I wasn’t planning to buy skincare in Paris. I really wasn’t.

But then I woke up on day three of my trip with a face that felt like it had been sandpapered. Dry patches on my cheeks, my chin flaking, and that telltale red tightness that says, hey, your skin barrier’s had enough.

I’d packed my usual cleanser in a travel bottle, but something about the hard water in France plus all the walking and cold air had thrown my skin way off. So I walked into a French pharmacy (mostly looking for lip balm) and came out with the iconic pink-top bottle of Bioderma Sensibio H2O.

Did I know what micellar water was at the time? Barely. But the pharmacy clerk said “good for sensitive skin” and I was desperate, so I gave it a try that night.

And wow.

No stinging. No scent. No slippery film.

Just a cotton pad soaked in this watery liquid that gently lifted off my sunscreen and city grime without a fight. My skin felt clean, but not tight. Comfortable, which honestly felt like a miracle in that moment.

I ended up using it every night for the rest of the trip, and even started using it in the morning too instead of washing with cleanser. By the time I flew home, my skin was calmer, less red, and actually looked better than when I arrived.

And yes, I bought a second bottle before flying back.

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Back in the States, I kept using it. At first I thought maybe it was just Paris magic, but it really did make a difference. My usual random dry patches stopped popping up, especially in the winter. It helped calm my face after using retinol. It removed my makeup without that gross residue some wipes leave behind.

Over time, it became the product I reach for on my laziest nights, or when my skin’s in recovery mode. No matter what else I’m testing or changing, this is the one thing that stays.

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Some quick things I’ve learned:

⁃ It doesn’t remove waterproof mascara super well, but that’s not what it’s built for

⁃ If I’m wearing heavier makeup, I follow it with a gel cleanser

⁃ When my skin’s irritated, I use only this with a barrier cream — no foaming, no acids, no actives

⁃ I always keep a mini bottle in my carry-on now

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I know it’s not a flashy product. It’s not the kind of thing you see all over TikTok. But honestly? It’s like a pair of really good cotton underwear — soft, reliable, and you only really appreciate it after trying a bunch of other stuff that lets you down.

If you’re ever traveling and your skin starts acting up, walk into the nearest pharmacy and look for the pink cap. That’s how I found mine.

And now I always make room for it in my suitcase.