I heard of Micellar Water for the first time in a Lisa Eldridge video where she mentioned about the French brand Bioderma and how she swears by their range for makeup removal. I tried getting hold of Bioderma but it was super expensive at strawberrynet so I gave up. Then in June, my trip to Paris materialized and on top of my wishlist was the Bioderma micellar water. I bought two 500 ml bottles of the Bioderma Sensibio H2O and I also bought two bottles of the Eau Thermale Avène Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Make-up Remover. This is a review of the Avène one.
What is Micellar water?
Originating in France, micellar water gained its name because of the micelles oil molecules in its water-like formula. When applied to the skin, these molecules latch onto the dirt, make-up and other impurities sitting on your skin, removing them in an effective and gentle matter. They feel – and look – like a toner, but excel at cleansing the skin, while also leaving it feeling soft and hydrated. There’s no need to rinse after using micellar water, making it a skin-loving version of the traditional face wipe. They’re great for all skin types, too, but particularly those with oily or sensitive complexions as micellar waters efficiently clean the skin without causing irritation (Source – beautyheaven.com.au)
About Eau Thermale Avène Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Make-up Remover
Eau Thermale Avène Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Make-up Remover has been formulated for all types of sensitive skin and eyes. It gently cleanses and removes all traces of make-up from the face, eyes and lips without altering the skin’s natural protective barrier. No rinse formula.
Rich in Avène Thermal Spring Water and soothing alpha-bisabolol, its fresh formula leaves the skin clean, soft and soothed. Paraben and preservative free.
Apply the Eau Thermale Avène Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Make-up Remover with a cotton pad to the face. No-rinse formula. Finish by spraying a fine mist of Avène Thermal Spring Water onto the skin and gently pat dry.
My Thoughts on Eau Thermale Avène Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Make-up Remover
1. I love the fragrance. Micellar waters are usually fragrance-free but this one has a very mild and soothing scent that I really like. It’s very hard to describe the fragrance but it somehow reminds me of baby lotion. And I love the smell of baby lotion 😀
2. It not only removes makeup but is also a great cleanser. I use it to clean my face even if I’m not wearing any makeup and all the dirt and grime comes right off.
3. It feels incredibly light and refreshing
4. The no-rinse formula leaves my skin hydrated, soft and clean without any residue. Now that it is winter, I have to apply a moisturizer after using it but earlier I did not feel the need to. And my skin never felt dry
5. It is paraben and preservative free
6. The only con is that it is not as effective in removing eye makeup but that has been my experience with Bioderma as well. While micellar water is excellent in removing face makeup, for the eyes, I still rely on my trusted Johnson’s Baby Oil. While I will not say that they fail completely, they don’t do a great job either. Eye shadow comes off but waterproof and smudge proof liner, kohl and mascara does not so keep that in mind if you want to try micellar waters.
I am on to my second bottle of the Avene Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Make-up Remover and my skin loves it. Give it a try if you can get your hands on it. Unfortunately, even though Avene is now available in India they don’t have this product here yet. Strawberrynet has it for a price of Rs 1530 for 200 ml. I think I paid about 10 Euros for a pack of two.
Have you tried micellar water? What is your favorite brand? Do share in the comments below.