Skin
Jan 30, 2020

The Cult Product That French Girls, Celebs and Beauty Editors All Swear By

by Mica Ricketts

It's no secret that when it comes to beauty, French women have a certain allure that always mesmerizes us Brits. From their formula for the perfect fringe to their penchant for basic but luxurious makeup, I always keep one eye on France for beauty inspiration. So it's definitely no surprise that a certain cult skincare product that celebrities and beauty editors swear by is a French export.

Selling one bottle every three seconds (yes, really), this French pharmacy staple used to have makeup artists and beauty obsessives clearing the shelves of Parisian chemists until, thankfully, it made its way to British soil more recently. Yes, this cult product has been a backstage secret of makeup artists for years thanks to the way it gently dissolves makeup and grime without causing any irritation—and the A-list can't resist its allure either, with everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to Rosie Huntington-Whiteley swearing by it.

The product in question is, of course, Bioderma Sensibio H2O (£11)—a micellar solution that cleanses skin without any rinsing required. It's the micellar water that I reach for most at night thanks to the way it sweeps away makeup without any elbow grease required, and I also use it as a fuss-free morning cleanse when I'm in a rush.

But you don't need to take my word for just how good it is. Keep scrolling to see which celebrities swear by it and why, and to shop the cult product for yourself.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Photo:

@GWYNETHPALTROW

Paltrow describes Bioderma as "the BEST makeup remover" on her wellness website, Goop. "It's unscented, doesn't dry your skin or sting, and gets rid of all your makeup with a few swipes. You're left with soft, clean skin."

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Photo:

@ROSIEHW

"This is probably one of the most gentle eye makeup removers I have ever used," said Rosie on her skincare routine. "I actually learnt about this product backstage at a fashion show maybe 10 years ago."

Laura Harrier

Photo:

@LAURAHARRIER

Laura Harrier credits facialist Shani Darden with sorting out her skin when she moved from L.A. to New York, but there's still one French pharmacy staple that she swears by as the first step in her evening skincare routine. "At night I use the Bioderma micellar water to remove makeup," she told The New York Times.

Victoria Beckham

Photo:

@VICTORIABECKHAM

Rather than using the classic bottle of Bioderma, VB swears by the brand's micellar-infused wipes to remove her makeup in a fuss-free fashion. "The only face wipes that actually take off all my makeup are the Bioderma ones," Beckham told Into The Gloss. "I always use a cleanser after, but these wipes really get everything off."

Tracee Ellis Ross

Photo:

@TRACEEELLISROSS

When Tracee Ellis Ross took to Instagram Stories to talk us through her skincare routine, it was of no surprise that Bioderma micellar water was step one. The perfect solution to remove her makeup after a day at work.

Natalie Portman

Photo:

GETTY IMAGES

One of the reasons that Natalie Portman's skin always looks amazing? "I always take off my makeup before bed," she told Harper's Bazaar. "I use Bioderma makeup remover."

Drew Barrymore