Ditch Your Makeup Removing Wipes for One of Our Top-Tested Micellar Waters (2024)

Looking for a new makeup remover or just want to try a new gentle face cleanser? Look no further than micellar water.

The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab has tested hundreds of face cleansing products, including micellar waters. In their latest makeup remover test, scientists evaluated efficacy, thoroughness and speed, followed by home trials with 176 testers. Here are our favorite micellar water cleansers, including options for oily, combination, acne-prone, and sensitive skin. Looking for more ways to clean your skin? Check out our guides to the best makeup removers and the best face washes.

Vichy's formula performed the best in GH Beauty Lab testing compared to other micellar waters. Among all makeup removers, it earned the top score for making skin feel clean and the second best score for quickly dissolving makeup. "This product did not sting my eyes and worked great to remove waterproof eyeliner," a tester notes. However, some other testers share that you may need some tugging to thoroughly clean makeup, especially mascara.

When it comes to micellar waters, Garnier is incredibly popular among editors and consumers alike. This formula earned the best Lab score for not stinging or irritating eyes. Testing also determined that it doesn't leave skin oily or sting or irritate skin, either. "This product removed all traces of makeup and made my dry eyes feel better, not worse," a tester raves. "Most makeup removers dry my eyes out even more." Take note that among testers, this water didn't leave skin feeling moisturized.

Mary Kay's micellar water earned the Good Housekeeping Seal for its gentle yet effective removal of makeup. In the brand's study, 82% of consumers agreed that "it leaves my skin feeling moisturized/hydrated," which was confirmed by the GH Beauty Lab as well. Plus, 90% of consumers also agreed that this formula didn't require harsh rubbing. Take note that this water is a little pricier than some of the value picks on this list.

You can actually make oily skin worse if you strip it of all its oils. To keep that from happening, try La Roche-Posay's formula designed specifically for oily skin. "It easily removes my makeup, even eyeliner and lipstick, without drying out my skin," our Beauty Assistant says. "Though it's created with oily skin in mind, I've used it when my skin is feeling dry as well. It's still very effective." However, many reviewers find the fragrance of this water is too strong.

Created with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, Milk Makeup's micellar water lifts away makeup and dirt from the day without overly stripping skin. "My skin is usually oily but can also be very dry, especially in certain spots and during the winter," our Beauty Assistant says. "Not only does it not dry out my skin, but it also balances hydration all over my face. I also love the push-top dispenser." It takes a few swipes to fully remove makeup using this pricey pick, though.

Made with just six ingredients, this soothing micellar water is loved by GH Beauty Director April Franzino. The ultra-gentle formula is safe for her dry skin: "It didn't sting or irritate my eczema-prone skin, even around the eyes, and left skin feeling fresh," she reports. Some reviewers note that it leaves a bit of stickiness on the skin after use.

A go-to for editors, experts and consumers alike, Bioderma's classic micellar water has an impressive 4.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon. Dr. Engelman recommends this formula since it is both fragrance- and alcohol-free. She also likes its hydrating benefits, which can be especially helpful for mature skin types. "It has glycerides, which provide an occlusive barrier to keep water locked into skin," she says. Some reviewers find that it doesn't effectively remove all makeup, however.

A GH 2021 Sustainable Innovation Award winner, this gentle, multitasking micellar water is loved by our Beauty Lab experts who like that the organic, naturally-derived and fragrance-free formula can be used to remove makeup (including eyes) as well as to keep babies' sensitive skin clean. One thing to note: the formula may feel sticky, according to some online reviewers.

Like many others, GH Freelance Beauty Editor Dori Price is "a loyal Garnier micellar water user, and this one is no exception," she says. This hydrating formula includes hyaluronic acid and aloe, keeping skin smooth while still providing an effective clean. "In addition to removing every last drop of makeup and dirt, it soothes and hydrates my skin, leaving it soft and smooth, never tight," she adds. Some reviewers note that they feel like they still need to wash their face with a cleanser after using this.

Dior's micellar water removes makeup and grime while remaining gentle on skin. With 98% naturally-derived ingredients (based on the brand's calculations, using the ISO 16128-1 and ISO 16128-2 guidelines and water being one of the naturally-derived ingredients), our Beauty Assistant likes that it doesn't inflame or irritate skin. "It doesn't cause redness or irritate my skin. The dispenser is ideal and doesn't let too much water come out of the top and make a mess," she shares. It is a pricey cleanser though, compared to other picks, and note that it is fragranced.

Like all products from the popular K-Beauty brand, this micellar water is infused with dahlia flower extract. "It removes makeup and dirt from my face extremely well," our Beauty Assistant shares. "It removes makeup with just one swipe, which many other micellar waters I've tried don't do as successfully. I also like the push-top dispenser." This water doubles as a cleansing toner, which she notes made her drier skin sting a little after use, but there was no redness or tightness.

In the GH Beauty Lab's most recent makeup remover test, which involved testing micellar waters, our scientists tallied 12,200 total data points to find the best of the best. The Lab tested how well they removed eyeliner from skin in one swipe and then measured the number of swipes needed to completely remove the eyeliner. Our scientists also evaluated their efficacy, thoroughness and speed in removing eyeliner from skin.

Technically, no. "These are designed so that you don't have to wash afterwards," explains Aral. "But if you still like to follow with your favorite cleanser or just water, you won't be committing a crime."

Yes! Just make sure you find the right formula for your skin, Aral advises. Once you've found the most effective one for you, "it can be used every day for removing makeup and dirt at the end of the day," she says.

Beauty Assistant Catharine Malzahn wrote this article, working closely with the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab experts to help deliver fact-based, science-backed beauty coverage. Over the years, she has interviewed experts, written product reviews and tested hundreds of skincare products including cleansers and makeup removers. Many of the micellar water picks on this list are ones she's also personally tried.