The best micellar waters for every budget

For a gentle yet effective way to remove our makeup at the end of a long day, micellar water is the bedside table essential we couldn't do without. It may not look like much, but it's so much more than just a bottle of h20 taking up space in your shelfie; in fact, Garnier sells a bottle of its micellar water every five seconds.

Micellar water is made up of micelles, which are composed of surfactants that appear like tiny spheres, explain Garnier. They work like magnets, instantly capturing make-up, impurities and pollution that can then be wiped away without rubbing or tugging at your skin.

For all of its makeup removing magic, it's not wise to use micellar water as your only cleanser. Consultant dermatologist Justine Kluk, recommends using a micellar water as the first step in your skincare routine, following with a second cleanse for a deeper clean.

Here are the best micellar waters we've tried

Bioderma’s famed micellar was among the first to arrive in the UK back in 2013, saving beauty editors traipsing back from Paris with suitcases full of it. Splashed onto a cotton pad and gently swiped over the face, it removes makeup effortlessly (even mascara and liquid eyeliner don’t stand a chance) and leaves skin feeling refreshed, cleansed and smooth to the touch. To try it is to love it - there's a reason this is a cult buy. Celebrities include Kourtney Kardashian, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Lucy Hale all love it too.

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We included this in our round up of the best micellar waters for sensitive skin, but thought it deserved inclusion in here too. While not the most powerful of micellar waters, it gently removes make up of an evening (albeit a bit slower than some of the others we tried) for a fresh-feeling face. If you wear makeup that require a more powerful going over, this makes for a lovely refreshing product to swipe over your face first thing.

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For a hit of hydration you can't go wrong with this gel-esque formula. The slightly thicker consistency means you don't splash it too liberally on your reusable cotton pads, so it lasts longer than some others on the list. It acts as a toner too, eliminating one of your skincare steps so you can hop into bed quicker.

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This removes makeup so quickly you'll take longer saying the name than you will sweeping it over your face. As with all of Lumene's offerings, this is infused with organic Nordic birch sap, along with pure Arctic spring water and Nordic berry oil to capture impurities and remove makeup in one go. We're yet to try a Lumene product we don't like, so we're happy to add this into our regime.

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Micellar water is Garnier's biggest seller, so we couldn't do a round up without including this high street hero. This particular version of Garnier's cult micellar water is infused with rose water which is packed with anti-oxidants, boosting hydration levels in the skin to enhance glow as well as gently removing makeup and cleansing the skin - not bad for £6.99!

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This 99 per cent natural chamomile‑infused cleansing water boosts hydration and radiance thanks to a natural peptide complex. It has a non‑drying no‑rinse formula designed to refresh and soothe skin in next to no time, plus it has a handy pump dispenser which gives you just the right amount of product.

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Effective enough to remove all traces of makeup, yet gentle enough to avoid being stripping, this budget-friendly micellar water that is love by professionals makes light work of a day’s build up of makeup, crammed commutes and crowded dancefloors to leave dry skin feeling refreshed, cleansed and surprisingly cared for.

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With a high concentration of specially selected anti-irritant ingredients combined with thermal cleansing water, this hydrating micellar removes sebum and makeup, cleanses the skin and eliminate impurities without drying it out. The 'Ultra' formulation is a more hydrating version of a classic sensitive skin favourite. It's also and oily skin - if that's you, you might be tempted to choose something more stripping that makes your skin feel squeaky, but this often serves only to encourage the skin to produce more oily sebum. We have found it works equally well on dry skin too.

With a gentle, natural scent of orange blossom this clear liquid gently removes makeup and leaves skin feeling fresh and squeaky clean. It's kind to senstive skin and as a result you do need a few cotton pads soaked in the liquid to remove every trace of makeup. Ingredients wise it contains neroli essential oil and natural bisabolol to comfort and soothe the skin so your face doesn't feel tight after a once over with this.

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MORE GLOSS: The best micellar waters for sensitive skin

Wiping away the day with this refreshing rose lotion is akin to dipping your world-weary face in a bed of roses. It smells good enough to drink, without being overpoweringly floral, and smoothes on skin effortlessly with a cotton pad. It does a good job of removing long-lasting makeup and although it stings a bit around the eye area, the rest of our face was left cleansed, comfortable and dewy. It’s the perfect pre-moisturiser prep step.

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This clear liquid, which can be used as a cleanser and makeup remover, is incredibly light and refreshing, specially formulated for sensitive skin making it a perfect match for delicate types. The no-rinse formula leaves skin feeling hydrated, soft and clean and it smells lovely! As with many Avene products, it contains high levels of spring water to soothe the skin.

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REN certainly know what they’re doing when it comes to skin-friendly, highly efficient yet pure products and their products containing rose actives in particular have gained a cult following. This 3-in-1 makeup remover, cleanser and toner is no different - a delicately fragranced rose micellar water that really is worth the money. Its ingredient list recalls botanical gardens rather than chemistry labs and it’s free of just about every nasty you could imagine (parabens, sulfates, alcohol and detergents don’t stand a chance). It’s cooling, soothing and gently yet effectively banishes every scrap of slap.

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Embryolisse's Lotion Micellaire promises a formula delicate enough for even the most sensitive of skin and indeed with just the faintest hint of fragrance (among other ingredients are cornflower, camomile and witch-hazel water), it feels more akin to water than an actual product. Only a couple of cotton pads doused with a few drops were is enough to totally rid the face and lips of makeup and it leaves no redness at all - in fact the skin feels refreshingly cool and soft.

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Despite the less-than-tempting name, this Mega-Mushroom cleanser is a delicious luxury treat. The formula is really refreshing and removes every last scrap of foundation and leaves the skin feeling moisturised. The ingenious micellar water cleansing system is free from alcohol and soap so it’s kind to skin and doesn’t dry it out - ideal for the colder months when combination skin can suffer from flaky patches and breakouts simultaneously (joy).

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