Not only is Drew Barrymore a beloved actor and talk show host, but in many ways, she feels like an older sister. Her candor around personal experiences is a breath of fresh air for viewers going through similar things. So when she dished with Oprah Daily about how her skincare routine has shifted during perimenopause (the stage before menopause), we paid attention.
According to Drew, perimenopause really changed her skin. “Everything is irritating,” she shares. “It’s really tough because I used to go to the store and try all these different products, and I used to love spending weekends giving myself at-home treatments. I can't do any of that anymore.”
So Drew scaled things back, narrowing her routine down to just three staples: a soap bar, vitamin E oil, and Garnier’s Micellar Cleansing Water—the last of which is a longtime drugstore favorite beloved by GH staffers and experts in our Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty & Personal Care Lab.
The standout about this cleanser? It’s tough on makeup but gentle on skin. Per the brand, the formula is oil-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free, sulfate-free, and silicone-free, making it a good fit for sensitive, perimenopausal skin (and beyond). Add some to a cotton round, and swipe it across the face to remove makeup and cleanse skin. And, it lasts you a while. In my experience, a 13.5-ounce bottle lasts for months.
Garnier’s Micellar Cleansing Water performed well in our tests, earning top marks from the GH Beauty & Personal Care Lab. It was named the best micellar water face wash and the best overall eye makeup remover.
One tester with dry skin shared, "It was silky smooth and made my skin look amazing,” while another noted, "Normally, I have to tissue off my mascara after washing my face, but it wasn't necessary with this product.”
Whether you’re perimenopausal or not, this gentle cleanser is a solid option for washing away sweat, oil, and makeup without irritating your skin—all for under $12. Thanks for the drugstore recommendation, Drew!
![jennifer garner at peacocks the five star weekend premiere held at the hammer museum on july 08, 2026 in los angeles, california photo by christopher polkdeadline via getty images](https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/e417e56d-f9fc-4b35-9e34-5853ed84cf23.jpeg?crop=0.666727075027xw:1xh;center,top&resize=360:* "Peacock's "The Five Star Weekend" Premiere")
