I tried supermarket own-brand micellar waters – one smelt better than Garnier’s but the clear winner costs just £1.55
FINDING effective skincare that is affordable AND delivers real results can be tricky.
But with high-street retailers - including supermarkets and drugstores - creating their own lines of beauty products, it’s becoming easier.
That includes micellar water, which has become a mainstay in millions of skincare routines thanks to its make-up removing and toning qualities.
It’s made from purified water and then infused with hydrating ingredients and surfactants, which break down oil.
When fused together, the hydrators and surfactants form tiny little balls (called micelles) in the water that draw make-up, excess sebum and daily grime out of your skin.
Thanks to its popularity, there's micellar water for every budget and skin type - but which ones work the best?
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I tried the cheapest micellar waters on the high-street so you don’t have to.
For context, my skin doesn’t know whether it’s coming or going.
It’s sensitive and dry, but also incredibly oily - so finding products that don’t break me out AND are gentle is a mission.
Here’s how the micellar waters ranked…
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6. For Stronger Skin
Superdrug Vitamin E Micellar Water
- £3.99 for 200ml
- £2 for 100ml
Maybe it’s me, maybe it’s Vitamin E - Superdrug’s in-house micellar water stung and turned my face a shade of tomato, particularly around my eyes.
The Vitamin E Micellar Water may have some good cleansing properties but I wouldn’t know, as I had to wash it off instantly to cool down.
But it cleaely works for some, as bottles are resold for up to £14.80 on eBay and it has rave reviews on the cheap beauty retailer's website.
5. Value for Money
Primark PS... Micellar Cleansing Water
- £2 for 500ml
- 40p for 100ml
If you’re looking for value for money, then look no further. Primark’s micellar water is made with a simple and gentle formula for all skin types.
And it works out at a cool 40p per 100ml, meaning one bottle could last you months.
I didn’t notice any major improvements to my skin after using it to cleanse, but I also didn’t experience any negative side effects. Little wins.
4. Instant Refresh
Waitrose Pure Micellar Water
- £2.50 for 250ml
- £1 for 100ml
Cleaning my face with this was like cleaning it with water straight from a mountain spring: refreshing, cooling and revitalising.
Waitrose has pulled out all the stops with camomile and organic aloe vera extracts, which gave my skin an immediate glow.
My only qualm is that it required two cotton pads doused in the micellar water to remove mascara, meaning I’d go through a bottle of this quite quickly.
3. Mr Tight
Boots Micellar Water Sensitive
- £3 for 400ml
- 75p for 100ml
It’s not quite Botox in a bottle, but it’s close. Boots’ own-brand micellar water instantly tightened my pores and firmed the fine lines around my eyes.
It’s the closest product to Garnier that I’ve tried, and it left a glowy sheen over my face.
However, it did tingle on my skin for around 30 seconds after use - so proceed with caution if you have uber-sensitive skin.
2. Heaven Scent
M&S Feeling Pristine Soothing Micellar Water
- £8 for 200ml
- £4 for 100ml
Marks & Spencer does it again! This micellar water left my skin feeling so hydrated and taut after one use.
My cheeks could have blinded another person when the sun bounced off them; it gave my skin some serious luminosity.
The cucumber scent was divine too - I'd wear it as a perfume if I could.
1. My New Holy Grail
Lidl Cien Micellar Cleansing Water
- £1.55 for 250ml
- 62p for 100ml
Perhaps the biggest beauty underdog of our generation, Lidl’s Cien Micellar Cleansing Water blew my socks off.
It had a Drunk Elephant-esque dispenser that means you waste no product getting it onto a cotton pad.
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Lidl's formula was so gentle on my sensitive skin and removed every trace of make-up, leaving me with a luminous glow.
What's more, it foams up almost instantly on the face for a really deep clean.