This post is about one of my two favorite cleansers: Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant. An SLS free- and paraben-free face wash that truly cleanses but without irritating your skin. 

And to be clear, this is not a sponsored post. I have been using this face wash every evening for over a year now. And I really want to share why I love it so much. In short, I can say It’s the mildest, and still most effective face wash I have ever tried.

In this post, I will tell you all about this product, how I use it and why I love it. And also give some additional advice regarding face washes in general.

This is my table of content:

• The facts about Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant
• How and when I use it
• Where do I find it?
• Save your money – a face wash does not need to be expensive
• Paraben-free face wash – is it necessary?
• SLS-free face wash – why it’s important to not harm your skin barrier
• Summary

About Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant

This face wash is a gel cleanse designed especially for sensitive and intolerant skin. It is extremely gentle and will not leave your skin dry. Nor does it leave residue leftovers, which are otherwise quite common among face washes designed for sensitive skin types.

What makes it even more special is that it contains ingredients that strengthen the skin’s resistance, especially important for sensitive skin types. It also has lipid-restoring and moisturizing properties. And does not harm your skin barrier.

For anyone interested, here is the full ingredient list of Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant:

AQUA/WATER/EAU, SODIUM COCOAMPHOACETATE, PROPANEDIOL, SODIUM LAUROYL SARCOSINATE, CITRIC ACID, COCO-GLUCOSIDE, GLYCERYL OLEATE, SODIUM CITRATE, PEG-90 GLYCERYL ISOSTEARATE, MANNITOL, XYLITOL, LAURETH-2, RHAMNOSE, FRUCTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES, TOCOPHEROL, HYDROGENATED PALM GLYCERIDES CITRATE, LECITHIN, ASCORBYL PALMITATE. [BI 722]

It is a completely SLS-free face wash, and I’ll get back to why that is crucial. It’s also a paraben-free face wash, as well as free from colorants and fragrances.

And finally, maybe the most important detail. It does work! Despite being so gentle, it cleanses your skin very efficiently. Better than any other SLS-free fash wash I have tried. I have actually not had a face wash before that removes mascara that easily.

I always follow up with my micellar water from Filorga since I use that one as a toner. And I have never experienced any traces of dirt on my cotton pads. Which is another confirmation that this gel truly does cleanse. 

About Bioderma

According to Bioderma themselves, all their products are formulated with a team of biologists and dermatologists. And a strategy they use for making gentle products is to use molecules that are naturally found in the skin. 

They have their own patent called the DAF-complex (Dermatological Advanced Formulation), which is a formula that is said to improve the skin’s tolerability and resistance.

On top of that, the company says they only use ingredients that are strictly necessary. And that they exclude all questionable products such as parabens, phthalates, formol, formaldehyde, etc. 

How and when I use it

In the mornings you will of course not be very dirty on your face. So I personally prefer just to use the micellar water I mentioned in my previous post and skip the face wash altogether. 

In the evening, you definitely need a more throughout cleansing since you have a lot of dirt from pollutions, makeup, residues from sunscreens, etc. So that is the time to use a good face wash, such as Bioderma sensibio gel moussant.

Only one pump is enough for me and it even works as an eye makeup remover too. But then I do not use any heavy or waterproof makeup, so if you do, you might need more. Or a second cleanse. 

I mix the gel with a small amount of water in my palms and massage it into my face. If I have mascara on I also use a cotton pad to gently remove that before I rinse my whole face with water.

The consistency is a bit like a mixture of a gel and foam. And it does make you super clean without feeling dry. 

Always make sure to rinse well with water. And follow up with good toner. Personally I use the micellar water from Filorga as a toner, and my previous blog post will explain why. In short, it restores my skin’s pH and provides moisturizing, and anti-aging ingredients.

Where do I find it?

*Please note, this post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if you purchase through any of those links. It doesn’t cost you any extra and I only recommend products I truly love and use myself. You can read my full disclosure here.  

So there you have my favorite choice of face wash! If you want to give it a try you find it on this affiliate link that goes to Wahlgrens.

Let me know what you think 🙂 

Now, here comes a few general advice regarding face washes. Either you chose Biodermas sensibio gel moussant or any other one.

Save your money  – A face wash does not need to be expensive! 

I would say most skincare products (a few exceptions) don’t need to be expensive at all in order to be truly effective. Which you will see in most of my product reviews. And I would say this is especially true when it comes to face washes. So don’t waste your money on this kind of product.

If you already have a cleanser that you like and that doesn’t hurt your skin barrier, then keep using it. The cleanser is not the most important product when it comes to anti-aging. But it does need to be gentle and at the same time effective in removing dirt and makeup.

You definitely do not need to spend a fortune on a face wash with fancy ingredients, since they will be washed down the sink anyway. 

Paraben-free face wash – is it necessary?

Let’s talk briefly about parabens. You have probably heard that these chemicals are bad for you and should be avoided as much as possible.

More and more skincare companies are removing them from their products, but many still use them. So what do you need to know about these highly controversial ingredients? And do you need to worry when it comes to face washes?

If you’re not familiar with parabens, they are a group of preservatives that are widely used in skincare, haircare, makeup, drugs, and foods. And the parabens used most commonly in cosmetics are methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and ethylparaben.

The buzz about increased cancer risk

There is indeed an extensive debate going on within the skincare community, whether or not parabens should be avoided due to the fact that they have a weak estrogenic effect.

These discussions were especially raised after a study in 2004 that found traces of parabens in breast cancer tissues. Whether those traces are an indicator of paraben’s effect on cancer is still unknown and more studies need to be done before any conclusions can be made. 

Personally, I avoid parabens. But there is mostly another reason for that. And that is the effect they seem to have on your skin’s microflora.

Parabens effect on your microbiome

In my previous post, I mentioned that the wrong pH can harm your skin’s natural microbiome (temporarily). Now, unfortunately, it seems like many preservatives, such as parabens, do the same. 

Parabens are very effective in eliminating harmful bacteria that can arise in a product. And are therefore effective in prolonging the product’s shelf life.

But they seem to be just as effective in eliminating the good bacteria in your skin. The bacteria that helps to protect your skin against acne, inflammation, and aging, and a number of other things. 

The science around the skin’s microbiome has just started. So we really don’t know too much about the subject yet. Nor about how external factors can affect the microbiome long term.  

But, for now, I’ll just say that having a healthy microflora in our skin is something we should all strive towards. And reducing the use of parabens might be a good idea for everyone. 

Since there are many paraben-free face washes out there, I would definitely choose one of those.

SLS-free face wash – why it’s important to not harm your skin barrier 

Cleansing your face thoroughly, but without harming your skin barrier, is important for healthy skin. 

You need to cleanse your skin in order to remove dirt and to allow the products you put on to really absorb. And at the same time leave your skin barrier healthy and intact. One ingredient that everyone should avoid in their faces is Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS).

Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is a foaming agent used in most soaps and shampoos (and in most toothpaste too). It can hurt the skin barrier and if you’re not sensitive already, using SLS can definitely make you become so. I strongly recommend everyone to avoid it in their face wash.

If your skin barrier is damaged already. Then I highly recommend this step by step guide on how to restore it.

There are other ingredients that can do the cleansing in a much more skin-friendly way. Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate is, for example, a cleansing agent and emulsifier that won’t irritate or sensitize your skin. And it is used in Bioderma Sensibio gel moussant.

Summary

• Always use an SLS-free face wash.

• You do not need an expensive face wash. But you do need one that cleanses effectively without harming your skin’s barrier.

• A paraben-free face wash can be a good idea since parabens have been shown to disturb the skin’s natural microbiome. 

• Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant is my personal favorite when it comes to face washes. I love it because it’s effective in cleansing but at the same time developed for the most sensitive skin types.

• Bioderma Sensibio Gel Moussant can be used as an eye makeup remover too.

• After using a face wash, always follow up with a good toner. I personally use the Micellar solution from Filorga (which you can read more about in my previous post).

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That’s it! Hope you’ve found this post useful. And as always, let me know in the comments below if you have any questions.

I will continue to reveal the skincare products I use on a daily basis. So far I’ve covered the micellar water from Filorga that I use morning and evening. The Vitamin-c serum with astaxanthin from OZ naturals. And the sunscreens I use every day of the year.

Update: I have now published posts about my favorite moisturizer and the only retinol serum that my skin tolerates (and I have tried more than I can remember).

Until next time, love your skin!