How to use micellar water, and what it is

How to use micellar water takes one sentence: put it on a cotton pad and wipe. The details are what make it work well: how many pads, whether to rinse, and what to do after a full face of makeup. This guide covers the method, what micellar water is, and where it fits next to your other cleansers.

What micellar water is

Micellar water is a gentle facial cleanser made with purified water, moisturizing ingredients and cleansing molecules, explains Cleveland Clinic dermatology resident Sadia Tahir, MD. Those cleansing molecules gather into tiny clusters called micelles. That is where the name comes from.

It looks like water and feels like water, but it is a cleanser. It is not a toner, and it does not replace your moisturizer.

How to use micellar water, step by step

1. Soak a cotton pad with micellar water. A reusable pad or soft cloth works too.
2. Sweep gently over your face. Do not scrub.
3. For eye makeup, close your eye and sweep gently over the lid and lashes. Keep the liquid out of the eye itself.
4. Do the lips with a clean part of the pad.
5. Repeat with a fresh pad until one comes away clean. That clean pad is how you know you are done.
6. Do not rinse. Go straight to your next step.

These follow the directions on our own Micellar Water, which is made for face, eyes and lips.

What is in ours

Organic aloe leaf juice is the base, so the first thing on your cotton pad is a hydrating ingredient. A plant-derived cleanser, caprylyl/capryl glucoside, lifts makeup onto the pad. Hyaluronic acid hydrates as you sweep, with chamomile and linden flower extracts, and betaine and glycerin leave skin feeling comfortable, not coated.

It is COSMOS Organic certified by Ecocert Greenlife, 99% natural origin, vegan and cruelty-free, with a pH of 5.00 to 5.30. It is made for all skin types and comes in a 6.76 fl oz (200 mL) bottle.

One honest note: it is scented. It has a fresh meadow scent and contains fragrance, so it is not the pick if you avoid fragrance, especially around the eyes.

Do you need to wash your face after micellar water?

It depends on what you are taking off.

Dr. Tahir's advice matches: micellar water does not usually need rinsing, but if you are removing sunscreen or cosmetics, follow with a gentle cleanser, and very heavy or waterproof makeup may need that extra step.

How it works with a second cleanser

For a full face of makeup, we suggest using Micellar Water on the eyes and lips, then the Oil-to-Milk Cleanser over the rest of the face. The two fit together for a practical reason: the Oil-to-Milk Cleanser's directions say to avoid the eye area, and the Micellar Water is made for it.

The Oil-to-Milk Cleanser is a light oil that melts makeup as you massage, turns to a silky milk when you add water and rinses clean. It is made for all skin types, including sensitive, and is COSMOS Organic certified. It is scented.

Our guide to double cleansing explains the two-step method. If you prefer a foaming second step, see gentle face wash for dry skin.

What comes after

Once the pad is clean, carry on with the rest of your routine: toner if you use one, then serum and moisturizer, and sunscreen in the morning.

Our Hydrating Toner is the natural next step for dry and mature skin. It is rose flower water with hyaluronic acid, with no added fragrance. Sweep it on with a fresh pad, or press it in with your hands. For all skin types, the Hydrating Serum can follow on clean skin.

The full order is in skincare routine steps.

Common mistakes

• Stopping at one pad. Keep going with fresh pads until one comes away clean.
• Scrubbing. Sweep gently and let the fresh pads do the work.
• Using it as a toner. It is the cleansing step. Toner comes after.
• Stopping there after heavy makeup or sunscreen. Add a second cleanser.
• Skipping moisturizer. A no-rinse cleanser is still only a cleanser.

Frequently asked questions

Do I use micellar water before or after I wash my face?

Before. Micellar water takes makeup off first; a rinse-off cleanser follows if you wore sunscreen or a full face of makeup. On bare-faced days, micellar water alone can be your cleanse.

Do you rinse off micellar water?

No. It is a no-rinse cleanser. Sweep until the pad comes away clean, then go to your next step.

Can micellar water remove waterproof makeup?

Cleveland Clinic notes that very heavy or waterproof makeup may need a second cleanser. With ours, use it on the eyes and lips and follow with the Oil-to-Milk Cleanser on the face.

Does micellar water have oil?

No oil is named on our ingredient list: it cleanses with a plant-derived cleanser in a water-light base of aloe leaf juice. We do not label it oil-free, so read the full list on the product page.

Can I use micellar water on my eyes?

Ours is made for face, eyes and lips. Keep it out of the eyes themselves, and if it gets in, rinse with water.

Is micellar water good for dry skin?

Cleveland Clinic says micellar water suits almost all skin types, dry skin included, because it cleans without stripping away much of the skin's natural oils. Ours is built on aloe leaf juice with hyaluronic acid, betaine and glycerin.

Sources

Cleveland Clinic (Sadia Tahir, MD). What is micellar water? 2026. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-is-micellar-water
Product details are taken from the exokiss product pages. This article is general information, not medical advice.