CLEANSER - MICELLAR WATER

This relatively new introduction to skincare is now a must-have for our bathroom shelves. Its USP is being a gentle, hydrating and effective make-up remover that whisks away the day’s grime without stripping the skin’s natural oils. And it’s no rinse… so less bother than many other cleansers. Some people use micellar water alone to remove light make-up – either as a single or double cleanse - while others like it as a first or second cleanse; our testers varied in how they used these products, as you can tell from the Comments. These two products both scored highly, with only a couple of whiskers between them.

The word ‘micellar’ comes from ‘micelles’ – little spheres that break open when the micellar water is applied on a cosmetic pad (washable and re-usable ones please) and grab on to make-up, dirt and oil. The micelles then close, trapping the gunk, which attaches to the cotton wool but leaves the skin surface intact. Perfect for all types of skin, and particularly sensitive or touchy complexions. Most products are suitable for face, eyes and lips.

GOLD AWARD Avène Micellar Lotion

From a highly respected French dermocosmetic brand, this alcohol-free formula promises a 2-in-1 action that cleanses (removing even particle pollution) and hydrates face, eyes and lips, locking in water on the skin surface. It’s targeted at sensitive and hypersensitive skin; the calming and soothing action down to the now famous, mineral-rich Avène Thermal Spring Water. Ideally, you should finish by spraying on a fine mist of the pure Thermal Spring Water. The Brand prides itself on ‘particularly strick testing’ to guarantee the safety and harmlessness of all formulation. Animal testing (for all except the Chinese market) was stopped some years  back in line with European regulations, on both existing products and new raw ingredients. As befits a brand based on a nature commodity, Avène promises that sustainable development is at the heart of their concerns. Testers loved this product.

£18 for 400ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘I am so impressed with the quickness and minimal effort with which this water takes off make-up. It's way above other micellar waters I've used. It has a slight oil texture which glides over your eyes and skin with no effort, whereas oils I've used in the past which contain oil or are a 2-phase oil/water, really need a lot of work to get make-up of your eyes, especially mascara. The water feels soft and it really is soothing to use. I can't speak highly enough of this’ • ‘I normally always double cleanse, so used this after a cleansing balm - it left my skin feeling fresh and clean, soft, supple, with a slight film on the skin. Overall, I really liked this product. I would use it on the go, on days when I use make-up and on periods when my skin feels like needing a break. It is super gentle for my skin and I really loved the refreshing feeling.  The ingredient list is short and nothing that will irritate my skin. i love the way it feels on my skin and the fact that is made to minimise the risks of allergic reactions’ • ‘The only micellar lotion that did not make my skin feel uncomfortably tight - gentle fragrance, amazing cleansing and French innovation’ • ‘It does remove all eye make-up, tho’ I don't use waterproof makeup, just smudgeproof. It left my skin how skin should feel after cleansing. No stinging, no tightness, just refreshed’ • ‘Excellent for quick efficient removal of make-up before bed, both gentle and fragrance-free.’

£18 for 400ml - click to buy 

SILVER AWARD Urban Retreat Micellar Lotion

This best-selling micellar water is described as an ‘easy to use facial cleansing solution for the face, eyes, and lips’ – good they make it clear that it’s for eyes too, as that’s sometimes hard to find. With nourishing aloe vera plus sea fennel – rich in minerals and antioxidants – and brightening lilium candidum, this promises not only to cleanse but also condition and soothe skin to help improve radiance and tone. It’s suitable for all skin types except oily. All but one of our testers loved it (she found it ‘a bit like water in a bottle’ and didn't like the ‘faff’ of using pads to apply). They also loved the luxurious glass bottle but pointed out that wasn't great for travel. This fast-growing spa beauty and wellness range was launched by the Miller family as Acti-Labs since 2012, acquiring the Urban Retreat trademark in 2021.

£15 for 120ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘10+/10! The best micellar I’ve tried so far for my normal but occasionally dehydrated skin - and I have tried so very many. It’s highly effective, gentle and caring, cleanses thoroughly and works hard without leaving any irritation or sign of sensitivity. It's cooling, soothing, rejuvenating, hydrating and a real pleasure to use. Incredibly effective for removing make-up - all the kinds that I tried were removed quickly and easily including the most stubborn bulletproof mascara without the slightest irritation to sensitive eyes. In fact, it worked exceptionally well removing eye make-up in one go. It didn't need a long soak on a pad held over the eye either as many micellars do. I have sensitive eyes that do not tear up properly (medical condition) and from time to time even gentle products can be slightly irritating and prone to leaving a film on my eye, but this was completely problem-free, and also worked very quickly so there was no irritation from having to work hard around the delicate eye skin to remove all traces of product. Very impressive!’ • ‘This is really good as a second cleanse for me.  My skin felt very moisturised and nourished afterwards and it did get rid of residues but wasn't harsh at all.  When I took it over my eyes it didn't sting at all. I love the glass bottle (bit heavy for travelling though) and the pump is just right’ • ‘Really refreshing and easy to use. It works well as my skin felt clean after every use. Effective and quick to use after a long day’ • ‘In the morning one cleanse was fine, in the evening it would depend on my make-up use but generally I would need two pads or one pad and another cleanser. I used it to remove waterproof eye make-up and it did the job well’ • ‘I used this in the camp following a dry, dusty day at a music festival. Everyone commented on how clean and refreshed my skin looked. It was such a success that everyone lined up for me to clean their faces of glitter, temporary tattoos and dirt, even the kids. I went through a few cotton pads and quite a bit of product but it worked a treat. All were very impressed.’

£15 for 120ml - click to buy 

BRONZE AWARD SBC Hydra-Collagen Micellar Gel Cleanser

Okay, so this isn’t strictly a micellar water – it’s a gel as the name suggests! - but we’re leaving it in this category because it has the same convenience as a micellar water, as there’s no need to rinse. SBC recommends using this as your morning cleanse and the first cleanse in the evening. Several testers found it did the biz all on its own in the evening, including removing eye make-up, although several followed up with a toner rather than a second cleanser. With some active naturals to keep skin supple, healthy and soft, including marine collagen, glycerin, passion flower, kukui seed oil and calendula. The brand recommends applying on cotton pads but several testers preferred to use their fingers and massage in before removing with a damp flannel.

£10 for 100ml - click to buy 

OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:

‘I wasn’t expecting to like this, as I didn’t quite believe the gloopy consistency would remove make-up without water but it did. It took off face and eye make-up with one application. It left my face moist but I still toned or applied water, as I prefer the feel. It was quite a weird feeling patting my moist naked skin after use. It was really good on my eye make-up, concealer and all day lipstick. A great bargain’ • ‘A really lovely very refreshing product to use, and that's good enough for me! It worked really well, and I actually liked the gel consistency. It seemed to really clean my face, and a little went a long way. I always use a cleanser followed by a toner, which works for me. This cleanser really did clean my skin well though. I did need to use a separate eye make-up remover as it didn't remove all of my make-up but it was great at cleansing the rest of my skin. And it’s very reasonably priced. Win! Win! It left my skin feeling soft and smooth to the touch and did not drag or feel heavy’ • ‘I only needed one application and it glided on my face softly and smoothly. I didn’t need to use another cleanser but I did use toner only because that is my routine. I often wear waterproof eyeliner, mascara, eye shadow and I found it did remove these easily and quickly; I did not need to apply much pressure or re-apply. It did not sting my eyes in any way’ • ‘This product is great if you're looking for a water-free way to cleanse the face. It glides over the skin on cotton pads, taking away the day’s residue and make-up. It worked great on eye make-up to the extent that I didn't need to use an additional eye make-up remover. It did not sting at all and did not leave a film, which I'm very particular about as I wear contact lenses and it affects their usage if my eyes are not completely clean. It didn't make any claims about waterproof make-up, just “stubborn products”, which it advised to soak and wipe off. I needed one application over my whole face and then an extra one over each eye to remove all traces of eye make-up. I found that I wanted to use a toner afterwards to clean my skin 100%. My dry mature skin felt beautifully soft after, with none of the dry, tight feeling that can often accompany thorough cleaning products’ • ‘I used this as suggested - basically, put product on cotton wool pad and wipe over face, hold to eyes for a few seconds to remove eye make-up. A lot of make-up came off on the cotton pad BUT not all and it left a film over my skin and eyes, which I didn't like. So, I tried pumping it into my hand and massaging it in, then removed with damp wash cloth/micro fibre cloth. Great! Removed make-up including eye make-up – and no film. So on that basis I would use and buy it again.’

£10 for 100ml - click to buy