Cleansing waters have become a popular skincare product in recent years. They provide a quick and easy way to cleanse your face without the need for water. But what exactly are they made of? Here is a look at the key ingredients found in most cleansing waters.
Water
Water forms the base of most cleansing waters. Distilled water, deionized water, or filtered water is commonly used. Water acts as a solvent, helping to dilute and spread around the other ingredients in the formula.
Surfactants
Surfactants are cleansing agents that help lift dirt, oil, and impurities from the skin. Common surfactants used in cleansing waters include:
- Polysorbate 20
- PEG-6 caprylic/capric glycerides
- Disodium cocoamphodiacetate
- Cetearyl alcohol
- Glyceryl laurate
- Polysorbate 80
These surfactants work by lowering the surface tension of the water, allowing it to spread easily across the skin and penetrate pores to dissolve oils and grime.
Humectants
Humectants are ingredients that help bind moisture to the skin. They prevent cleansing waters from drying out the skin. Common humectants added to cleansing waters include:
- Glycerin
- Butylene glycol
- Sodium PCA
- Hyaluronic acid
- Sorbitol
- Panthenol
The humectants attract and retain water, leaving skin hydrated after cleansing.
Skin Conditioners
Cleansing waters will also contain various skin conditioning agents to help nourish and protect the skin. Some examples include:
- Allantoin – Soothes and calms skin
- Panthenol – Improves hydration
- Aloe vera extract – Anti-inflammatory
- Chamomile extract – Anti-irritant
- Vitamin E – Antioxidant that fights free radicals
- Glycerin – Boosts hydration
These skin nourishing ingredients help to minimize dryness, irritation, inflammation, and other problems that can result from cleansing.
Chelating Agents
Chelating agents, such as disodium EDTA, help cleansing waters bind to and rinse away metals and minerals found in hard water and pollutants. This allows the formula to cleanse deeply.
Preservatives
To prevent bacterial growth and maintain effectiveness, cleansing waters contain preservative ingredients such as:
- Phenoxyethanol
- Ethylhexylglycerin
- Caprylyl glycol
- Chlorphenesin
The ideal preservative system extends the product’s shelf life without irritating skin.
pH Adjusters
The ideal pH for cleansing skin without disrupting the protective acid mantle is approximately 5.5. Cleansing water formulas use pH adjusting ingredients like lactic acid, citric acid, and sodium hydroxide to achieve this optimal acidic pH level.
Thickeners
Thickeners give cleansing waters a water-like viscosity that allows them to glide smoothly across the skin rather than drip off. Common thickeners include:
- Xanthan gum
- Cellulose gum
- Carrageenan
- Hydroxyethylcellulose
Fragrance
Many cleansing waters include added fragrance, often using essential oils or natural extracts. Common fragrances include lavender, rose, chamomile, citrus oils, green tea, aloe, and herbs. Fragrance appeals to the senses but can cause irritation in some people.
How Are Cleansing Waters Made?
There are a few key steps to formulating and manufacturing cleansing waters:
- The water base is prepared, usually by distilling, deionizing, filtering, or using mineral water.
- Humectants, skin conditioners, and other water-soluble ingredients are dissolved into the water base.
- Oil-based ingredients like surfactants and fragrances are emulsified into the water solution.
- Thickeners are added to give the product viscosity.
- Preservatives are added to maintain stability and freshness.
- The pH is adjusted using acids or alkalis as needed.
- The batch is mixed thoroughly to ensure uniformity.
- The product is packaged into bottles, typically with a spray-dispensing pump.
Making cleansing water is largely about getting the right blend of ingredients into a stabilized emulsion. Extensive testing is done to finalize formulas that are effective yet gentle on skin.
Types of Cleansing Waters
There are a few main types of cleansing waters catering to different skin types and needs:
Micellar Cleansing Waters
Micellar waters contain tiny micelles comprised of surfactants that attract and capture dirt, oil, and makeup. Some of the most common surfactants in micellar waters include:
- Polysorbate 20
- PEG-6 caprylic/capric glycerides
- Sorbitan laurate
Micellar technology allows these cleansing waters to cleanse deeply without as many detergents that can strip the skin.
Toner Cleansing Waters
Toner cleansing waters contain astringents like witch hazel or lavender water to help tighten pores and control excess sebum and shine. They offer lighter cleansing for oily skin types.
Makeup Remover Cleansing Waters
Makeup remover cleansing waters contain surfactants that can break down and dissolve long-wearing makeup. They may also incorporate oils like grapeseed oil to help thoroughly cleanse and melt makeup away.
Soothing Cleansing Waters
For sensitive skin, soothing cleansing waters use gentle ingredients like chamomile, aloe vera, and oats to cleanse while calming redness and irritation. The formulas avoid harsh detergents.
Benefits of Cleansing Water
Why use cleansing water instead of traditional cleansers? There are several benefits that make cleansing waters an appealing choice:
- Gentle and non-drying: The formulas avoid harsh surfactants that can strip the skin. The concentration of cleansing ingredients is lower.
- Hydrating: Humectants like glycerin prevent cleansing water from drying out the skin.
- pH-balanced: Cleansing waters pay attention to pH, maintaining the ideal slightly acidic balance for skin health.
- Travel-friendly: The liquid product and spray application make cleansing waters incredibly convenient for travel or gym bags.
- Effective makeup removal: Select cleansing waters excel at breaking down long-wear makeup without tugging at delicate eye and lip areas.
- Quick and easy: Cleansing waters provide fast, one-step cleansing without needing to rinse off.
- Suitable for all skin types: Versatile formulas exist for dry, oily, sensitive, and combination skin.
With the right blend of ingredients, cleansing waters can cleanse skin effectively while maintaining a healthy, balanced state.
How to Use Cleansing Water
Using cleansing water is quick and easy:
- Start with dry skin. Dispense cleansing water onto a cotton round or directly onto your face.
- Gently wipe across the face, including the eyes, lips, and neck to dissolve dirt, oil, and makeup.
- Flip over and use the clean side of the cotton round to swipe away residue.
- No need to rinse. Your skin is cleansed and ready for additional skincare products.
For waterproof mascara, let the cleansing water soak into lashes for 10-30 seconds before gently wiping away. Double cleanse by swiping over skin twice for a deeper clean.
Use morning and night as part of your regular skincare routine. Cleansing water can replace makeup wipes, makeup remover, toner, and traditional cleansers.
DIY Cleansing Water Recipes
Want to make your own natural cleansing water at home? Here are a few easy DIY cleansing water recipes to try:
Simple Cleansing Water
- 1 cup distilled water
- 1 teaspoon liquid Castile soap
- 5 drops tea tree essential oil
- 5 drops lavender essential oil
Mix ingredients together in a spray bottle and shake before each use. Spritz onto skin and wipe away with a cotton round.
Micellar Cleansing Water
- 1 cup distilled water
- 1 tablespoon glycerin
- 1 teaspoon polysorbate 20
- 1 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
- 5 drops rose essential oil (optional)
Combine in a bottle and shake to blend. Apply to skin with a cotton pad to gently cleanse and hydrate.
Coconut Cleansing Water
- 1 cup coconut water
- 2 tablespoons coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
- 5 drops jasmine essential oil
Shake together in a spray bottle and spritz over skin. Use a round cotton pad to wipe away.
Conclusion
Cleansing waters provide an effective yet gentle way to cleanse the skin as part of a healthy skincare routine. They are made up of a range of ingredients that dissolve impurities without stripping the skin. Key ingredients include water, surfactants, humectants, skin conditioners, and preservatives. With the convenience of an easy spray application and no-rinse formula, cleansing waters are great for all skin types and on-the-go lifestyles.