Madara Micellar Water is a cleanser (though perhaps not the most sturdy one, compared to facial cleansers that you wash off with water?) and it seems to also have some toning properties. That is mainly what I am using it for: toning & hydrating.
Rather funny, since I’m usually not big on spending money on the “second step” in face care a.k.a. the toner. A cleanser, of course, a cream/oil/serum… great! But a tonic? I just can’t get myself to spend the money for a little bottle of something that looks just like hugely overpriced water.
Madara’s Micellar Water got to be the exception. After trying a sample, I purchased the full size. Considering it doesn’t just look like water, but is actually named water, the mere fact that Madara’s sample convinced me to get a full size is quite impressive! (I paired it up with Madara’s Cleansing Milk.)
Packaging
Madara’s Micellar Water bottle is made out of clear plastic with printed text. The lid can be screwed off, but the intended way to use it is by just clicking open the top part of the cap. Works perfectly and gives very decent control over the amount used.
I haven’t traveled with the bottle, so can not attest to how spill-proof it is. A little piece of tape over the top should do the trick though, to prevent something in your luggage to unintentionally click it open.
Texture
Madara’s Micellar Water looks just like water, as mentioned earlier, but it feels like a fresh encounter with spring rain. Both the hydrating effect on my skin and the delicious fragrance are a sure reminder this is definitely not just water at all.
Scent
The “fresh encounter with spring rain” probably tipped you off: Madara’s Micellar Water smells very lovely.
Ingredients
Ingredients, INCI: Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera Leaf Juice)*, Rosa Damascena (Rosa) Flower Water*, Hamamelis Virgin Iana (Witch-Hazel) Leaf Water*, Glycerin**, Paeonia Lacti Flora (Peonia) Root Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Carpric Glucoside, Sodium PCA, Xylitylglucoside, Propanediol, Potassium Sorbate, Anhydroxlitol, Lactic Acid, Xylitol, Aroma, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phragmites Communis Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Rhamnose, Glucose, Glucuronic Acid.
*Ingredients from Organic Farming
The ingredient propanediol made me wonder. If you’d like to read more about what it is, check out this document from Herban Cowboy.
Benzyl alcohol can cause some issues. It can be found as a natural compound found in certain plants and essential oils. Synthetic benzyl alcohol is often used as fragrance or preservative (or both). It has been linked to mild to severe allergic reactions, as well as the deaths of newborns.
I’m not sure Madara’s Benzyl Alcohol is natural, since it is described on their website as following: “Pure nature-identical benzyl alcohol is used to preserve natural cosmetics.” Nature-identical would appear to mean ‘created after its natural counterpart’ and therefor synthetic, right?
What I like about Madara Micellar Water
- The delicious fragrance.
- The freshness and hydrating effect on my skin.
- The bottle design is both very user friendly and elegant.
- The main botanical ingredients are from organic farming.
What I like less about Madara Micellar Water
Madara is definitely one of the nicer high end organic skin care brands, though it seems in addition to using organic plant extracts they also use a few less natural ingredients. This still makes Madara a great choice for natural skin care, though perhaps not the best. I am a bit torn too, because Madara is such a pleasure to use, smells delicious, my skin seems to love it and the bottles look very fancy too!
If you know your skin to be sensitive to certain preservatives, it is always a good idea to inspect the ingredients of each individual product. Or start with a sample
Madara products are perhaps not as easy to get in the US (it is a beautiful Lituanian brand) but there are a few online places that can help out with this.
Madara Micellar Water: Final Thoughts
In all fairness, Madara’s Micellar Water is not a toner (like the ones we’re supposed to use in between cleaning and moisturizing). It is marketed as a product to cleanse the skin and do a few other nice things, probably through the presence of Aloe Vera (soothing, healing, refreshing) and Hyaluronic Acid (hydrating, anti-aging).
While I wouldn’t use it on its own as the sole cleanser after a long day involving makeup, sunscreen, bug spray or whatever else has to come off, it is great to use as an additional sweep, after a more robust facial cleanser. If used as a cleanser by itself, you would probably need quite a lot and work through the bottle quickly. Using it as an addition stretches the contents of the bottle for up to a few months, while still allowing my skin to get the most out of those refreshing and hydrating ingredients.
Pricetag: around US $15.
LoveLula ships Madara skin care (and many other natural/organic brands) worldwide, for free.
What do you think of Madara Micellar Water?
I’d love to hear your reviews and organic skincare tips!