I wasn’t looking for a new cleanser, honestly. I was in Paris for a week, soaking up the sights, eating all the pastries, and figuring out how to not freeze my face off in the cold weather. But by day three, I started noticing my skin reacting. It was dry, red, and just… irritated. I’d been using a cleanser that was working fine back home, but apparently, the combination of travel, the harsh water, and the climate change was too much for my skin to handle.

I popped into a local pharmacy to grab some lip balm, and I ended up leaving with Bioderma Sensibio H2O. I had heard about it from a friend before, but never thought it’d be the one.

The first night I used it, I was shocked. There was no stinging, no weird film left behind, and it didn’t leave my skin feeling dry or tight like other micellar waters I had tried in the past. I just soaked a cotton pad, swiped it across my face, and bam, clean skin without any irritation. It was literally the most gentle experience my skin had had in days. It felt like it was the first time in a while that my skin was truly comforted.

By the time I left Paris, I had used it every single day, and I could honestly tell a difference. My skin was no longer red or patchy. It was calm, balanced, and just… normal again. I grabbed another bottle before flying home, because I knew it wasn’t just a Paris thing — this was the real deal.

Now, back in the States, I’ve kept it as my go-to cleanser. It’s simple, reliable, and honestly, I reach for it every morning and night. It’s my favorite to use when I’m feeling lazy or when my skin needs a reset after trying out too many products.

The best part? It doesn’t leave any residue or cause my skin to break out. It removes makeup and sunscreen without stripping or irritating. I’ve also noticed that my skin doesn’t get as red or irritated as it used to, even in the dry winter months.

That being said, it doesn’t remove waterproof mascara all that well, but that’s really my only complaint. I just double cleanse on those days, and the Sensibio H2O does its thing for the first step without a problem.

If you have sensitive skin or are traveling and need something that’s genuinely gentle, this is the micellar water you should reach for. I wasn’t planning on finding a skincare staple on my trip, but Bioderma won me over, and now I don’t want to go without it.