Micellar water lifts impurities from your pores like a magnet — here's how it works, plus a guide to the best ones

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• Micellar water cleanses and hydrates skin, removes makeup, and can be used without rinsing.
• It's great for dry or sensitive skin, traveling, and anyone who wants to maintain their skin's natural moisture barrier or avoid harsh astringents.

Micellar water. If you've been backstage at a runway show, visited a French pharmacy, or just more attentively perused the beauty aisle of Target lately, you have heard the name.

But what exactly is it? Before hearing rave reviews from other skincare-obsessed colleagues and picking up my own go-to version in France, I had chalked the product up to essentially "fancy water" and filed it away.

What is micellar water?

Micellar water is "fancy water" with scientific perks. According to dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick, micellar water refers to "a gentle cleansing option that uses micelles, which are small molecules of mild surfactants that come together and gently help lift off makeup, oil, and dirt off the skin without requiring significant rubbing, minimizing dryness and irritation of the skin."

Who should use micellar water?

Micellar water is a great option for people with sensitive or dry skin, those who wear heavy makeup or sunscreen every day, late nights where low maintenance is required, traveling or camping when access to water is limited, and anyone who wants to restore or protect their skin's natural moisture barrier or avoid harsh chemicals. Micellar water is non-abrasive, hydrating, and easy to use correctly. Dr. Garshick also told me it can be used by oily skin types as an alternative to other oil-based products that may be considered comedogenic or clog the pores. "Biore's Charcoal Cleansing Micellar Water may be a particularly good option for those with oily skin as it also contains charcoal to help absorb excess dirt and oil."

You can use micellar before a cleanse or in lieu of one, but if you wear heavier makeup or waterproof mascara, this may not be the final step in your routine. Some micellar waters can remove full coverage and waterproof cosmetics as easily as everyday grime, but you may still need a backup makeup remover. You'll want to pick up cotton pads — they help you "grab" more impurities than your hands.

If you're looking to try a micellar water, below are 10 of the most popular options out there to try, plus what most people love about for each one.

If you're still looking for great skincare finds and have many Google pages to go before you sleep, check out our team's favorite cheap skincare buys, best skincare splurges, and the products we swear by to help us combat adult acne.

Below are 10 of the most popular micellar waters you should start with: