These Iconic French Micellar Waters Cleanse and Remove Makeup in One Easy Step

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(Image credit: @soblushing)

There's no denying the fascination many of us have with the magical aura of French skincare routines and the specific brands and products French women swear by to keep their complexions in pristine, glowing condition. One commandment of French skincare? Simplicity. Which, is perhaps why multi-functioning micellar water solutions are one of the most iconic staples of French regimens

Used to simultaneously clean the skin and remove makeup (but without harsh soaps, fragrances, or other skin-stripping additives), micellar waters are a handy, no-rinse alternative to your typical cleansers or toners. As the name suggests, the starring ingredient of the product category is micelles which basically act like mini magnets to attract and trap impurities in the skin like sebum, pollution, oil, makeup, and any other day-to-day residues. Plus, since the formulas are usually incredibly simple in chemistry and specifically feature non-irritating ingredients, they're an excellent option for anyone with sensitive skin, especially. 

Due to micellar water's popularity, there are countless options on the market, which makes it hard to discern which formulas make for the most worthwhile investment. So, we did some digging and identified 12 French-made micellar water formulas that all get top ratings from beauty editors and nit-picky consumers, alike. Keep scrolling for all the best French micellar water elixirs the beauty industry has to offer along with the best-selling skincare products to pair with them. 

Best Overall: Bioderma Sensibio H20

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Best for Mature Skin: Caudalíe Micellar Cleansing Water

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Best for Oily Skin: Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water

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Best Water-Gel Hybrid: La Roche-Posay Micellar Cleansing Water Makeup Remover and Gel Cleanser

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Best for Sensitive Eyes: Klorane Micellar Water With Organically Farmed Cornflower

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Best for Acne: Vichy Pureté Thermale Mineral Micellar Cleansing Water

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Best Milky Formula: Payot Paris Lait Micellaire Démaquillant

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Best for Re-Balancing: Talika Skintelligence Hydra Micellar Water

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Best for Normal Skin: Avène Micellar Lotion

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Best for Brightening and Radiance: By Terry Cellularose Micellar Water Cleanser

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Best for Dry Skin: Yon-Ka Eau Micellaire

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Best for Redness: Darphin Azahar Cleansing Micellar Water

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Beauty Director

Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content for Who What Wear for over four years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie and Who What Wear family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor. She considers her day-to-day beauty aesthetic very low-maintenance and relies on staples like clear brow serum (from Kimiko!), Lawless's Lip Plumping Mask in Cherry Vanilla, and an eyelash curler. For special occasions or days when she's taking more meetings or has an event, she'll wear anything and everything from Charlotte Tilbury (the foundations are game-changing), some shimmer on her lids (Stila and Róen do it best), and a few coats of the best mascara-type product on earth, Surratt's Noir Lash Tint.