Micellar waters are the latest skincare craze to make it’s way over to the UK from France. If you’ve heard of micellar water, chances are you’ve heard of Bioderma Crealine H2O. Beauty bloggers across the country have been raving about the stuff. Sadly, Bioderma are not cruelty free. Fear not though as I have a couple of great cruelty free alternatives to show you.
Firstly though, a little note on what micellar water actually is. Basically micellar water contains microscopic oil molecules which remove makeup and cleanse the skin. What makes them different from standard makeup remover is that they’re extremely gentle, which makes them great for those with sensitive skin and eyes. It also means that you can leave them on your face, there’s no need to rinse. This I find more than a little strange so I always use a normal cleanser after a micellar water anyway! It’s good to know though, that you can come home after a late night out and get straight into bed. You could just leave your micellar water and some cotton pads on your bedside table, and give your face a quick once over while you lie in bed!
The first product I have to show you is Mevita’s Fresh Micellar Water which retails at £15 for 200ml. Like Bioderma, Melvita are also a French brand. They are best known for their wonderful Rose Nectar Range. Is it just me or is rose everywhere right now?
Mevita’s micellar water has a lovely delicate rose scent making it a pleasure to use. It removed my makeup pretty well, although I did have to soak my stubborn mascara twice to remove it completely. My skin didn’t feel tight or dry at all after using it, and it didn’t sting my eyes like standard makeup removers do.I bought this product from John Lewis as I had a gift voucher, but if you buy direct from Melvita they send you two free samples with your order.
The second product I have for you is from Nuxe, which again is a French brand. You may have heard of their Reve de Miel Lip Balm which is a blogger favorite. Nuxe’s Micellar Cleansing Water is available for £14.50 for 200ml. As with the Melvita product, this product has a rose scent. Personally I much prefer the Melvita scent though. Nuxe’s scent is very talc-y which makes it more old lady floral than modern floral.
I do feel that this micellar water removed my makeup much better first time than the Meltiva one. My face felt considerably cleaner and clearer with the Nuxe product.I bought this direct from the Nuxe website and was given 10% off my order as it was my first order. I was also sent one free trial sized product and three samples.
Overall I would order the Nuxe product again before the Melvita product, as much as I love Melvita as a brand. The Nuxe one just worked better for my skin. If you are funny about strong, powdery smells though, then maybe go with the Melvita one. I’ll leave you with a couple of little tips on other ways you can use micellar water. Firstly it’s great for quickly cleaning your makeup brushes everyday. Secondly, it’s perfect for correctly makeup mistakes (especially winged eyeliner gone wrong) by using a cotton bud dipped in micellar water.
I hope you’ve found this first Swap It Sunday useful. If you have a product which you love but you know is tested on animals let me know. I’ll try and find a great cruelty free alternative for you!
