Stop Wiping, Start Cleansing: The Truth About Micellar Water And Face Wipes

We get it. It's late, you're tired, and wiping your face with micellar water or a face wipe feels a lot easier than standing at the sink. But if micellar water or face wipes are your main way of cleansing, it's worth knowing what's actually happening on your skin, and what to reach for instead.

The problem with micellar water

Micellar water was never designed to be a full cleanse. It's built to lift makeup and grime onto a cotton pad, and most formulas are designed so you don't rinse it off. So whatever it just picked up, along with the product itself, a thin layer of it is left sitting back on your skin rather than being properly removed.

A water cleanser works by emulsifying, agitating it in your palms with water activates the formula and breaks down oil, grime, makeup and spf etc.  so it can lift cleanly away.

Micellar water skips that step entirely. The micelles are already formed in the bottle, so instead of actively breaking things down, they work more passively, attracting grime onto a pad or your hands as you wipe. There's no real agitation involved to break down some of those more stubborn things like spf, silicones etc. which is exactly why it feels gentler, but also why it isn't doing the same job.

This shows up most with SPF. Modern sunscreens are built to resist water and sweat, which is great for a day at the beach, but means they need a proper melting and emulsifying action to break down, not just a wipe. 

The problem with face wipes

Wipes have the same core issue, nothing gets rinsed away, but they add a couple more problems on top. The texture, which isn't kind to your skin. Many wipes also contain alcohol or strong preservatives to survive sitting in a packet, and for reactive or sensitised skin that combination is a common trigger for ongoing irritation and breakouts, particularly along the jaw and cheeks. it can even cause rosacea flare ups and dry patches. 

They're handy in an emergency. A festival, a gym bag, a long flight. But as a daily cleansing method, they're doing a fraction of the job while your skin pays the real price. 

So what should you actually use?

This is where a 2 step approach comes in, and it's a lot simpler than it sounds.

Step one, remove makeup and grime.

This is exactly what our Clean Clouds or a cleansing balm or cleansing oil are for. Instead of dragging product around dry, you're removing the day away. We also love to use our clean clouds to remove cleansing balms from the skin. If you are emotionally attached to your micellar water then fine, use it as step 1 but remember that's all it is. 

Step two, actually cleanse.

Once that first layer is gone, follow with a water cleanser to properly clean the skin underneath, the bit that wipes and micellar water were never built to reach. It's the difference between relocating grime and actually removing it. 

You can watch the video; "How to Cleanse"- Water cleanser edition, on Instagram Here 📷, or on Facebook Here 📖:  to see how to actually use cleanser the right way, because it's something most people have never been shown and so understandably, a lot get it wrong.

Why this combination works so well

Using Clean Clouds or a balm first means your water cleanser isn't fighting through a full face of makeup, it can just focus on giving your skin a genuinely thorough clean. And because you're rinsing at the end, nothing gets left behind to sit on your skin overnight.

It takes an extra minute compared to a wipe. But it's a minute that actually does something, rather than just moving the problem from your face to a cotton pad.

The takeaway

Micellar water and wipes have their place, just not as your everyday cleanse. If you want your skin to feel properly clean rather than just wiped over, start with Clean Clouds or a cleansing balm to break everything down, then follow with your water cleanser to finish the job properly.

Your skin will thank you for the extra minute.