Bioderma's cult-classic micellar water is just $13 at Amazon. (Bioderma)(Bioderma)
Bioderma put micellar water on the map. Many brands followed suit with an answer to the buzzy cleansing water, but none have lived up to the hype as much as the original: Bioderma's Sensibio H2O. Once a beauty industry secret for professionals in the know (and the celebs they used it on), the secret's out now: 41,000-plus five-star reviewers love it too.
Drew Barrymore called it "by far the best makeup remover I've ever used," but it does so much more than that. It'll streamline your skin-care routine and allow you to wash your face without regular water, even if you don't wear makeup. Some reviewers even say it'll help prevent wrinkles — less scrubbing! The best part: This celeb-beloved cleanser is just $13.
First thing's first: What's micellar water? Micelles are defined as molecular aggregates formed by substances dispersed in a liquid phase. In short, it's science. If you're like me and you favored more creative subjects in school, just think of this stuff as soft bubbly water that'll cleanse your skin quickly without stripping it.
If you're a makeup enthusiast, Bioderma's micellar water will be your new best friend. It instantly wipes away makeup (and other grime) from your face. It also works well as an overall cleanser for any skin type, including the most sensitive skin. "I love that this gets my face just as clean as cleanser and water before I go to bed," a five-star reviewer shared. "No water everywhere to clean up, and it's quicker and doesn't wake me up like water washing can do. Love this product, will not use anything else!"
Drew Barrymore says she uses it in different ways, sometimes as the first step in her double-cleansing routine. "I also call it a pre-wash," she said. "Sometimes just to get the pollutants off your face before you even cleanse."
Some fans also use it in their skincare routine as a toner, which makes sense given its balancing and skin-protecting properties. Formulated with a pH of around 5.5 and purified pharmaceutical-grade water, Sensibio H2O preserves the skin's natural protective film. This helps protect against pollutants and external irritants, leaving your skin looking fresh and feeling soft.
Sensibio H2O technically doesn't have anti-aging ingredients, but this gentle cleansing water is still great for aging skin. Reviewers say it will even help prevent wrinkles. "This Micellar water removes and breaks down your makeup so easily that it is like you never wore any to begin with," one said. "Less scrubbing means less wrinkles, and any gal can get on board with that!"
Reviewers shared that they've seen an improvement in redness, too. "My face has red splotches in the morning that visibly reduce as soon as I use this," a five-star fan shared.
One user did note that "it’s not the best at getting my mascara off, but I’m okay with that." They added, "I have yet to find a product that gets my mascara and face makeup off that my skin can tolerate. This product does not dry out my skin and does a great job of getting face makeup off."
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The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.