Some clients have asked me if they can use micellar water to clean their extensions without ruining their retention.

In this article, I take a deep dive into how micelles actually work, and other ingredients commonly found in these products.

I’ll also share my 3 favorite micellar water brands and how they can be used to clean your lashes step-by-step.

Micellar Water + Lash Extensions

Micellar water contains surfactant molecules that form small spherical clusters called micelles.

These micelles are quite remarkable.

They act as tiny molecular magnets that can encapsulate oil, makeup, and impurities.

You can then simply rinse your face and voilà!

The encapsulated dirt and oils are gone.

But what about lash extensions?

Cleansing your lashes daily is a vital part of aftercare routine if you want to maintain your extensions for as long as possible.

So, you want to make sure you have the right product for the job.

For starters, micelles themselves are not harmful to the lash adhesive.

However, it’s the other ingredients that can be problematic.

The 3 most common ones are oils, glycols and glycerin.

Oils

Any oil-based products can affect the retention of your extensions.

This is because oils are solvents that can break down the adhesive used to bond your extensions to your natural lashes.

A cleanser is no exception here.

It’s vital that you choose an oil-free, water-based micellar water.

Some brands add small amounts of plant-based oils to their products as an added hydrating ingredient – oregano oil is an example.

Stay away from those.

Glycols

Glycols are solvents that help dissolve and disperse other ingredients in the water-based micellar solution.

They come under different names such as:

• Propylene glycol
• Pentylene Glycol
• Hexylene Glycol
• Butylene Glycol
• Phenoxyethanol

So, what’s the problem?

Well, they are solvent and as such they can degrade the lash adhesive over time.

The lash glue will dry out and become brittle.

Your extensions will fall out prematurely if they’re constantly exposed to glycols.

So again, stay away from glycols.

Glycerin

Glycerin (or glycerine) is a humectant, meaning it draws moisture from the air to keep your skin hydrated.

While the scientific literature is unanimous on how oils and glycols are harmful to a cyanoacrylate-based adhesive, it’s a little less clear when it comes to glycerin.

You’ll mostly find lash theory and anecdotal evidence on this topic, with a lot of debate.

Some lash techs say glycerin is problematic, while others say they use it without any issues.

Let’s look at both sides of the argument.

Arguments for avoiding glycerin with lash extensions:

• As a humectant, it attracts moisture. If too much moisture gets trapped, the lash adhesive could weaken over time.
• Glycerin is a polyol derived from fats/oils that could act as a solvent.

Arguments for glycerin being safe for lash extensions:

• Glycerin is chemically distinct from glycol and does not have the same solvent properties.
• Some brands use a vegetable-derived, water-soluble glycerin.

Personally, I remain neutral when faced with underwhelming evidence.

Some of my clients have been using micellar water with this ingredient without any issues (more anecdotal evidence, yeh!).

I would need more robust scientific evidence that directly links it to dissolving lash adhesives.

It might also come down to concentration %.

A product giving you a small exposure might be OK, but a higher concentration could cause problems.

If you have any solid evidence to share on this topic, I’m all for it! Please let me know in the comments section.

Best Oil-Free Micellar Water for Lash Extensions

• Garnier Micellar Water: The holy grail of micellar waters, Garnier oil-free micellar water (the pink one, not the yellow or blue one) is what you should go for. It’s the one most recommended by lash techs.
• Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water: The original micellar water, Bioderma Sensibio makeup remover is oil-free, fragrance-free, and great for sensitive skin.
• La Roche-Posay Micellar Cleansing: Just like the others, this one is oil-free and formulated for sensitive skin.

Now, you must know, all of them do contain a form of glycol AND glycerin.

In fact, I wasn’t able to find a formulation without these ingredients.

And that’s precisely why, in my opinion, micellar water can be used, but only occasionally.

You’re much better off with a lash shampoo specifically formulated for lash extensions.

They are inexpensive and you know they’re safe.

So why take a chance with something else?

I’ve written an article on the best cleansers for lash extensions that are battle-tested by professional lash artists.

You can check it out here.

How to Clean Eyelash Extensions With Micellar Water

Lash artist, Gabriella Ditsan, made a very useful video where she shows how she uses the Garnier micellar water to clean her client’s lashes.

Check it out below!

The general steps are as follows:

1. Get a good brush. Go for a fluffy, and soft makeup brush. An eyeshadow brush is perfect.
2. Dispense a few drops of micellar water on the brush.
3. Soak your lashes in micellar water using an up-and-down motion with your brush (no side-to-side). Make sure you apply the cleanser everywhere.
4. Rinse the brush with clean water.
5. Repeat step 3, but with water instead. Make sure there’s no more cleanser left.
6. Use a lint-free paper towel to dry the lashes. You can also use a hairdryer on the lowest setting.
7. Use your lash wand to brush your extensions back into place.

Final Words

In my opinion, even if micellar water is very gentle, it still contains ingredients that are not optimal for lash extension retention.

Perhaps, they’re in a concentration that is too low to cause any issues, but why take a chance?

There are excellent lash shampoos on the market specifically designed for lash extensions and you won’t have to worry about any potential issue.

I’ve listed those that I recommend to my clients here.

Want to visit our salons? Book an appointment with our Montreal or Toronto locations or e-mail us: contact@divinelashes.ca.
Ready to master lash artistry? Take a look at our online or in-person courses here.
Need lash supplies? Visit our shop here.

Additional readings: