The title of “cult classic” can be flung around rather flippantly when it comes to products these days, making it tough to decipher which beauty products do, and don’t, stand apart from the rest. But one that’s been around for more almost 27 years, is recognized from a distance and is a favorite to both big-name makeup artists and celebrities alike—that’s a surefire sign of a winner.
Long-known as the go-to remover for even the heaviest of eye-makeup jobs, Lancôme’s Bi Facil Eye Makeup Remover has been the hero product—also the only product—in Lancome’s Bi-Facil line, until now. Say hello to Bi-Facil Face ($40), the second product to enter the line, and the holy grail’s new, micellar-water sibling that’s equally as impressive.
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If you’ve used the Eye Makeup Remover before, you’re probably thinking the same thing I was when I heard the news of the facial launch: Won’t my face be left super oily? I’m happy to report that though the same shake-before-use, two-phase formula is present in the facial version, it boasts a much lighter, never-greasy finish. The science behind the phases are the same—oil-based to “melt” makeup, then water-based to whisk it away—but the new formula takes sensitive skin and a full face into play with the addition of makeup- and dirt-trapping micellar water (in fact, it’s so lightweight, you might not know it wasn’t regular micellar water by its consistency alone if you were blindly testing).
When I put Bi-Facil Face to the test, I couldn’t be more surprised. After soaking just one cotton pad with the formula, it removed my entire face of makeup (including long-lasting foundation, concealer, bronzer—the whole nine yards) without having to reach for another. I didn’t, however, take off my eye makeup with the formula, as the directions suggested I use the original Eye Makeup formula for that (the Face formula is very light and water-like, so I can see why something more oil-based would handle the job better).
Once my skin dried, it was so soft to the touch, I actually had to think about whether I applied a cream or serum to it (I didn’t). I had no idea these kinds of results were possible from a makeup remover, but I suppose I shouldn’t be so surprised—it did take the brand close to three decades to introduce a follow up, after all.
