Can You Use Micellar Water To Clean Eyelash Extensions?

As a lash artist, I’ve seen the use of micellar water to clean eyelash extensions becoming increasingly popular. Micellar water has many attributes that make it a great choice for cleaning your face, but I often get asked if it’s safe to use on lash extensions, if it dissolves the glue, and how to use it.

This article will answer all those questions and provide you with the exact steps to properly clean your lashes using micellar water.

Let’s dive into it!

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Can You Use Micellar Water To Clean Eyelash Extensions?

The key takeaway here is to thoroughly read the ingredient list to make sure it doesn’t contain any oils.

Why is that?

Simply because the oil acts as a solvent and will progressively break down the lash adhesive, leading to premature shedding and a shorter lifespan for your extensions.

So, make sure to keep reading, because I’ll share with you the best oil-free micellar water for lash extensions later in this article.

What Is Micellar Water?

Micellar water is a multipurpose cleansing liquid that’s popularly known as soft water. It contains two essential ingredients:

• Water: Purified water
• Mild surfactants: Compounds used for cleaning

When these small surfactant molecules are mixed, they remain suspended to create microscopic spheres called micelles.^[1]

How Does Micellar Water Work?

Micelles work like magnets and thus attract dirt and oil. As the micelles come into contact with dirt and oil, they break them down and bind them to themselves. Even the most stubborn makeup products easily melt and slide off.

How to Clean Eyelash Extensions With Micellar Water

1. Get a good brush to gently apply the micellar water to your eyelash extensions. Go for a fluffy, and soft makeup brush that’s lint-free.
2. Add a few drops of micellar water to the makeup brush and dab them onto different parts of your eyelashes carefully.
3. Gently stroke the micellar water into the eyelash extensions on top of the lashes and from beneath. Make sure not to scrub or rub harshly when cleaning your lashes as it can make your eyelash extensions fall out prematurely. Avoid tugging and snagging motions too. Use an up-and-down motion (not sideways).
4. Wipe off your makeup and excess micellar water with a lint-free paper towel. Avoid cotton balls or cotton pads at all costs since the lint can get caught at the base of your extensions and make a mess.
5. Cleanse your face with an oil-free cleanser while avoiding your lashes.
6. Rinse your face with cold water. Don’t splash water directly on your lashes. Instead, make a cup with your hands and carefully wet your extensions.
7. Apply a small amount of eyelash shampoo to your lashes using your makeup brush. Again, no rubbing. Just splash some shampoo and move the brush in an up-and-down motion.
8. Rinse your eyelashes again with cold water and no direct streams.
9. Dry your lashes with a lint-free towel by gently patting them.

Gabriella made a useful Youtube Video on how to clean eyelash extensions using micellar water.

Take a look!

That’s it! If you follow these steps daily, your lash extensions will remain clean and you’ll experience better retention.

Now, you may wonder why you still have to clean the lashes with eyelash shampoo after using micellar water.

The answer is simple: The eyelash shampoo will get rid of any residue left behind by the micellar water, and make sure that your lash line is free from dirt and debris. It also has antibacterial properties.

Does Micellar Water Remove Eyelash Glue?

But!

Always make sure you’re not using an oil-infused micellar water, as I mentioned earlier in this article. Because yes, in such cases, the oil will act as a solvent and break down the adhesive.

So then, which is the best micellar water to use?

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 when wearing lash extensions. You can use it on eyelash extensions directly if you’re wearing eyeliner or mascara too.
• Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water: The original micellar water,^[2] Bioderma Sensibio makeup remover is a favorite for celebs like Kourtney Kardashian, Sophie-Ellis, Victoria Beckham, etcetera. It’s an oil-free makeup remover that’s great for sensitive skin. It’s a fragrance-free solution that cleans the skin without using oil.
• La Roche-Posay Micellar Cleansing: This is micellar water created especially for delicate skins. The good news is La Roche-Posay is free of alcohol, oil, and parabens too.

I’m sure there are other brands available on the market, but these are the ones I’ve tried and tested. So go ahead and give them a try, you won’t regret it!

Micellar Water vs Baby Shampoo

Now, I know a lot of people use baby shampoo for cleaning their extensions. Lash artists used to recommend it as well.

However, nowadays it’s not the most recommended choice. That’s because many baby shampoos contain oils, fragrances, and other ingredients that can be damaging to your lash extensions.

As you can see, recommendations can evolve over time as new products come to market, and it’s always best to stay up-to-date. The lash industry also evolves and what was once a good practice can become outdated.

So, I’d personally choose micellar water over baby shampoo any day. Brands like Stacy Lash, Lyon Lash, Beau Lashes, and so on offer many oil and alcohol-free alternatives.

References

1. Rachael Link (2020). 5 Benefits and Uses of Micellar Water. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/micellar-water-benefits (Accessed on 21 August 2021)
2. Bioderma (2020). Bioderma About Us. Retrieved from https://www.bioderma.us/your-skin/skin-cleansing/all-about-micellar-water-cleanse-skin-while-respecting-its-fragility (Accessed on 21 August 2021)