Garnier

Garnier Micellar Gentle Peeling Water with PHA and Glycolic Acid.

Cleansers

About this product

A micellar cleansing water with 1% PHA and glycolic acid, formulated to remove makeup and impurities while gently exfoliating, and suitable for use around the eye area.

Full ingredients

Aqua/Water/Eau, Hexylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Glycerin, Ananas Sativus Fruit Extract/Pineapple Fruit Extract, Papain, Glycolic Acid, PEG-32, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Coco-Betaine, Poloxamer 184, Disodium EDTA, Propanediol, Polysorbate 20, Myrtrimonium Bromide

Guru Score

73%

Mixed

4 experts · Moderate agreement

What the gurus are saying

Is it a cleanser or a toner in disguise? The gurus can't quite settle it. The exfoliating kick is mild enough that one who's normally wary of glycolic acid could use it, and it's built for the eye area. The catch: it doesn't feel very different from other Garnier micellar waters, and Bioderma still edges it out. Fans like the gentle exfoliation it brings.

Synthesized from 4 expert reviews · most recent take April 2026

What they liked

Gentle enough for around the eyes

What they flagged

Not notably different from standard micellar water
Trace glycolic acid limits exfoliating effect

Type

CleansersLiquid

Key actives

AHA

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

Ulta → Amazon → Google → iHerb →

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

AliceintheRabbitHole

59k subs

~Mixed

"This is the Garnier micellar gentle peeling water with 1% PHA and glycolic acid. I'm normally very careful with glycolic acid, but this is an example of a product I was actually able to use, probably because the glycolic acid in it is at such trace levels that it's mostly the PHA doing the work, since it's made to be used around the eye area. I don't think this was significantly different from the other Garnier micellar waters, and ultimately I still think Bioderma is a little bit better."

Dr Dray

2.69M subs

~Mixed

"This one's got PHA and glycolic acid. This seems more like a toner to me. Like it would be useful in that regard."

Dr. Mamina

283k subs

~Yay

"The Garnier Mel skin active gentle peeling water with 1% PHA and glycolic acid"

Cassandra Bankson

2.46M subs

~Yay

"These have literally given me exfoliation and vitamin C at a time that I needed them"

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Alpha hydroxy acids

Alpha hydroxy acids loosen the bonds holding dead cells at the surface. The evidence supports smoother texture and more even tone over time, and they can leave skin more sensitive to sun.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Frequently asked.

What is Garnier Micellar Gentle Peeling Water with PHA and Glycolic Acid?

A micellar cleansing water with 1% PHA and glycolic acid, formulated to remove makeup and impurities while gently exfoliating, and suitable for use around the eye area.

Is Garnier Micellar Gentle Peeling Water with PHA and Glycolic Acid worth it?

The gurus mostly approve it, but with enough reservations to keep it in the middle at a Guru Score of 73%.

What is Garnier Micellar Gentle Peeling Water with PHA and Glycolic Acid's Guru Score?

Garnier Micellar Gentle Peeling Water with PHA and Glycolic Acid holds a Guru Score of 73%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 4 expert reviewers we have collected.