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!
Want to watch this project instead of read it?
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.
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.
And that’s it. Seriously. Measure, cap, shake, done. Enjoy!
Want to watch this project instead of read it?
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.
I just got some Cyclopentasiloxane! Can’t wait ti try this out 🙂
Woohoo! I think you’ll love how incredibly light and silky it is 😀
It’s glorious. I spent the after noon trying to create liquid lipsticks (keyword…try) and it came in very handy to get the pigments and sticky stuff off my lips. Thank you!
Ahahaha, I feel your pain! I do find the TKB formula to be pretty dang good—is that the one you were using?
For some reason can’t reply to the latest reply.
It is indeed! I added more oil but it really didn’t work out. the one’s from DiBella are much nicer, IMHO.
Hmmm, I will have to try her formula as well! I haven’t been making too much makeup these last few months as I try to test all the stuff I’ve already made, but the siren call is always there LOL.
You are amazing! Thank you!
Thanks, Kathie! 😀
The Cyclomethicone is missing from the ingredient list on both this post and the youtube video!
Ah, whoops—fixed! I listed it as a substitution here for the squalane, but forgot to update the ingredient list for the different version in the video! Thanks for the heads up 🙂
I cannot seem to find the triglyceride anywhere in Australia. Boohoo! Would it come under any other name perhaps? Really wanting to make this!
I know LotionCrafter sells it as “SurfPro CC”, and sometimes the INCI is “PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric glycerides” instead of “triglycerides” (?!)—perhaps try those names? Best of luck!
This is an awesome formula. I love how it feels and better yet how it cleans. Thank you!
I’m so thrilled you’re enjoying it! Thanks for DIYing with me 😀
I’m curious if this needs an emulsifier? Or could one be added? If so what would you recommend, or perhaps you don’t recommend and if not any why? Thanks!
It doesn’t need one—it works perfectly well with the shake-before-use thing, and striking off to make it a fully emulsified product would be a lot of added effort. There’s also the possibility that the added emulsifier will ruin the skin feel of the product. Hope that helps!
i couldnt find PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides anywhere here in my country. just wondering…have you worked with peg 40 hydrogenated castor oil before? i’m thinking to use that instead of PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides.
i have a question though, since this product should be shaken before use, does it cause the product to foam? before this i was using decyl glucoside to subsctitute PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides but it caused the product to foam on top and the foam did not go away. that did not affect the efficacy just that it doesnt look nice in the bottle with a layer of foam on top, a layer of oil in the middle and water at the bottom. so i was wondering if PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides foams when shaken too?
Howdy Yaya!
Make sure you take a look at these links: PEG 6 and PEG 40. But before you head off to the encyclopaedia, please make sure you look at the substitutions listed at the bottom of the formula.
And yes, the use of decyl glucoside will cause foam, using PEG- 6, you will get some bubbles when shaken, but not a huge amount.
Happy making!
Barb
Hello sweetie. Thank you for your recipe. I have some questions.
Can i use olive oil instead of squalene? Because squalene and cyclomethicone i can’t find them in my country.
Also, what’s the purpose of sodium lactate? Can i bypass it or replace it with extra glycerin or is necessary?
I would choose a lighter oil than olive—safflower, sunflower, almond, etc. Olive oil will work in a pinch, but it wouldn’t be my top choice. Sodium lactate is a non-sticky humecant, while glycerin is tackier. Refer to the substitutions list 🙂 Happy making!
I love this formula! I just got the Peg6 yesterday and I was so excited to try it. It works like a charm. I will never buy micellar water from the store again. So easy! Thanks Marie!
I am so thrilled you are loving it! ❤️
Hi, I know you wrote other surfactants do not work as well but just checking if Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside is the same as Caprylic/Capric glyceride. Thanks in advance for the info. Thank you so much for your amazing formulas! julia
Hi Judy!
Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Caprylic/Capric triglycerides, and PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides are three different ingredients. All three have entries in the free Humblebee & Me DIY Encyclopedia (Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides is under Medium Chain Triglycerides)—I recommend reading all three entries to learn how different the three are from one another 🙂
Happy making!
Thank you for sharing this formulation ❤️ I wonder if I can substitute cyclopentasiloxane or cyclomethicone with esters like isopropyl myristate or c12-15 alkyl benzoate?