifying action and remove residues of makeup, sebum and impurities more easily. With this massage, moreover, the skin absorbs nutrients and moisturizers and can also benefit from a smoothing effect. The milk requires the removal of product residues with the help of a clean cotton pad or with lukewarm water or thermal water. In any case, cleansing milk cannot be used on the eyes and almost always requires the contribution of a purifying tonic. In fact, cleansing milk is a very rich cleansing product that risks clogging the pores if it is not removed correctly or if the product used is particularly greasy.