Today we’re continuing our sweetgrass series with a simple Sweetgrass Micellar Water that comes together in a flash and really lets our stunning sweetgrass hydrosol shine. This gentle facial cleanser requires no heat to make—simply weigh everything into the bottle you plan to store it in, and you’re done! Easy peasy.
Want to watch this recipe instead of reading it?
Micellar water is mostly water, making it one of the things that you should definitely be making instead of buying if you use it regularly! This one rings in at 97.6% water/watery things—I’m including the hydrosol in that calculation. I’ve used the sweetgrass hydrosol at 50% to ensure you really get the chance to enjoy its rich, sweet, warm scent. In addition to smelling fantastic, sweetgrass hydrosol is also astringent—a great characteristic for a leave-on facial product. If you want to dial back the scent, or if you’re using a hydrosol you find to be a lot more fragrant, feel free to reduce the percentage of hydrosol, replacing the removed amount with additional distilled water.
With 97.6% of the formula out of the way, we’ve got just 2.4% left to cover! 0.4% of that is our cleansing agent—PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides. When I was deep in the trenches of micellar water experimentation early in 2018 I tried every surfactant and solubilizer I own, and PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides (also sometimes sold as PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides) was the only one that worked. I wanted to create a micellar water formulation that cleansed the skin and had a comfortable leave-on skin feel; everything else I tried left my skin feeling tight and/or sticky, even when I dialled back the usage so far that the cleansing power of the end product was unsatisfactory. I experimented with many different usage rates for the PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides as well and found I could notice a difference between 0.5% and 0.4%, so I recommend using an accurate scale for this formula! If you don’t have or can’t buy PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides you are certainly welcome to experiment with alternatives, but I can’t offer any guidance as to what you might like as PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides is the only version I liked.
The remaining 2% is 0.5% preservative, and 1.5% humectant blend—0.5% sodium lactate, and 1% propanediol 1,3. Keeping the humectant usage rates low (and selecting non-sticky humectants) helps ensure the end product has a lovely not-even-there skin feel. It can be tempting to really dress up micellar water with all kinds of beautiful water-soluble actives and whatnot, but in my experience, it doesn’t take much to create something that feels tacky and unpleasant on the skin, so I’ve learned to keep things pretty simple.
And that’s it! Measure, mix, voila—micellar water!
Want to watch this recipe instead of reading it?
Sweetgrass Micellar Water
57.12g | 47.6% distilled water
60g | 50% sweetgrass hydrosol
0.48g | 0.4% PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides (USA / Canada)
1.2g | 1% Propanediol 1,3 (USA / Canada)
0.6g | 0.5% sodium lactate (USA / Canada)
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 I have not given a specific substitution suggestion in this list please look up the ingredient in the encyclopedia before asking.
- 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 micellar water with an unpleasant leave-on feel, be it too sticky or too tight. Avoid sticky ingredients wherever possible.
- You can use a different hydrosol or more distilled water; this will obviously impact the scent of the final product.
- 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.
- You can use a different humectant instead of propanediol; sodium lactate would be my top choice, though vegetable glycerin could also work (you may find it to be a bit sticky). Propylene glycol will also work.
- If you’re like to use a different preservative, please review this page.
Gifting Disclosure
The sweetgrass hydrosol was gifted by Plant’s Power.
Hi Marie, have you got any problems regarding preservation when using hydrosols at such high percentage, at 50%? I’d like to use more hydrosols to get a nice scent which I can’t get when using 20-30% of hydrosols but I’m just afraid it’d challenge the preservation as I’ve got a few products turning moldy already. Thank you
I haven’t experienced any issues with simpler formulations like this one with LGP as the preservative—I haven’t experimented too much with more complex products and high amounts of hydrosols yet 🙂
Hi Marie,
Do you know where I can get PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides in the UK (or other EU country). I’ve really wanted to make a micellar water, but I just can’t found this one. I’ve encountered Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides and you’ve written in the Humblebee & Me Encyclopedia that there is difference between the two.
I’m afraid I don’t at this time, sorry!
Hi Marie … can I replace PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides with olive m300 ?
Technically yes, but I did try it and I hated the way it felt on my skin.
can you replace the propanediol; sodium lactate combination with hyaluronic acid @1%
You’re welcome to try—happy experimenting!
Let me just say that your website and sunny disposition are an inspiration, Marie!
I have a question about modifying this recipe. Do you think one could add a small amount of oil, say jojoba oil, to this micellar water to make it a “bi-phased” product? Some micellar water was gifted to me recently and it has a thin layer of oil on top that mixes in quite well with a little shake.
Would the addition of an oil add any skin conditioning, particularly for mature skin, or is that just a gimmick?
Hey Katrina! Yes, definitely—check out this formulation I shared last year 🙂 In my experience it doesn’t offer much conditioning, though—it mostly just boosts cleansing power. Happy making!
Hey Marie!
Big fan here. Just wanted to let know you that this recipe is absolutely amazing. Just made it and tried it. LOVE. Thanks for your work.
-Bekah
I’m so thrilled you’re loving it! Thanks for DIYing with me, and happy making 🙂
I’m in the U.S. over here and DYING to make my own Micelar water… but I can’t find the right recipe to fit the ingredients I have or can get and still have a satisfying product. Have you had any new breakthroughs with a Micelar water recipe that has ingredients that are easier to get? I cannot find a single online supplier (including Amazon) that has Peg-6 caprylic/capric triglyceride!!!! I have officially looked EVERYWHERE and cannot for the life of me find a place with this ingredient!! I’m so disappointed
Hi Heidi! If you read the formulation you’ll notice “(USA / Canada)” links right next to several ingredients, including PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides. The “USA” part will take you straight to a place where you can purchase PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides in the USA 😉 Happy making!
Question is this considered to be a wash off product. I would like to make something close to the Origins no rinse micellar water. Also any information on a trusted site that I can buy Manuka floral water that ships to the US?
As per the instructions, you don’t need to wash your face after using this.
Have you checked out the US suppliers listed on this page? I’ve never owned manuka hydrosol so I don’t have any personal suggestions.
Happy making!