Take a peek inside any French girl’s medicine cabinet and you’ll likely spot a micellar cleanser. They first became popular in Paris as an antidote to the notoriously hard tap water, which can irritate your skin. Now, micellar cleansers, like 2-in-1 Cleansing Micellar Gel + Light Makeup Remover and Take the Day Off Micellar Cleansing Towelettes for Face & Eyes, have grown from being a niche pharmacy staple to an essential for today’s busy-girl-on-the-go, no matter where she lives. Here’s why.

What’s all the buzz about?
A micellar cleanser is a supremely gentle formula that removes light makeup (i.e. not long-wearing or waterproof formulas), as well as the day’s buildup of dirt, dust, oil and pollution. Another bonus: You don’t need to rinse it off. Just douse a cotton pad, swipe all over and your skin will look and feel fresh and clean. Think of it as a quick and easy double cleanse on the go. It's also refreshingly hydrating.

How is it different from other cleansers?
While most cleansers break down impurities with surfactants, micellar cleansers contain micelles, which work like tiny Pac-Mans that gobble up all the bad stuff. When applied to the skin, the micelles break open and grab onto anything that isn’t water or skin, like makeup, dirt, oil, etc, then close back up, trapping in the gunk and easily sweeping it all away when tissued off. Because micelles only bind to the bad stuff, leaving the surface of your skin intact, your skin won’t feel stripped or dried out. You also don’t risk a greasy-skin aftermath that some oil-based makeup removers might leave behind.

The secret glow factor.
Since micellar cleansers are so gentle, they actually boost your daily glow. Often, a dull complexion is the result of irritation and surface damage. So the gentler your cleansing routine, the less irritation you'll experience and the more radiant your skin will look.

Who needs a micellar cleanser?
Anyone who feels too busy to keep up with a skin care routine, or wants to pare down the amount of products in their lineup. It’s also great for the frequent traveler or workout junkie to cleanse on-the-go, because you don’t need to wash it off. Take the Day Off Micellar Cleansing Towelettes for Face & Eyes are ideal for that. Or, use 2-in-1 Cleansing Micellar Gel + Light Makeup Remover. Squeeze a quarter sized amount of the formula onto a cotton pad and hold over each eye to gently remove light eye makeup. Since the formula doesn’t have any alcohol or soap, it’s completely safe for contact wearers and anyone with sensitive skin. Next, remove the rest of your makeup by using your fingertips to massage it all over, then simply tissue it all off—and glow.

Gentle enough for all skin types.
Since micellar technology is so gentle, it’s great for all skin types, especially dry and sensitive skin. Don’t wear a lot of makeup? Micellar cleansers are perfect for easily removing everyday makeup like tinted moisturizers, blush and light eye makeup. (Note, if you wear long-wearing and waterproof makeup, your best bet is still going to be a traditional double cleansing routine, with something like Take the Day Off Cleansing Balm followed by Liquid Facial Soap.)

Photos: Darrin Haddad | Words: Hilary Presley