little white truths

I really thought I'd reviewed this product because I've been through countless bottles by now (all of them from sub boxes, as this one is), but looks like I haven't so that's what I'll do today.

You may have heard me say that this product doesn't work for me. I don't know why, but I just don't like it and I never have. I know, I know, it's the original micellar and the one that many people swear by, but it's never hit the mark for me and I've used countless similar products that do more than this does. More on that below.

Bioderma claims/product details:

• A cleansing and makeup-removing water that respects the fragility of sensitive skin
• Very gentle, fragrance-free
• Respects skin's natural balance
• Thanks to the power of its ultra gentle micelles that solubilise in water and capture fatty molecules (eg dirt, sebum and makeup), it cleanses and soothes even the most sensitive and intolerant of skin types
• Three in one: a makeup remover for face and eyes; a soothing toner; and a no-rinse cleanser
• Combines performance and very high tolerance
• Soothes and clears up irritated skin
• Produces a feeling of instant freshness
• Even removes water-resistant makeup
• One bottle sold around the world every 5 seconds!
• Alcohol-free, paraben-free and hypoallergenic
• RRP $42.99 AUD for 500ml, but do shop around

Verdict

Every now and then you come across a product that seems to work for absolutely everyone else but it doesn't work for you, and this is one of those products for me.

It's a standard micellar water that's clear and looks/feels exactly like water, and I agree that it's fragrance free so it shouldn't bother those who don't like scented skincare.

You apply this to a cotton pad as you would any micellar water, then run it over your face to remove makeup and grime. My issue with this product is that's it's not an effective makeup remover, and while it does dissolve 'easy' makeup, it doesn't do it well and I find that I need to use more of this and work harder at my face than I do with other micellars.

This is a problem because I don't want to spend that much time removing my makeup, and I don't think it's a good thing to have to rub harder at your face than you should - nor is it a good thing to have to go in a second time to try to remove more gunk from your face. That kind of takes away from the whole 'this product is gentle' thing, and it effectively means I have other makeup removers that are, in practice, more gentle than this one is.

It also doesn't stand a chance against eye makeup, so I need to use a separate product to deal with that area.

The other thing I notice about this is that my skin doesn't feel clean after use, so I don't agree that it cleanses well, nor do I agree with the claim that it tones your face too (it doesn't for me).

Of course, the other issue is that this product is damn expensive for what it is, so it's not something I would spend my money on. If you want a budget alternative, I recommend Garnier's version (reviewed here) over this any day, and Avene does a good one too (reviewed here).

Not for me.