Meet The French Pharmacy Hero Beauty Editors Love
The Background
Bioderma Sensibio H2O used to be something of an industry secret. Make-up artists would bring bottles back from Paris Fashion Week, where it had become a backstage essential for removing and reapplying multiple beauty looks without irritating models’ skin. When it made its way to the UK in 2013, it introduced a much wider audience to the cleansing power of micelles.
These tiny cleansing molecules are suspended within the water-based formula, acting like a magnet for dirt, oil and make-up. When you sweep it across the skin, they cling to impurities and lift them away quickly and gently. It’s a simple idea but one that changed the way many of us remove make-up – and made Bioderma a skincare must-have in the process.
The Formula
Designed to mimic skin’s natural composition, Bioderma Sensibio H2O cleans without the need for rinsing. It also respects the skin’s pH balance, which is why your complexion feels comfortable rather than tight or dry after use. The original Sensibio H2O formula has remained unchanged since it was created in 1995. While the packaging has evolved over the years, the pink-cap bottle contains the same gentle formula that first made it so popular.
The Benefits
Originally created with sensitive skin in mind, Bioderma Sensibio H2O is gentle enough to use around the eyes but effective enough to remove everything from foundation and SPF to long-wear eyeliner and lipstick.
There’s no oily residue, either, which is one of the reasons make-up artists keep it in their kits. The formula feels fresh and comfortable, while the no-rinse finish makes it ideal for quick touch-ups, late nights and busy mornings. Use it either as a quick cleanse or as the first step in a double-cleansing routine. If you’re removing a full face of make-up or SPF, follow up with your usual cleanser to leave skin feeling properly fresh.
The Alternatives
The original pink-cap Sensibio H2O remains the best-known version but Bioderma has developed several micellar waters for different skin types and concerns. The original Sensibio H2O is designed for sensitive, normal and reactive skin – perfect if you want a gentle, effective cleanse.
For combination, oily or blemish-prone skin, there’s Sébium H2O, recognisable by its green cap. It’s designed to help remove excess oil and impurities gently, while still nourishing the skin. If dryness or dehydration is your main concern, Hydrabio H2O comes in a blue bottle. Its hydrating formula helps skin retain moisture, making it a good option when your complexion feels tight or sensitised. Lastly, there is Pigmentbio H2O, with its pale blue and white packaging. This version is for dull or uneven-looking skin and is designed to cleanse while supporting a brighter, more even-looking complexion.
The Hacks
While it’s traditionally used as a make-up remover and gentle cleanser, celebrity make-up artist Annabella recommends using it for a few other things, too.
“I am never without a bottle of Bioderma. I use it to sharpen winged liner or perfect the edges of lipstick without disturbing the rest of the look by soaking a cotton bud in the formula. It's also an essential first step for gently cleansing and prepping the skin before make-up – I am yet to find a formula that does it better. I also use it in place of dry shampoo when there’s no time for a full wash. Drop a little onto a cotton pad and then run it along the roots before using a hairdryer to lift the hair as it dries. It cuts through oil almost instantly and doesn't leave any kind of powdery cast you might get with traditional dry shampoo.
“For really stubborn make-up, soak a pad in the formula, then blow gently onto the surface before you use it. The air agitates the solution into a light foam, which grips eye make-up even better than a standard pad.
“Finally, it’s brilliant for wardrobe emergencies. If you ever have foundation or lipstick stains on your clothes, dab a little Bioderma onto the stain, blot with a clean cloth and you’ll find it lifts the pigment before it has a chance to set. It has saved more than one client's outfit five minutes before a shoot.”
Available at BOOTS.COM
Or continue to comment as a Guest below
DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at info@sheerluxe.com.
/https%3A%2F%2Fsheerluxe.com%2Fsites%2Fsheerluxe%2Ffiles%2Fwebsite-images%2F2025%2F03%2Fsign-up-pop-up.jpg)
