Garnier Pure Active Charcoal Gel Wash Reviews

This charcoal cleanser is very effective on combination/oily skin. I do think it could be a bit drying for normal to dry/sensitive skin types. But I have combination skin so I found it to be very effective at preventing break outs around my T Zone. Also it really does a great job at clarifying pores and has noticeably reduced the blackheads that I had on my nose! So it really did do what it said it would do. It’s fantastic at getting rid of blackheads! The only complaint I have about the product is that I think it has quite a strong, chemical smell. So that’s the only downside and that could just be my personal experience. But if you’re sensitive to strong smelling products, then that may be something to consider. But overall, it is a product that does what it promises and delivers results!

First impression of the bottle was great, it is a nice sleek look packaging and I love the pump! Certainly makes it easier to dispense the face wash. Product foams up well and definitely washes the face well. However that is where the positives wnd for me. The next day I woke up with a greasier than normal face. I thought to myself, maybe this is one of those things that gets worse before it gets better but after a whole week I am getting more blackheads by the day in places on my face that zi didn’t have them before. Therefore I don’t believe it does what it claims to do. It does clean off makeup nicely though.

I am quite impressed by this gel wash. I have only been using it once a day, as it does work really well on controlling oil/shine, so I decided that I'd rather use moisturising cleansers at night time.

As I said, my shine has definitely improved and I don't find my skin shiny by the end of the day. I don't have a huge problem with blackheads, just the odd one here and there, but I've definitely noticed that I haven't had any since starting to use this.

It feels really nice on - not too drying so you don't get the tight feeling afterwards.

I am used to using a natural based product where you can slather it across your entire face (eyes and mouth included), so that takes a bit of getting used to.

First thing that struck me about this product is how big it is! At a huge 200ml and needing only a wee dollop each time, this is going to last a long time. Thankfully due to its gender neutral packaging (black, blue and red) and no feminine scent to it (more a medical type smell), my partner is using this product too.

The product is a smooth black gel. Only foams up only a little bit but applies easily and leaves skin clean and refreshed, and not too dry. Unlike the 3 in 1 charcoal scrub, it doesn't leave black marks all over the shower.

It makes some bold claims about reducing blackheads and imperfections (which is a little generic and vague). Not sure if that has happened for me (yet) but the gel does reduce oil production so it should in theory reduce blackheads.

Overall I prefer the 3 in 1 charcoal scrub because I prefer the grittiness to it, and can get in and give my face a good scrub. But it is a good product as a cleanser for the days I don't want to scrub.

Garnier Pure Active Charcoal Anti-Blackhead Intensive Gel Wash promises to visibly reduce the appearance of blackheads. The cleanser is enriched with charcoal, known for its adsorbing properties (attracts dirt and impurities, causing them to stick to the charcoal before being rinsed away), blueberry extract and salicylic acid, which help to visibly reduce blackheads and help protect agains their reappearance.

The dark grey coloured gel wash is packaged in a pump bottle, and one pump of cleanser is sufficient to wash my face and neck. When a little water is added and my palms are rubbed together, the gel converts into a fairly thick white foam (they call it a mousse, but it's nowhere near as thick as a mousse), which is then massaged onto the skin before being rinsed off.

I have very oily skin, so my T-zone (nose, chin and forehead) have quite a number of blackheads, and after using this gel wash for two weeks, my blackheads are less noticeable. They're still there, they're just not as dark or as prominent. My skin does feel clean after using this gel wash, but I really don't like the mentholated forumla. I'm not a fan of menthol or eucalyptus in my face or body products, and if I had known that this product contained menthol, I would never have accepted the trial team invitation.

The amount of menthol in this gel wash is quite strong; its strong enough for me to want to get the cleanser off my face as soon as I start massaging the foam onto my skin as it makes my skin tingle and burn. It's really not a pleasant feeling at all. Personally, I feel that menthol or eucalyptus should be reserved for hair products and should not be added to face or body products at all, but that's just my personal preference.

I'd only consider using this product again if the formula is changed and the menthol is omitted, or they bring out a menthol-free version of this gel wash.

I really like this product. A little goes a long way, I barely need one pump to cleanse my face. It is easy to wash off and it feels so lovely and soft. I have noticed it has started to bring some of the blackheads I have had difficulty getting rid of up and out. I am not sure if it has visibly reduced them but I have only been using it a week. And I feel that if I keep using it regularly it will prevent the majority from coming back. I have definitely noticed that it has reduced how oily my skin is by the end of the day which is a definite bonus as my skin is really oily. The only negative I can think of is that I got some dry patches of skin over my face the first few days but that has cleared up.

All in all I am going to keep using this. It is one of the first products in a long while that has made a noticeable difference to the oily shine I get as well as helping me get out some of the more stubborn blackheads.

I really enjoy this product. I love love love the pump bottle, it has a permenent spot in my shower and is so easy, 1 pump is all you need. Its not a scary black like charcoal but more a black tinted gel, it foams nicely and feels "active" when rubbing on your face. There is a light tingle which I like because it feels like it's working. It also clears off makeup fantastically. Has it cleared up my black heads? That's hard to tell, but it definitely hasn't made them worse. My skin feels cleaner, and it really gets stuck into the oils my skin likes to produce in abundance, almost like it's been toned aswell so I have been skipping the witch hazel. I also note it has calmed down my spots, they are less inflamed and go away faster. There is a strong peppermint/menthol smell which might explain the tingling, its not at all unpleasant. I will purchase this again when I've finished this bottle, I really enjoy the ease of use and feeling of my skin.