Micellar Water: Garnier vs. Simple

Girl Time

As I am getting older (I know I’m still very young), I am trying to be more responsible and attentive towards my skin, especially to prevent things from happening to it in the future. I am not shy of putting on a full face of makeup every day for work, so properly removing my makeup at the end of the night is very important. I am very much a creature of habit when it comes to skincare products because my skin can be very sensitive. When I find something that works and doesn’t irritate my skin, I tend to stick with it.

My old nighttime face routine would just consist of me wiping off my makeup with a makeup wipe. At the time, I thought the wipes were taking off all of my makeup. Oh, was I wrong! This is bad because I was basically still going to bed with makeup residue on my face, clogging my pores and/or causing me to breakout. Then I discovered micellar water. Since I wear a good layer of makeup on my face, I still wipe my makeup off with my wipes first, but now I follow up with micellar water on a cotton pad. It is amazing how much MORE makeup the water takes off. It really makes you feel clean and refreshed. Since I wear makeup almost on a daily basis, micellar water is great because it allows my skin to breath while staying hydrated without having to layer on moisturizer. If you are someone that wears minimal makeup, all you really need is micellar water to remove all of your makeup.

What is micellar water? Micellar water is made up of micelles, which are tiny balls of cleansing oil molecules, suspended in soft water. Micelles are attracted to dirt and oil, so they are able to draw out impurities without drying out the skin. Ideally, it is used as a facial wash, makeup remover and moisturizer all in one. Micellar water is great because it is different from a typical foamy face wash that can strip your skin and leave behind harsh chemicals, which will dry out your skin and make it feel stiff. Also, unlike many toners, micellar water does not contain alcohol and never stings.

I’ve tried two brands of micellar water so far – Garnier Skin Active Micellar Cleansing Water and Simple Micellar Cleansing Water. Although they both work very well, I feel that the Garnier one works slightly better. I did a test on my face by wiping one side with the Garnier one and the other side with the Simple one. I found myself needing to use more of the Simple water to achieve the same results as the Garnier side. It also struggled a bit when removing my waterproof mascara (sidenote: trick is to hold the cotton pad over your mascara to loosen it up before wiping away). The Garnier side felt smoother than the Simple side, although the Simple side didn’t feel sticky at all. Depending on the store, the Garnier micellar water retails for around $7 and the Simple micellar water retails for around $6. You’re honestly getting more bang for your buck with Garnier since you’re getting 13.5 fl oz, whereas with Simple, you’re only getting 6.7 fl oz.

Must Try Beauty Products

Girl Time

After hearing so many good things about these products – from both YouTube beauty gurus and online reviews – I compiled a list of beauty products that I must try. I’ve decided that once I purchase these items, I’ll do first impressions and reviews as well! Keep a lookout for those soon! My budget-friendly self is just waiting for Ulta’s next sale.

1. L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation I’ve been looking for a new liquid foundation that would live up to my Revlon ColorStay foundation, but always find myself going back to it. This Pro-Matte foundation is described as a Lightweight and creamy, foundation that goes on smooth with a demi-matte finish that lasts up to 24 hours (not that I’d ever wear foundation for 24 hours)—hiding imperfections for a smooth, clear complexion. The fact that it’s matte is what initially drew me in, since my face can get as oily as fried chicken.

2. L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Spray & Set Makeup Extender Setting Spray I used to use the Urban Decay De-Slick setting spray, but found it to be a little too costly. When I heard that this is comparable to the UD one, I knew I had to try it, especially with it costing half the price. This setting spray is described as a Lightweight, oil free setting spray that locks in your total makeup look, Face, Eyes, and Lips, preventing color from smudging or settling into fine lines for all-day staying power.

3. L’Oreal RevitaLift Triple Power Eye Treatment I’ve been on the hunt for an eye cream for a while now and this one seems to be one of the best drugstore ones. I’ve always heard that you should start treating your skin while you’re young before anything even happens. I wear eye makeup almost every day, so with the process of taking off my makeup, I feel that it would be best to start using an eye cream to prevent any signs of skin tugging! This claims to Repair Wrinkles. Reduce Bags. Lift Eye Area.

4. L’Oreal Youth Code Texture Perfector Serum Concentrate As with the eye cream, I want to prevent before anything happens to keep my skin looking healthy. I’ve also been looking for a serum that would minimize my pores and even out my skin tone. My pores are pretty huge, which is a big contributor to my super oily skin. This serum is described as a Luxurious serum that visibly improves skin quality working on uneven skin with visible pores and fine lines. It visibly corrects skin by tightening pores and revealing petal-soft skin texture.

5. NYX Highlight & Contour Pro Palette I first heard of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit and was lusting over it, but didn’t want to spend $40 on it. Then this baby popped up for a fraction of the price and I fell in love. One of my favorite parts of doing my makeup is contouring and I feel that this palette would be a great addition to my collection. I’m not one of those crazy face sculptors by any means, but I feel that this would help take it to another level. Plus, it’s refillable!

6. L’Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte Powder Can you tell that I’m really eager to try out this Infallible face line? I always set my liquid foundation with a light powder to really lock in my foundation, control oil, and give my face a smooth finish. This powder claims to Absorb excess oil and reduce shine on the skin’s surface for up to 16 hours. It creates the perfect matte finish. The pro look of longwear.

The Guide to Makeup Expiration Dates

Girl Time

You may not think about the expiration of your makeup as much as you do about your food, but keeping track of your makeup expiration dates are just as important. As much as you don’t want to part with your favorite lipstick or eyeliner, there comes a time where you have to toss them out to prevent infections and breakouts.

Mascara – 3 to 4 months

This is probably the makeup product you should pay the most attention to. As your brush is taken in and out of the tube, it brings in any bacteria collected along the way. Any lingering bacteria can cause serious itchiness, redness, and infections. When the mascara starts smelling something like gasoline, it’s time to toss it!

Liquid Eyeliner – 6 months

As with mascara, eyeliner is applied near a sensitive area and is extra prone to bacteria because of it’s liquid form. Pencil eyeliner can last a little longer (up to 1 year) than liquid especially if it is sharpened on the regular.

Liquid Foundation – 6 to 12 months

Since liquid foundation is water based, it collects bacteria easily. When it starts smelling off or changes color, that’s when the formula has turned bad. Keep foundations away from moist environments (like the bathroom) and away from heat (vents or windows), which can speed up spoiling.

Concealer – 1 year

As with liquid foundation, when the color starts to shift and the formula starts to separate, it’s time to get rid of it. Powder/stick concealers can last a little longer (up to 2 years).

Powder, Eye shadow, & Blush – 2 years

You can start telling when these products are going bad when they become more dry and flakey. To prolong their life, clean your makeup brushes on the regular (at least twice a month) to prevent bacteria growth and prevent the oil from your face from transferring to these items. Although these products are dry and don’t contain water, the moisture from your foundation or moisturizer can cling to your brushes and transfer to your makeup as well.

Lipstick – 2 years

Although lipstick doesn’t contain any water, it’s best to get rid of your lipstick after 2 years because they’re repeatedly exposed to your mouth area. When your lipstick changes texture by drying out and becomes hard to spread, you know it’s time to say goodbye. If you’re a lip gloss user, they don’t last as long as lipstick and you should toss them out after 1 year. You can tell when it starts to separate or become extra sticky and goopy.

Added bonus: Nail Polish – 1 to 2 years

You know it’s time to part with it if the polish becomes extra thick or has separated in to layers and doesn’t blend easily after a quick shake. To increase the longevity of the polish, purchase a nail polish thinner from your local drugstore in the beauty aisle!