This month, we review one of the most popular micellar cleansing water products, the BioDerma Sensibio H2O.
Product reviews by Dermletter: A new series of personal product reviews from our DermLetter Staff. Quick, to the point, and honest reviews of products and services they love or have tried.
What is it?
Sensibio H20 is a micellar water product that cleanses and tones the skin and does not require a rinse afterward. It is primarily used to remove makeup effectively, but it’s also an extremely versatile product that can be used in the morning, during the day, or at night, to give your face a quick cleanse or even a refresher after being out on a hot summer day. For simplicity’s sake, it’s soapy water that won’t irritate your skin and doesn’t require rinsing. For more on the science, read our article on micellar water.
Price:
$5.90 CAD, 100ml
$13.90 CAD, 250ml
$19.90 CAD, 500ml
$22.90 CAD, 500ml w/ pump
Claims:
- Cleanses and soothes the skin
- Removes makeup from the face and eyes (not effective on waterproof products)
- Produces a feeling of instant freshness
- Suitable for sensitive skin
- Paraben-free
- Hypoallergenic (Yes, but like many such terms this is not a verifiable claim)
Directions:
- Soak cotton pad(s) with the micellar water
- Gently wipe your skin to cleanse and remove makeup from your face and eyes
- Re-apply if needed, until the cotton pad is clean
- Let skin air dry or dab lightly with a clean towel
- Continue with the next step in a skincare routine
Scent: Fragrance-free, No scent detected.
Texture & Finish: The consistency is watery and odorless, which makes it very easy and pleasant to use. As long as the cotton pad isn’t soaking wet, my skin is dry instantly, with no need to dab with a towel.
Ingredients: Water, PEG6, Caprylic/Capric glycerides, Fructooligosaccharides, mannitol, xylitol, rhamnose, cucumis sativus (cucumber) fruit extract, propylene glycol, cetrimonium bromide, disodium edta [BI446]
Thoughts & Results
It’s a very effective makeup remover (but I don’t use heavy makeup) but still gentle on the skin. This doesn’t require rinsing afterward. The product can also act as a toner, helping to simplify complicated makeup routines as well. I’m also using it as a simple mid-day freshener around my eyes and T-zone areas during the afternoon.
Pros:
It’s an odorless product that feels like water. My skin doesn’t feel oily or sticky after using the product which is a plus. No rinsing or drying necessary, and leaves the skin feeling clean afterward. With the pump, it’s super easy to dispense the product on a cotton pad and wipe my face. One pump is all I need for a quick cleanse to feel refreshed. The pump helps control the amount of product used, and considering how long it lasts, the price is right.
Makeup: It does an excellent job at removing light makeup but not so much with waterproof products. It is also great for fixing up makeup mistakes and smudges. Just dampen a cotton pad with some micellar water. I also use the SensiBio H2O micellar water at the office as a quick mid-day freshener around my eyes and T-zone.
Cons:
This is a minor quibble, but I feel like this dries out my skin a bit after use. I have a dry skin type, so I should apply a moisturizer afterward to counteract this.
Looking at other review sites, it seems like people generally have a positive view of this product.
Other Thoughts:
Counterfeit products seem to be out there in abundance. Be wary of purchasing this product from a 3rd party (online purchases or from outside of North America).
I find the pump to be helpful in limiting the amount of product that I use. When the product is running low, the pump is less useful, but you can remove the cap and pour the product manually as well.
