The best micellar waters you can buy

Super sensitive skin types might want to check out Simple Micellar Cleansing Water as its formula contains nourishing vitamin B3, brightening vitamin C, triple-purified water, calming chamomile, soothing glycol, and skin-strengthing niacinamide. It's free of parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances, and dyes.

You may need a few swipes with a cotton pad to dissolve tough-to-remove makeup like mascara or berry-colored lipstick, but it's an excellent first step that cleanses and rehydrates the skin instead of wringing it dry.

The cleanser is a top shopper and expert pick, with an average 4.3 rating at Target based on more than 5,000 reviews, an Allure Best of Beauty win in 2015, and positive mentions in Bustle, Best Products, and Byrdie.

While the formula is gentle enough for sensitive skin, it's not approved by the National Eczema Association for eczematic skin so consult with your derm first.

Pros: gentle for sensitive skin, fragrance- and dye-free, non-toxic

Cons: not approved for those with eczema or rosacea

If you have an oily complexion, Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water All-in-1 Mattifying is a good option.

Garnier's range of micellar waters is often compared to Bioderma's, though I find the sensitive skin version has a stronger scent despite being fragrance-free. It comes in a few varieties, like one for removing waterproof makeup and one for mattifying oily skin, which I find the most unique.

TotalBeauty says Garnier's mattifying micellar water "has all the wonderful cleansing properties of a traditional micellar water but leaves skin with a clean, matte finish." It's also been featured on best-of lists at Skincare.com and Bustle.

Ulta customers give this product high marks too — the formula has a 4.3-star rating based on nearly 150 reviews, and Influenster reviewers give it 4.5 stars based on 2,800+ reviews. Many reviews say the formula doesn't contain alcohol, but it actually has denatured alcohol, which has astringent properties that can help mattify oily skin.

Pros: affordable, mattifying, large bottle size, no residue

Cons: includes alcohol

Those who wear waterproof or heavier makeup like waterproof mascara or cake eyeliner might not find micellar water effective enough to use alone without a second cleanser. Glossier Milky Oil provides a unique solution by combining oil and micellar water in a bi-phase formula.

Shake the bottle to mix the layers of water and oil, and then squeeze it onto a cotton round or dry skin. It will leave behind a slight oily residue because of the formula, so you'll want to follow up with a gentle cleanser. There's moisturizing vitamin B5 and soothing comfrey root extract too so your face won't feel raw after removing stubborn makeup.

This is one of the gentlest makeup removers I've ever used; my eyes are very sensitive, and this doesn't make them sting or tear up in the slightest. I can even open my eyes during the process without causing chaos.

The main downside is the size of the bottle — at 3.4 fluid ounces for $12, it's not a great value compared to the others on this list.

"I've never used something that got off all traces of my eye makeup so easily and completely. My skin has no bad reactions and my makeup is gone, get it you won't regret it!" writes one Glossier customer.

Milky Oil has also received rave reviews from editors at Byrdie, The Strategist, and The Cut.

Pros: removes waterproof makeup, gentle, vegan, hypoallergenic

Cons: fairly expensive for the size, not oil-free

Labeled as "Spa Water," Koh Gen Do's micellar water makes cleansing feel like a luxurious treat.

Part of the hype comes from the gentle formula that lists ingredients usually found in rich creams than cleansing waters. It has mineral-rich spring water, six nourishing herbs, white birch sap with skin-boosting amino acids, and arginine to help encourage collagen production and elasticity.

The other part comes from its pump bottle packaging. The packaging for most micellar waters leaves much to be desired. Those big openings leave plenty of room for error, and I've splashed my bathroom counter with precious cleansing water more times than I can count.

Thankfully, Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water comes in a huge bottle with a very handy pump dispenser. The runniness of micellar water makes it difficult to control the amount of product you're using at a time, but the pump ensures you won't waste a drop.

Which is important, because this stuff is not cheap. The large value-size is $75, while a standard bottle will run you $57 and a mini travel-sized bottle is $25.

Still, editors at Into The Gloss are big fans. "The huge pump bottle means you won't skimp on your makeup removal routine, and you can repurpose it when it's all gone."

Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water has also been featured by Allure and Best Products. The brand's cleansing wipes are also a cult favorite item.

Pros: convenient pump bottle, anti-aging ingredients, three different sizes

Cons: expensive

• Aveeno MaxGlow Micellar Gel Cleanser ($5.14): This is a nice lightweight gel cleanser that incorporates micellar technology, but it's not quite the same as a true micellar water. For one thing, it's too thick not to be rinsed off.
• Yes to Cucumbers Calming Micellar Water ($6.44): The pump packaging on this micellar cleanser is genius, but I personally find the smell a bit too intense. It also stung my eyes pretty badly when I attempted to use it for makeup removal.