Why Bioderma (The Coveted French Skincare Brand) Is A Must For Sensitive Skin

Bioderma’s micellar water is a worldwide cult skincare favorite. But, which of the French pharmacy brand’s other products are worth adding to your routine? Our writer reviews five picks.

If you’re a fan of micellar water, chances are you have a bottle of Bioderma Sensibio H20 in your skincare basket—or you’ve experienced one at some point in the past. If you still haven’t jumped on the micellar cleanser bandwagon, you’ve likely seen the iconic clear bottle with the pink cap touted on Instagram numerous times and it’s piqued your interest. Either way, here’s your chance to explore more products—for sensitive and dry skin specifically—from the French brand that gave us the OG micellar water!

Bioderma Beautytap Curation

I’ve always considered my skin to be “normal” despite a multitude of experts telling me that very few people in fact have normal skin, and that it’s more of an ideal to strive toward. Through the years, I’ve learned that your skin type doesn’t necessarily stay the same throughout your life, and as I’ve aged, my skin has also changed. Yes, there are fine lines. But also, without going as far as classifying my skin as sensitive, every once in a while, it reacts to something. It could be an ingredient, the heat or even cat hair—it doesn’t happen often, but when it does, there is itchiness and a bit of eczema, notably under my eyes. I’ve even seen it between my fingers. Could it be linked with all of that extra handwashing I’ve been doing over the past few months? I can’t be sure, but it does seem to make sense in terms of timing.

Although I don’t actively seek out sensitive skin-specific products, I always have a few essentials on hand, which I pull out when things go awry with my ongoing skin care tryouts (after all, part of my job involves taking new products for a spin!). The way I see it, formulas meant for sensitive skin are like the O- blood type of products, in that they’re appropriate for everyone and formulated to be super gentle. And, who doesn’t need a little extra TLC every now and then?

Beautytap provided me with an array of Bioderma products to experience and review. Here are the five standouts I’m keeping in my arsenal…

Sensibio H20 Wipes

I stopped using makeup-removing wipes about a decade ago for two reasons, despite finding them super practical for overnight trips: the environmental implications of single-use sheets and the fact that pretty much every single type I’ve tried has left the delicate skin around my eyes itchy and red—even the ones marketed as being safe for sensitive skin. So, I’ll admit I was skeptical when I tried the Sensibio H20 Wipes… but I was pleasantly surprised! They are basically the wipe version of the Sensibio H20 micellar water and cleanse very gently while soothing the skin, thanks to cucumber extract. I am so happy I’ve finally found a wipe that doesn’t cause my skin to react. And, they are biodegradable, to boot! Win-win all around.

Sensibio Foaming Gel

One of the recommendations I’ve heard most often when it comes to dealing with sensitive skin is to opt for a soap-free cleanser to avoid irritation. Enter the Sensibio Foaming Gel, which contains no soap or fragrance. It is one of the few cleansers I own that has absolutely no scent, and it lathers into a soft foam that lifts away impurities. It leaves my skin feeling clean, but not stripped. Ever since I learned that harsh soaps aren’t necessary to get your skin clean, I’ve been using gentle facial cleansers to wash my hands in an effort to spare them from excessive dryness. And, it’s really made a difference! Although I’ll likely continue using the Sensibio Foaming gel on my face as a second cleanse, I doubt I’ll be able to resist turning to it when washing my hands, too. Its pump dispenser makes it ideal!

Sensibio Mask

I’m a fan of masking in general—whether it’s sheet masks, wash-off masks or undereye patches. But, with claims such as “brightening,” “glow-enhancing,” and “renewing,” a lot of my favorite ones contain ingredients like AHAs which can be irritating if used too frequently. Because of this, I’m careful with how often I turn to them, especially since I use other products containing retinol and AHAs in my regular routine. But, sometimes I just want to slap on a mask and relax. The solution? A soothing hydrating mask. My boyfriend and I have both started using the Sensibio Mask recently, and had similar findings when we compared notes (yes, we really do this): after applying a thick layer of the creamy, comforting formula and waiting 10 minutes, most of it had absorbed into our skin. And, our skin felt incredibly soft after using it! I actually enjoyed leaving a little bit on my face and massaging it in—something I’ve never been comfortable doing with other masks that claim rinsing is optional, because I often feel the formula just sits on my skin with a tacky feel. I can’t speak to whether the product lives up to its claim of targeting redness, but I can absolutely vouch for it being gentle and very hydrating.

Atoderm Intensive Balm

Another way I’ve been keeping the skin on my hands healthy amid the constant handwashing is by making sure to apply moisturizer right away. But, not just any moisturizer: I’ve been making an effort to choose formulas that absorb quickly (so I can get back to typing!), contain moisture-replenishing and skin barrier-strengthening ingredients (like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide, for example), and are free of fragrance (which, as we know, can cause irritation). When I spotted the Atoderm Intensive Balm in my Bioderma package, a light bulb went off in my head. That’s when I also spotted the National Eczema Association sticker on the tube and got really excited (opportune timing given I had experienced a small flare-up on my hands that same morning). Could this be a new favorite, post-handwashing moisturizer? Lightweight: check. Absorbs quickly: check. Fragrance-free: check. Moisturizing ingredients: check. After several days of using it consistently, its new status was cemented, and it had earned a permanent spot on my bathroom counter.

Do you have sensitive skin? If so, which products and brands are your go-tos?