I’m trying to keep my skincare simple these days, due to a recurring case of facial dermatitis that’s been bothering me for months. (It an allergy? Is it caused by stress? Who knows?) That means minimal product, but I still need to cleanser and to remove my makeup at night—and Le Couvent des Minimes’s 3-in-1 Micellar Water came along at just the right time.

This combination makeup remover, cleanser, and toner is described as “Loving Care for the Face,” and I agree that it’s easy and gentle to use. In the morning, I pump some of this product onto a cotton pad and sweep it over my face just before getting into the shower. In the evening, I do the same thing—and it really does remove my long-wear foundation. (I follow up with just a bit of CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser at night, although it’s probably not strictly necessary.)

I’m probably the last girl on the block to try micellar water, although I’ve known about these handy, water-based liquids for several years. They were first popular in France, and they work their magic with micelles, tiny molecules that are perfectly composed to attract and pull away dirt, oil, and other impurities.

Here are the ingredients in Les Couvent des Minimes’s Micellar Water:

Water, polysorbate 20, pentylene glycol, althaea officinalis  (marsh-mallow) root extract, centaurea cyanus flower (cornflower) water, bisabolol, glycerin, sodium bensoate, fragrance.

My only criticism of this product is that its floral scent is quite strong, even for a perfume-lover like myself. However, it’s effective and it coddles my skin while doing its job, so it’s an overall win for me and my cranky face right now.

Les Couvent des Minimes 3-in-1 Micellar Water sells for $19 (13.5 fl. oz.) at the company website and select Duane Reade drugstores.

Product source: I received this item as a press sample.