Think about the best micellar water you’ve ever used. It probably removed all your makeup in just a few swipes, left your face feeling clean (but not stripped), and maybe even packed hydrating ingredients to give your skin an extra boost. All of these great qualities are why micellar waters have been so popular as a makeup remover in France for all these years—and finally, we’re caught up on the trend. To find truly great micellar waters and solutions, we asked Allure editors and dermatologists for their staples—and only the best made it to our final list.
Our Top Micellar Waters
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Doré La Micellaire Botanical Cleansing Water
Why it’s worth it: Both a micellar water and a soothing essence, the Doré La Micellaire has it all. It harnesses the cleansing power of cornflower water to remove makeup, dirt, and oil from the skin while also acting like a mild astringent that shrinks pores and keeps skin clear. Hydrating ingredients like damascena rose water, xylitylglucoside (plant sugar), and glycerin swoop in to make sure your skin doesn’t feel stripped of moisture, and aloe vera offers a soothing effect on your skin barrier.
The formula is fragrance-free—a major plus for anyone with sensitive skin—and it doesn’t need to be rinsed off. Use it to wash away your makeup and leave it on to give your skin a hydrating pick-me-up.
Tester feedback from contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai
“I don’t usually have strong opinions about micellar water, but this one is the exception. Not only has the enormous bottle lasted me for months (and counting), but it can take down even waterproof eyeliner—in this case, Stila’s Stay All Day—in a matter of seconds.” —Deanna Pai, contributing commerce editor
- Key ingredients: glycerin, cornflower water, damascena rose water, aloe vera, xylitylglucoside
- Who it’s for: anyone who wants a rinse-free makeup remover and hydrating essence all in one
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Waterproof Makeup: Illiyoon Gentle Make Up Deep Remover
Why it’s worth it: Illiyoon products are a dream for anyone with sensitive or reactive skin because they’re fragrance-free and have simple, straightforward formulas (think: barrier-repairing ceramides and hydrating panthenol) that skip any potentially irritating ingredients. The brand’s micellar water is no different: It’s a bi-phase mixture (meaning it contains water and oil) that gently dissolves all makeup—even waterproof mascara.
Tester feedback from commerce editor Sarah Han
“I usually reach for a cleansing oil or balm to break down my makeup, but when I’m five seconds away from falling asleep, this micellar water is my best friend. Technically, it’s a bi-phase, oil-and-water cleanser, but I find that it removes my eye makeup (the most stubborn type!) more easily and faster than traditional micellar waters. All I need is one soaked cotton pad versus two or three—less waste, no matter how small, is a bonus.” —Sarah Han, commerce editor
- Key ingredients: Japanese apricot extracts, ginseng root water
- Who it’s for: anyone who wears waterproof makeup
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Dry Skin: La Roche-Posay Micellar Water Ultra
Why it’s worth it: Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Connecticut, calls La Roche-Posay’s Micellar Water Ultra “gentle, effective, and fragrance-free.” Fellow board-certified dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, agrees: “It’s a great option that has glycerin, so it’s great for dry skin types,” he tells Allure. Furthermore, alpha hydroxy acid—citric acid, to be exact—adds a little exfoliation to the mix, sweeping away dead skin cells and excess oils while brightening the complexion and helping skin absorb other products like toners, serums, and moisturizers. Since this formula is safe to use around your eyes, feel free to dab a Q-tip in its formula to give your daily eyeliner look a cleaner, sharper finish.
“When I wear makeup, I am a triple cleanse kind of person. This micellar water is step one in that regimen. I picked this up in La Roche Posay, France (fancy, I know). At the medical center I learned all about the special blend of minerals that makes the water especially potent for sensitive skin. That’s all well and good, but personally I am a devotee because it takes of fmascara without burning my eyes. On nights when I don’t wear makeup, I use this product solo before going to bed to clear sunscreen residue and NYC grime.” —Jessica Cruel, editor in chief
- Key ingredients: glycerin, citric acid, micelles, poloxamer (cleansing agent)
- Who it’s for: any skin type, especially sensitive and dry skin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Sensitive Skin: Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water
Why it’s worth it: Available for decades at French pharmacies, Bioderma has long been a mainstay at Paris Fashion Week. Makeup artists would stock up on this legendary micellar water because it’s great to use backstage (where sinks are hard to find) and perfect for models whose skin has become sensitized after four weeks of five shows per day. Dermatologists here in the US love it, too. “It’s simple and effective, and I’ve never had a patient not tolerate it, which is important, especially for those with rosacea or even just sensitive skin,” Dr. Bhanusali says of Sensibio H2O.
“Fun fact: Bioderma was the second-most popular cleanser in Olive Young, South Korea’s version of Sephora or Ulta, in 2024, beating out tons of Korean brands like Anua. I was pretty surprised to see its popularity in person during a recent vacation to Seoul, but I get it. It’s such a dependable pick—it removes all my makeup, but more importantly, it doesn’t sting my eyes and doesn’t leave a greasy film or feeling on my face. It also comes in a convenient 3.4-ounce bottle that’s perfect for travel.”—Han, commerce editor
- Key ingredients: micelles, cucumber extract, glycerol (lipids)
- Who it’s for: all skin types
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Luxury: Isdin Micellar Solution
Why it’s worth it: Isdin is best known for its super-sophisticated skin-care products—its K-Ox Eyes won a Best of Beauty Award in 2021—but its simpler formulas deserve a spot on your bathroom counter too. The brand’s Micellar Solution is touted as a four-in-one because it removes makeup, cleanses skin, hydrates, and tones (without alcohol, to boot). It’s made with fewer than 10 ingredients, but it’s all you need to totally refresh your face. Bonus: It’s free of perfumes, alcohol, and soaps, so it’s a great pick for sensitive skin types.
- Key ingredients: micelles, glycerin, betaine (derivative of salicylic acid)
- Who it’s for: all skin types
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Drugstore: Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water
Garnier
SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water
Why it’s worth it: The Best of Beauty-winning Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water was designed for all skin types, including the most sensitive skin. Allure associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen loves using it after sweaty workouts to remove dirt and debris. (Pro tip: If you want to remove waterproof makeup, we recommend the Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water for Waterproof Makeup.)
“After a rather sweaty Spin class, I came home and instead of swiping off my makeup and grime with my go-to cleansing wipe, I reached for a cotton pad and the micellar water. I was pleasantly surprised to find that just a few swipes removed most of my makeup (though my waterproof mascara was not budging), leaving my skin feeling damp but not slimy.” —Sarah Kinonen, associate beauty director
- Key ingredients: glycerin, poloxamer
- Who it’s for: anyone who wants a rinse-free cleanser that removes sweat, dirt, and oil
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best for Double Cleansing: Drunk Elephant E-Rase Milki Micellar Water
Drunk Elephant
E-Rase Milki Micellar Water
Why it’s worth it: Mraz Robinson says she enjoys Drunk Elephant E-Rase Milki Micellar Water, “a great ceramide-based micellar water that’s perfect for removing makeup pre-wash,” she tells Allure. The gentle formula spares your complexion any irritation with its soothing and moisturizing omega fatty acids. Although some prefer to use micellar water as the sole cleansing step in their routine, Mraz Robinson says this micellar water serves well as the first step in a double cleanse, which is what many of our editors partake in.
- Key ingredients: ceramides, wild melon seed oil, sweet almond oil
- Who it’s for: all skin types
- Fragrance-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
What is micellar water?
Micellar water is a combination of purified water; hydrating ingredients, such as glycerin; and low concentrations of extremely mild surfactants, according to cosmetic chemist Joseph Cincotta. “The molecules of those mild surfactants naturally group together to form microscopic spheres called micelles, which act like magnets for dirt and oil,” Cincotta explains.
With micellar waters, even the toughest waterproof makeup melts cleanly off skin with zero irritation. They contain no alcohol and are comprised of only dirt-loving micelle molecules that attach to makeup and debris to break it down, according to New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Debra Jaliman, MD.
Who should use micellar water?
Anyone! Micellar water is a universally friendly product, with formulas made for dry, sensitive, and combination skin. New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Francesca Fusco, MD, says they’re especially great for acne-prone skin types. “They remove trapped debris from the skin but don’t dry it out,” she says. “I also tell my patients to use a micellar cleanser between reapplications of sunscreen during the summer to avoid clogged pores.”
How do you use micellar water?
We recommend soaking a cotton ball or pad with micellar water and then gently sweeping that along your face. The micelles adhere to the cotton while pulling makeup, sebum, and any other daily unpleasantness off the skin. The formulas are so light and gentle that there’s no need to rinse them off, which means that the moisturizing ingredients can stay behind to be absorbed. However, you can also consider micellar water the first step in a double-cleanse routine, if you want to make sure you get rid of every last trace of makeup, oil, and debris.
Meet the experts
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When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our list of micellar waters, we considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: product ingredients and efficacy, packaging, fragrance, and texture. Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from doctors and dermatologists. To learn more information on our reporting and testing processes, read our complete reviews process and methodology page.
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