Review: Bioderma Crealine (Sensibio) H20 Cleanser

This review has been a loooooong time in the making.
I seem to have reverted back to my student days where I research a subject meticulously before writing about it, and when it's a so-called Holy Grail product that everyone seems to be raving about, I feel like I should get my facts right before throwing my opininon into the mix!

If, like me, you'd never heard of Bioderma before it was mentioned in the blogging/YouTubing world, then i'll give you a quick intro.

The Bioderma laboratory (laboratoire dermatologique) is based in Lyon, France and is among the most frequently prescribed laboratories by French dermatologists.

Bioderma is favoured by many physicians and pharmacists (not to mention make-up artists, celebrities and so on) because it's in touch with every type of skin issue available. They have lines specifically for sensitive skin (Sensibio), iritated skin (Cicabio) and dry skin (Actoderm) just to name a few.

Disappointingly however, the company still tests on animals - something which (in my opinion) is not necessary in this day and age (but that's another story).

This particular product, the Bioderma Crealine (newer bottles have been branded Sensibio instead - worth considering if you are searching for it on the internet) H20 Cleanser is a 3-in-1 make-up remover/cleanser/toner made specifically for hyper sensitive/intolerant skin.

An alternative product for oil skin is the Bioderma Sebrum Cleanser, which essentially has the same formula but is designed to control/remove excess oil (with green/white packaging rather than the pink/white of the Bioderma Crealine).

The cleansing water is a clear, odourless, oil free 'Micelle Solution' - otherwise known as a gentle liquid emulsifier which provides an exfoliating/cleansing action on the skin without disrupting the skin's natural PH balance.

The ingredients are free from soap, paraben, fragrance and alcohol:

WATER (AQUA), PEG-6 CAPRYLIC/CAPRIC GLYCERIDES, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, CUCUMIS SATIVUS (CUCUMBER) FRUIT EXTRACT, MANNITOL, XYLITOL, RHAMNOSE, FRUCTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES, DISODIUM EDTA, CETRIMONIUM BROMIDE.

But the big question on everyone's lips is - does it actually work?

I'll be quite honest and say it is not a 'one swipe and it's gone' miracle product, as you will see from the removal test examples i've provided below:

Eye Products L-R: Liquid eyeshadow, powder eyeshadow, liquid eyeliner, gel eyeliner, regular mascara, waterproof mascara

Swipe test no.1

Swipe test no.2

Swipe test no.3

Face products L-R: tinted moisturiser, foundation, highlighter, blusher

Swipe test no.1

Lip products L-R: regular lipstick, lipstain, long-wear lipstick, lipliner, lipgloss

Swipe test no.1

Swipe test no.2

Swipe test no.3

As you can see, facial products (i.e. blusher, concealer) are no problem for this cleanser, although I do find I go through approx. 3 cotton wool pads when removing more 'stubborn' foundation (Revlon Colorstay, for example).

Certain eye and lip products are a bit more of a challenge for it, but you have to bear in mind that unlike most conventional make-up removers (eyemakeup removers in particular) there is no oil in this product, therefore it has to work extra hard to remove makeup, but it does so without being at all harsh.

Likewise it is very gentle on the eye area (although beware of soaking your cotton pad in cleanser then inadvertently squeezing it into your eye like I did - it definitely hurts then!), and leaves skin feeling clean, non-tacky (a BIG plus for me, I hate that feeling!), soothed and moisturised.

I also like using it for touch-ups - for example a tiny bit on a cotton bud is excellent for removing mascara smudges without messing up the rest of your eye makeup.

(...Am I rambling? I'll get to the important stuff now.)

250ml and 500ml bottles of Bioderma Crealine H20 are widely available in French pharmacies etc for around £7, but it is a bit harder to get your hands on over here in the UK, although it has recently became available on British beauty stockist website Zuneta for £14.

It is also available on Le Guide Sante (beware however of ridiculously high postage charges) and Ebay - I got mine from this seller for approximately £13.

I'm nearing the end of my bottle now, and whilst I admit it is probably better than the Garnier make-up remover (see my review here), i'm debating whether i'd buy another bottle.

On one hand, it is a good performance product which is applauded by industry experts and alike, but on the other hand, it's tested on animals, it's expensive and quite hard to obtain.

What do you think? Have you tried it, or are you planning on trying it?

Melanie x