Today were taking something really simple (DIY micellar water) and amping up its cleansing power so it easily removes waterproof makeup. It’s a super simple modification to a more standard micellar water recipe and I think you’ll be pretty stoked about the results!

How to Make Micellar Water for Waterproof Makeup

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All we’re doing is swapping out some of the water for some oil. Yup, that’s it. I was looking at a store bought micellar water that was designed to remove waterproof makeup and the chief difference was the inclusion of some cyclopentasiloxane, which was floating on the top of the rest of the micellar water.

How to Make Micellar Water for Waterproof Makeup

How to Make Micellar Water for Waterproof Makeup

Cyclopentasiloxane is a very lightweight, volatile (fast evaporating) silicone. It is oil soluble, and works well to dissolve the film-formers that make waterproof makeup waterproof. I’ve found that a lightweight liquid oil like olive squalane also works well if you don’t have cyclopentasiloxane or cyclomethicone. You can feel free to use either.

How to Make Micellar Water for Waterproof Makeup

How to Make Micellar Water for Waterproof Makeup

And that’s it. Seriously. Measure, cap, shake, done. Enjoy!

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Micellar Water for Waterproof Makeup

81.72g | 68.1% distilled water
18g | 15% aloe vera juice
0.48g | 0.4% PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides (USA / Canada)
0.6g | 0.5% vegetable glycerine (USA / Canada)
0.6g | 0.5% sodium lactate (USA / Canada)
18g | 15% olive squalane (USA / Canada) or cyclomethicone
0.6g | 0.5% liquid germall plus (USA / Canada)

Weigh everything into a 120ml/4oz squeeze bottle. Cap and shake to combine. That’s it!

To use, soak a cotton pad in micellar water, and wipe it over your face. Repeat with fresh cotton until it comes away clean (I usually need two).

Shelf Life & Storage

Because this micellar water contains water, you must include a broad-spectrum preservative to ward off microbial growth. This is non-optional. Even with a preservative this project is likely to eventually spoil as our kitchens are not sterile laboratories, so in the event you notice any change in colour, scent, or texture, chuck it out and make a fresh batch.

Substitutions

As always, be aware that making substitutions will change the final product. While these swaps won’t break the recipe, you will get a different final product than I did.

  • As I’ve provided this recipe in percentages as well as grams you can easily calculate it to any size using a simple spreadsheet as I’ve explained in this post. As written in grams this recipe will make 120g.
  • To learn more about the ingredients used in this recipe, including why they’re included and what you can substitute them with, please visit the Humblebee & Me Encyclopedia. It doesn’t have everything in it yet, but there’s lots of good information there!
  • If you’re like to use a different preservative, please review this page.
  • Because micellar water is a leave-on cleanser I find the leave-on skin feel is extremely important; it’s also very easy to make a micellar water with an unpleasant leave-on feel, be it too sticky or too tight. Avoid sticky ingredients wherever possible.
  • You can try a hydrosol(s) in place of the aloe vera juice.
  • You can use propanediol instead of vegetable glycerine. I don’t recommend using something stickier than sodium lactate in place of the sodium lactate; sodium PCA could be a good choice.
  • You can use a different lightweight oil instead of squalane. C12-15 alkyl benzoate would also be a good alternative.
  • If you choose to alter the surfactant you’re on your own. I experimented with every surfactant I own and PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides is the only one that produced good results.

How to Make Micellar Water for Waterproof Makeup

How to Make Micellar Water for Waterproof Makeup