7 of the best micellar waters for a quick and gentle cleanse, including Victoria Beckham’s favourite
Remove makeup, skincare and the day’s grime quickly and efficiently with one the best micellar waters out there
Any products in this article have been selected editorially however if you buy something we mention, we may earn commission
Everyone we know has a bottle of micellar water (pronounced my-seller) in their skincare stash. These handy – and often very affordable – liquids make light work of removing makeup and are ideal for a first cleanse.
And the micellar water facts don’t lie – Garnier sells a bottle of its one every five seconds, making it the UK’s best-seller. French brand Bioderma, the OG micellar water creator, sells a bottle every 1.1 seconds and is the favourite of Victoria Beckham. And even though she has her own luxe skincare range, she uses it daily and has now created a limited edition bottle to celebrate the brand’s 30th birthday. She says of the watery bottle of goodness: “Bioderma’s Sensibio H20 has been a must-have product for me for years. I use it to remove my makeup every single day.”
What does a micellar water do?
Micellar water is made up of micelles – oil particles – that work like magnets, capturing makeup, impurities and pollution that can then be wiped away on a cotton pad without rubbing or tugging at your skin.
However, because it is so watery, micellar water won’t thoroughly cleanse your skin so is best used in conjunction with a balm cleanser or a cream cleanser.
This is also the best micellar water practice because you are meant to wash it off your skin – a fact of which many of the GTG team were unaware. Micellar waters are not designed to be left on the skin because they leave a slightly oily residue behind (thanks to the micelles) and can irritate sensitive skin types.
It’s not necessary to spend a fortune on micellar water, unless you want to, as there are brilliant budget options available. Remember, their primary function is to remove dirt from the skin, they are not filled with skin-nourishing or effecting actives and are washed away. Spend your money on a super serum that can have a serious impact on the quality of your skin instead.
So with all that in mind, here is our pick of the best micellar waters on the beauty shelves right now:
For Victoria Beckham aficionados:
VB loves this iconic micellar water so much that she has created a limited-edition bottle to celebrate the brand’s 30th birthday. The label may have changed but thankfully the makeup-lifting formula inside remains the same. Unlike other micellar waters, this doesn’t need to be washed off the skin as it is designed with sensitive skin in mind. It also contains lipids to strengthen the skin barrier and boost hydration.
Buy NowFor sensitive skin:
Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water for Sensitive Skin, was £7.99 now £4.47
Every member of the GTG team has used this micellar water and loved it. It makes light work of all makeup and leaves skin feeling plump and clean. It does say there is no need to rinse off but Beauty Director SJ does otherwise her eyelids feel slightly greasy. There are a few iterations to choose from, including a vitamin C version that has exfoliating properties, but this one works for all skin types. Tip: shop around as it’s always on offer somewhere, making it an absolute steal of a beauty buy.
Buy NowFor dehydrated skin:
Cerave Micellar Cleansing Water, £13.50
If your skin is left feeling tight and stingy after using other makeup removers, then this micellar water with hydrating niacinamide and skin barrier boosting ceramides could be the one you need. It also has a non-comedogenic formula so it won’t clog pores.
Buy NowFor low-key makeup wearers:
Simple Kind To Skin Micellar Water, £6
A brilliant buy for removing light levels of makeup and skincare as it gets to work gently and lightly but would need to be paired with an additional cleansing step to remove more dramatic looks.
Buy NowFor ease and convenience:
Balance Me Flash Cleanser Micellar Water, £18
Not that using micellar water is tricky, but this one with it’s push-down pump lid applicator makes saturating a cotton pad even easier. The formula contains hyaluronic acid to hydrate, chamomile to calm redness and a gorgeous mandarin scent.
Buy NowFor unbalanced skin:
Caudalie Vinoclean Micellar Cleansing Water, £18
Prebiotics are great for helping skin get back to its best, and this micellar water is filled with them thanks to the inclusion of organic grape water. There is also soothing chamomile. It is excellent at removing makeup but heavy liquid eyeliner or layers of mascara may need a few swipes for full removal.
Buy NowFor ultra-delicate skin:
La Roche-Posay Sensitive Skin Micellar Water Ultra, £15.50
This is so gentle and kind to the skin that it’s suitable for the most reactive and sensitive skin types as well as anyone undergoing aggressive medical treatment that causes the skin to be hyper-delicate. Containing the brand’s soothing and healing thermal spring water alongside micelles to gently lift and remove makeup and grime, it is a makeup artist’s kit bag staple and it’s easy to see why.
Buy Now
