As its name suggests, micellar cleansers contain “micelles”. These “micelles” are microscopic clusters of cleansing molecules, suspended in de-ionised water. They are hydrophobic and oil-loving, grabbing and absorbing dirt and makeup, without breaking or upsetting the skin’s natural lipid barrier the way a foaming or rinsing cleanser does. Our micellar cleansers are alcohol, soap, ethoxylate and paraben-free. They can be used as gentle makeup removers, or as a non-rinse cleanser for both sensitive and oily, acne-prone skins. And…because they are low pH, they don’t disrupt the skin’s acid mantle and pH balance either.

But most importantly, since they are no-rinse and ‘leave-on’, they function as more than just cleansers. They are active cleansers, meaning they not only cleanse but also become the first layer of your skin treatment. The active ingredients in the cleanser are not rinsed off, as they would be with a conventional foaming cleanser.

OptoDerm’s Vitamin C Micellar Cleanser contains these active ingredients:

• Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
• Urea
• Inositol

Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate ultimately converts into ascorbic acid once it’s in the skin. As such its pH is higher and is less irritating than pure L-ascorbic acid but retains all its benefits. It is is considered to be one of the more stable forms of the vitamin and is light-, oxygen-, and water-stable, making it ideal to use in this micellar product. Its main benefits are:

• Fights free radicals – it works to combat the effects of UV damage by scavenging the free radicals that cause DNA changes and lead to signs of photoaging. As a quick reminder, exposure to sun and pollution creates free radicals in the skin, which ultimately can cause things such as spots, wrinkles, and sagging—vitamin C combats this.

• Boosts collagen production: Along with those antioxidant properties, sodium ascorbyl phosphate is an ideal anti-aging ingredient, as with other vitamin C formulations, it has the ability to stimulate the production of collagen, the protein responsible for strong, youthful skin.

• Evens out skin tone: Sodium ascorbyl phosphate is a great ingredient for those looking to combat hyperpigmentation or dark spots. By inhibiting tyrosinase, the enzyme needed to produce melanin (pigment), it can help both fade existing and ward off future discoloration.

• Has anti-acne benefits: According to a 2011 study, sodium ascorbyl phosphate may have an antibacterial effect, and it has been proven to be an effective acne treatment. Coupled with the fact that it’s less irritating than other forms of the vitamin, it’s a good pick for those prone to breakouts.

Inositol is considered to be a B-group vitamin. It is used to provide moisture, control sebum and to supply anti-aging antioxidants. Sebum, which is secreted by the sebaceous glands together with other epidermal lipids, helps maintain hydration of the skin by providing a protective lipid layer on the skin surface that reduces fluid loss through the epidermis. Moreover, skin lipids and amino acids contribute to surface acidity, and a low pH protects the skin from pathogens. However, too much sebum results in acne. Too little results in dry skin. Inositol helps to regulate sebum production to an optimal level – it down-regulates sebum in an oily skin and up-regulates it in a dry skin.

It is believed that inositol increases the activity of cells in aging facial tissue, increases hydration and softens a part of the accumulated adipose tissue (which accumulates and hardens through aging) into a gel like condition, to increase the skin’s elasticity. Moreover, inositol increases the flow of capillary vessels to help deliver nutrients to cells and enhances cellular turnover in the reticular layer, to improve the skin’s elasticity.