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a dupe for Lancome eau micellaire douce

Call me a scrooge but I’d never spend a lot of money on a micellar water. I just don’t see the point.

All the do is cleanse the skin. They may be a godsend when you’re rushing to get ready in the morning, need to remove your makeup in the middle of the afternoon and have no water nearby or have sensitive skin that can’t tolerate most cleansers.

But they’re still cleansers and you you know my philosophy about cleansers: skimp on them and splurge on antioxidants rich serums. Your skin will still be clean and have fewer wrinkles to boot. 🙂

That’s why I’m so excited to have found a cheap dupe for Lancome Eau Micellaire Douceur: L’Oreal Paris Micellar Water Normal To Dry Skin. Here’s how they compare:

What Ingredients Do These Micellar Waters Have In Common?

HEXYLENE GLYCOL TO HYDRATE SKIN

Pretty much all micellar waters contain a glycol, i.e. a type of alcohol that’s NOT drying for your skin. This alcohol does two things:

  • It acts as a humectant: It draws moisture from the air into your skin, keeping it hydrated.
  • It improves solubility of the makeup into the surfactants: It gives the cleansing agents a boost so they remove your makeup better and faster.

Both Lancome Eau Micellaire Doucer and L’Oreal Paris Micellar Water Normal To Dry Skin use the same type of glycol, Hexylene Glycol.

POLOXAMER184 AND DISODIUM COCOAMPHODIACTATE TO CLEANSE SKIN

Micellar waters are so gentle on the skin because they use non-ionic, non-foaming cleansers. They are milder than traditional cleansers like Sodium Laureth Sulphate but take longer to remove all the dirt from your face. That’s why you sometimes need two or three cotton pads to get the job done.

Again, both micellar waters use the same types of these non-ionic surfactants: Poloxamer 184 and Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate. There’s not much to say about them.

They’re mild, so they struggle a bit more to remove everything. But if you have the patience, they get the job done without irritating your skin.

Is the trade off worth it? If you have sensitive skin or need to get your makeup off in a pinch, yes.

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What Else Is In These Micellar Waters?

L’Oreal Paris Micellar Water Normal To Dry Skin is a stripped down version of Lancome Eau Micellaire Douceur. It contains all the basics stuff that cleanses your skin without the added frills.

For once, I don’t mind. The L’Oreal Micellar Water may not have the same lovely rose scent of the Lancome Eau Micellaire but is free of the alcohol too.

Alcohol Denat is one of the most drying ingredients used in cosmetics. I don’t know why Lancome felt the need to include it, but if you have sensitive skin, this is one more reason to go with L’Oreal instead.

Related: The Truth About Alcohol-Free In Skincare: What Does It Really Mean?

What’s The Texture Like?

Both micellar waters have a lightweight, watery texture.

What’s The Packaging Like?

Lancome Eau Micellaire Douceur comes in a white bottle with a pump applicator. It’s beautiful and practical.

You can see L’Oreal cut corners on the packaging. Micellar Water Normal To Dry Skin comes in a see-through bottle with a pink cap. Not the prettiest, but it does the job.

How To Use Them

Morning and night, they’re the first step of your skincare routine.

Which Of The Two Should You Go For?

L’Oreal Paris Micellar Water Normal To Dry Skin. It’s cheaper and has fewer ingredients (less chance of irritating skin).

Availability

Lancome Eau Micellaire Douceur: $40.00/£36.00 at Feel Unique, Nordstrom, and Ulta

L’Oreal Paris Micellar Water Normal To Dry Skin: $9.99/£5.99 at Feel Unique and Look Fantastic

Is L’Oreal Paris Micellar Water Normal To Dry Skin A Dupe For Lancome Eau Micellaire Douceur?

Yes, L’Oreal Paris Micellar Water Normal To Dry Skin is a stripped down version of Lancome Eau Micellaire Douceur. It has all the good active ingredients minus the drying frills.

Lancome Eau Micellaire Douceur Ingredients

Aqua, Alcohol Denat, Propanediol, Hexylene Glycol, Glycerin, Poloxamer 184, Dihydrocholeth-3, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Disodium EDTA, Rosa Gallica Extract / Rosa Gallica Flower Extract, Parfum

L’Oreal Paris Micellar Water Normal To Dry Skin Ingredients

Aqua / Water, Hexylene Glycol, Glycerin, Poloxamer 184, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Disodium Edta, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide.Aqua / Water, Hexylene Glycol, Glycerin, Poloxamer 184, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Disodium Edta, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide.

About Gio

Hi, I'm Gio. I'm a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever - every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what's worth the splurge and what's best left on the shelf - using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.