The physics of microemulsions and in particular Dominique Langevin's contributions to the understanding of microemulsion structure and bending properties using scattering techniques are reviewed. Among the many methods used by her and her co-workers, we particularly emphasize optical techniques and small angle neutron scattering, but also neutron spin echo spec-troscopy. The review is then extended to more recent studies of properties of microemulsions close to surfaces, using reflectometry and grazing-incidence small angle neutron scattering (GISANS).