Micellar water’s more than just makeup remover. It’s supposed to cleanse and nourish your skin at once–and be non-drying and non-irritating.
Out of all the solutions out there, Bioderma’s Sensibio H20 remains a favorite, whether in Japan, the States, or its native France. So our editing department purchased a bottle and put it to the test. We looked at its cleansing power, hydration, and ingredients. This is what we learned.
Bioderma Sensibio H20 Make-up Removing Micelle Solution
Visit Dermstore for more details
Price: $14.16
Give me a Quick Rundown on the Sensibio H20
Bioderma is a sensitive skincare brand from NAOS, which has over 40 years of history and is used in over 100 countries.
Their micellar water is, like the rest of their products, formulated for sensitive skin. It’s fragrance-free and utilizes fatty acid esters, which resemble other components in your skin, to not only cleanse but also fortify and nourish. It clears away all sorts of debris, including makeup.
Sensibio H20 is available in the typical 250 ml bottle, the carry on-friendly 100 ml tester, and the bulky 500 ml bucket.
Putting Bioderma’s Sensibio H20 to the Test
We had a group of editors put Bioderma’s Sensibio H20 to the test. Specifically, we were looking for the following four factors.
Test ①: Cleansing Power
Test ②: Application
Test ③: Hydration
Test ④: Ingredients
Test ①: Cleansing Power
We set the Sensibio H20 up against some tough opponents.
A Few Gentle Swipes will Rid Skin of Pretty Much Anything
We tested the cleanser out on the following products.
Products We Tested on
- Waterproof Mascara
- Eyeshadow
- Waterproof Eyeliner
- Lip Tint
- Liquid Foundation
With just a few gentle swipes, all products disappeared but the waterproof mascara. We didn’t need to scratch and we didn’t need to scrub. Plus, lip tint dyes your skin, and most cleansers do not work on it, but Sensibio H20 did. Easily. For micellar water, that’s amazing.
If you wear waterproof mascara and you find yourself left with some residue, consider getting eye makeup remover. Or investing in good tubing mascara.
Test ②: Application
We looked at things like texture and fragrance.
Smelled and Felt like, Well, Water
This flowed out of the bottle, just like water. It was unscented, just like water. There wasn’t really anything that could be unpleasant.
The mouth of the bottle was also small so product didn’t come gushing out.
Test ③: Hydration
We used a moisture analyzer, called the Corneometer, to measure water levels in our skin. We compared the numbers we got before cleansing, right after cleansing, and five minutes after cleansing.
Doesn’t Dry out Skin, Per se, but You Want to Follow up Immediately with Toners and Lotions
Skin felt soft and smooth after cleansing. However, the numbers told us that we actually lost some water–and they continued to drop rapidly. While the Sensibio H20 doesn’t completely dry out skin, we recommend moisturizing right after cleansing to keep skin as healthy as possible.
Skin Hydration Levels
- Before Cleansing: 58.5
- Right after Cleansing: 49.3
- Five Minutes after Cleansing: 38.6
Test ④: Ingredients
We asked a specialist in skincare ingredients to look into the formula for us and determine whether or not it’s suited for sensitive skin.
Simple Ingredients List is Indeed Unlikely to Cause a Reaction
The main ingredients are water and PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides. The latter is a non-ionic surfactant often used as a cleaning agent and emollient. It helps emulsify oil and water, is widely considered safe, and is often used in micellar water. The cleanser is also free of fragrances, dyes, alcohols (including ethyl alcohols), oils, and parabens.
However, because there is no oil in the formula, you may find that certain waterproof products give you trouble.
The Final Verdict: Mild and Effective. Bioderma’s Sensibio H20 Earns Our Seal of Approval
The formula proved itself to be simple enough for sensitive skin, and yet it was powerful enough to wash away lip tint, waterproof eyeliner, and liquid foundation. Cleansing is fast and easy.
Just make sure that you moisturize immediately afterwards, especially if you have dry skin.
How to Use Bioderma’s Sensibio H20
This is an oil-free formula, which means it’s safe for eyelash extensions. You don’t need to double cleanse (follow up with a face wash)–you just wipe off and you’re done. The only thing is you can’t apply with wet hands or onto a wet face.
Instructions
- Soak a cotton square through with solution.
- Gently wipe away makeup. Do not scrub.
- Once the cotton pad comes away from your skin clean, you’re done.
You don’t need to rinse off, but you certainly can. You can also use face wash to clean off any residue. Again, just make sure to moisturize.
Interested in Other Cleansing (Micellar) Waters?
Micellar water may have only gotten popular in the States these past few years, but it’s been around for a while. Japan also has a huge selection, so if you wanted to shop around and learn more, feel free to check out the article below.
Summary
We put Bioderma’s Sensibio H20 to the test. It did what it claimed–remove makeup, cleanse, and nourish skin. It’s definitely worth checking out.
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