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What Is Micellar Technology? Your Guide To Effective Cleansing

If you’re a skin care enthusiast, you’ve probably heard of micellar technology. This type of skin care technology is making waves for its ability to harness the power of micelles (microscopic cleansing agents) to give the skin an effective cleanse, leaving it clean, hydrated and bouncy. 

Let’s dive into everything you need to know about micellar technology and how you can use it for gentle and effective cleansing. 

What Makes Micellar Technology A Skin Saver?

Dermatologists worldwide recommend micellar technology as one of the best ways to cleanse for every skin type. It provides a gentle and thorough cleanse without stripping the skin of its essential moisture. 

Micellar technology was popularized in the early 1900s by the French, who used it to combat the effects of harsh local water on the skin. Micelles, tiny cleansing molecules, are composed of oil-friendly “tails” and water-friendly “heads,” which form small cleansing clusters that attract and dissolve impurities. These surfactants remove water-soluble and fat-soluble impurities (e.g., oil-based makeup) and provide a gentle solution to cleanse, tone and replenish. 

You can think of micelles as microscopic magnets. In cleansers, they attract and lift dirt and oil from the skin’s surface, so it can be wiped (or rinsed) away. The result: Skin that has been gently and thoroughly cleansed and ready to absorb the beneficial ingredients in the skin care steps that follow.

5 Benefits of Micellar Technology

We’ve already touched on a few benefits of micellar technology for mild but effective cleansing. Let’s explore the full list. 

1. Gentle Cleansing

The primary benefit of micellar technology is that it allows for cleansing that's easy on the skin. You tend to find micelles in gentler, more hydrating cleansers that avoid the use of harsh chemical ingredients. Instead, they rely on the natural composition of micelles to clear away dirt, oil and impurities without stripping the skin of essential moisture.

2. Skin Barrier Support

Your skin’s lipid barrier protects it from the elements, keeping it healthy and hydrated. Micellar technology respects your skin’s barrier. It eliminates external factors that clog pores and dull your complexion and keeps the healthy oils and bacteria your skin needs to stay healthy and intact.

3. Effective Cleansing

Micelles are gentle but mighty. In a typical cleanser, surfactants float freely throughout the formula. In micellar technology, they cluster together into micelles, so the gentle cleansing agents are more highly concentrated when they make contact with your skin. That means more effective cleansing without excessive rubbing or harsh ingredients that strip moisture from the skin. 

4. Enhanced Hydration

Micelles also work to attract water, leaving your skin more hydrated. This enhanced hydration primes the skin, making it more receptive to absorbing the active ingredients in subsequent skin care steps.

5. For All Skin Types

Micellar technology is suitable for all skin types. Micelles are incredibly gentle, making them effective for even sensitive skin. They sweep away dirt and bacteria without stripping the skin, leaving all skin types perfectly cleansed.

How To Add A Micellar Cleanser Into Your Routine

The best way to add micellar technology to your beauty arsenal is to add a micellar cleanser to your skin care routine. We recommend our Kombucha Microbiome Foaming Cleanser

Kombucha Microbiome Foaming Cleanser

This unique liquid-to-foam cleanser gently removes impurities without stripping moisture from the skin. Eminence Organic Skin Care's foam cleansers do not contain any sodium lauryl sulfates (SLS) or harsh detergents — they’ll lather up and rinse clean without leaving your skin feeling tight or irritated.

The Kombucha Microbiome Foaming Cleanser includes micelles, which gently clear oil, dirt and debris from the skin. This foaming cleanser also features kombucha, ginger, white tea, and jasmine which work together to refresh and balance the microbiome on your skin barrier. You can read more about the entire Kombucha Microbiome Collection here.


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Here’s how to use the cleanser as the first step of your skin care routine:

  1. Pump a small amount of product to transform the liquid into a lightweight foam.
  2. Apply to the skin and massage gently with your fingertips in a circular motion, covering the face and neck. 
  3. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry. 

The result is clean, refreshed, and healthy-looking skin that’s primed to receive the next steps of your skin care routine. We suggest following up with your favorite Eminence Organics toner or essence to maximize your skin care benefits. 

Final Thoughts On Micellar Cleansers

Micellar cleansers are a gentle, effective and hydrating way to cleanse all skin types. They keep your skin barrier intact, help lock in hydration and allow for greater penetration of the actives that follow in your routine. Your skin will feel clean, refreshed, balanced and healthy.

Curious to learn even more about micellar technology in skin care? Visit an Eminence Organics Spa Partner to discover how you can incorporate it into your skin care routine.