TikTok users think everyone has been using micellar wrong this whole time

TikTok users think everyone has been using micellar wrong this whole time

Micellar water is a popular choice when it comes to makeup removal, but according to a lot of people on TikTok, you may be using it incorrectly.

Most people use micellar water by dabbing the product on a cotton ball or cotton ball and then applying it to their face. However, some TikTokers suggest applying micellar water to a cotton pad and blowing on the saturated cotton ball to create a foam ball. Then they use this foam to remove makeup and cleanse the face.

The trend apparently originated from a video by TikTok user @saragomez.13, which currently has more than a million views. In the excerpt, she blows on cotton wool soaked in micellar water to create foam. “What if… I told you we’ve been using our micellar water wrong this whole time?” reads text displayed above the clip. “This makes it easier to remove make-up,” she adds in another text field.

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Since then, many other TikTokers have tried the hack. Many seem both surprised and thrilled by the results. “You used micellar water wrong!” wrote one TikToker. “I was a year old today when…” wrote another.

You may recognize Garnier's SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water in many similar clips. But for the record, the instructions on the bottle do not mention how to lather the product. So, is that really a thing? And is it even safe to make your micellar water bubbles? Dermatologists comment on the beauty trend.

What is micellar water?

To back it up for a second, micellar water is a solution typically used to remove makeup. "Micellar water was developed as a replacement for cleansing makeup without the drying ingredients in regular tap water," explains board-certified dermatologist Ife J. Rodney, MD, founding director of Eternal Dermatology Aesthetics and professor of dermatology at Howard University and George Washington University.

“It combines purified water and some key compounds called surfactants,” explains Dr. Rodney. (A surfactant, in case you're unfamiliar, is any chemical compatible with water and oil that is used to trap and remove dirt.) "When these surfactants are added to water in certain concentrations, they form micelles, tiny spherical clusters that bind to oil and dirt on your skin," says Dr. Rodney.

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Overall, micellar water is a "gentle cleanser" that is usually also moisturizing, adds New York-based board-certified dermatologist Gary Goldenberg, MD, founder of Goldenberg Dermatology.

“In other words, micellar water is a pretty clever way to market and position soapy water,” says Dr. Rodney. Yes, that's pretty much it.

Does micellar foaming work?

There's a lot to dissect here. The first is whether you can actually create foam by blowing on cotton wool soaked in micellar water, and yes, that part is according to Dr. Rodney definitely legit. "It's the same chemistry that's involved when you blow into a bubble wand or when foam develops in your washing machine," she says. "Water gets trapped between pockets of surfactants. When you add air, the soap molecules move to give the air space, creating tiny soap bubbles (foam)." The more air and micellar water you add, the more foam you can create, she adds.

Okay, but does the foamy consistency make the micellar water work better? Unfortunately, this is a no. “Bubbles created by inflating the micellar water should not alter the effectiveness or tolerability of the product itself,” says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

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"This trend is more for entertainment and doesn't change the contents of the micellar water at all," says Cindy Wassef, MD, assistant professor at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. "It's a common misconception that when you wash your face, you need that foamy feeling to be clean. You can be just as clean without foam."

Additionally, the foam could cause you to use up the product quicker than you otherwise would. “Because the foam is activated and feels much lighter, you can end up using a little more to get the best results,” says Dr. Rodney.

Is foaming micellar water by mouth safe?

Just a reminder: People pour a solution to be used on the surface of the skin onto a cotton pad and then touch it with their mouth. Regardless of how efficient the method is for cleansing the skin, is it really safe?

While you're unlikely to pass out if you try this micellar water hack, experts say it's probably not the smartest thing to do regularly. “Micellar water should not be ingested, so when applying it to a cotton pad in the mouth, I would be careful not to let the contents drip into the mouth,” says Dr. Wassef.

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You could also inadvertently contaminate your cotton swab with bacteria, increasing the (admittedly small) risk of a skin infection, says Dr. Rodney. "As a precaution, it's best not to transfer any potential bacteria from the mouth to the cotton pad or foam before applying it to the face," she says.

Foaming micellar water cleanses the skin better: True or false?

If you want to create a cool video to share on social media, then definitely give this trend a chance and capture it on camera. But if you're trying to cleanse your face more effectively, you can use micellar water the old-fashioned way, dermatologists say.

“If you like foam, this is fun with your micellar water,” says Dr. Wassef. “But it won’t change the overall benefits for you.”