The Power of Water

Last November while we were in Paris, I picked up something requested by a friend – a large bottle of Bioderma Crealine, a cleansing water. Now you can guess that this was a pretty good friend, because guess what? Once I was in line in the drugstore, I realized that this giant bottle meant that I was going to have to check a piece of luggage! A friend who you would check luggage for, is in my opinion…a very dear friend indeed.

I decided to try out a bottle for myself since I was already doomed to the checking my luggage, and am now a fan. I use my cleansing water daily! I just dribble some on a cotton pad, swipe all around my face (lingering a few seconds longer over my eyes to take off mascara), and then I’m done with cleaning. The best things about it?

1. You don’t have to wash it off after using it (though I usually do a light rinse). However, this feature means that…
2. It’s great for taking your makeup off on planes. I never use the water in the bathrooms to wash my face. It gives me nightmares (read this if you’d like to why).
3. It’s super gentle. It’s clear and basically feels like water! My face never feels tight or dry after using it, yet I see that it’s definitely removing the daily gunk (evidence is on my cotton pad).

Months of daily use and an unfortunate spill mean that my bottle is nearing the end. Bioderma it seems is a little more difficult to find in the U.S., and with the costs of ordering from an international website considered, I’ve decided to try out some new brands for now.

Based on a quick “dollar per ounce” analysis higher end brands and a perusal of reviews, the top two candidates look to be Lancome’s Micellar Cleansing Water, and Caudalie’s own version. There are also higher priced versions from Dior, and Darphin.

Are any of you out there fans of cleansing water? Please share your experiences and favorite brands (if any!).