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Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser for oily skin

Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily skin; other cleansers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate cleansing for your oily skin due to the presence of sodium laureth sulfate and salicylic acid, which help to cleanse pores and absorb excess sebum. Glycerin and charcoal powder provide general cleansing benefits, though specialized ingredients for managing oily shine are not present.
  • The formula is safe for your oily skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
  • This cleanser is highly suitable for oily skin due to salicylic acid's keratolytic action and charcoal powder's sebum absorption capabilities.

How to apply

  • Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
  • Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
  • Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
  • You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
  • Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.

People Say

★3.9Overall rating based on 9.0k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly effective for users with oily and acne-prone skin, providing a deep clean and excellent oil control. Many users appreciate the refreshing sensation and notice improvements in complexion. However, a significant number of users with dry or sensitive skin report that the product can be overly drying and may cause irritation or redness.

Highlights

  • Deep clean feeling Mostly Mentioned
    • “Face feels squeaky clean”
    • “removes all dirt and grease”
    • “pores feel breathable again”
  • Oil control Often Mentioned
    • “Keeps shine away”
    • “great for my oily T-zone”
    • “cuts through grease immediately”
  • Refreshing sensation Often Mentioned
    • “Love the tingle”
    • “feels cool and refreshing”
    • “wakes up my skin”
  • Drying and stripping Often Mentioned
    • “Made my skin peel”
    • “face felt super tight”
    • “too harsh for daily use”
  • Clears complexion Sometimes Noted
    • “Helped clear my blackheads”
    • “fewer pimples since using”
    • “skin looks brighter”
  • Irritation and redness Sometimes Noted
    • “Burned my face”
    • “turned my skin red”
    • “stung my eyes bad”
  • Messy application Sometimes Noted
    • “Stains the sink”
    • “leaves black drips everywhere”
    • “messy to rinse off”
  • Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
    • “Smells like chemicals”
    • “scent is too strong”
    • “overwhelming perfume smell”

Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, target.com, walmart.com, ulta.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser work for oily skin?

Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser works moderately well for oily skin by using salicylic acid to clean pores and charcoal to absorb extra oil, though it lacks specialized ingredients for managing shiny skin. A cleanser for oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to control oil and support skin health without irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?

Salicylic acid and sodium laureth sulfate make this cleanser a good fit because they help to clean pores and absorb excess oil. Glycerin and charcoal powder also offer general cleaning benefits, but cleansers that fit this skin best need ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, or probiotics to manage oily shine and support skin health.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

What does Activated Charcoal do for oily skin?

Activated charcoal products are unlikely to improve oily skin or clear breakouts because they lack clinical evidence to support these benefits. Oily skin needs ingredients that help balance oil production and keep pores clear.

Clinics in Dermatology, 2020

What does Salicylic Acid do for oily skin?

Salicylic acid helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and keeping pores clear. It may also improve overall skin hydration while managing breakouts.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine for oily skin, right before your toner and moisturizer. An average fit for oily skin, this type of product needs specialized ingredients for managing oily shine.

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cleanser with retinol, but to keep your skin calm, use the cleanser first and follow with your retinol treatment on dry skin. Cleansers of this type work best for oily skin when they include targeted ingredients that actively control excess shine and keep pores clear.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It cleans pores and absorbs extra oil safely without causing irritation, though oily skin often benefits from specialized ingredients to manage shine.

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it contains salicylic acid to help clear out pores. However, reviewers frequently mention that it can leave skin feeling dry and stripped, which may sometimes lead to irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

This cleanser is generally safe to use on the body, but it is best avoided close to the eyes because the skin there is very thin and sensitive to strong cleansers. Oily skin on the body benefits most from washes containing salicylic acid or charcoal to deeply clear pores and absorb extra oil.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020
  • Soap-and-water wash and superactive charcoal paste applied topically at various times after T-2 toxin exposure effectively reduced skin lesion severity in swine compared to untreated controls.

    Fundamental and Applied Toxicology, 1989
  • Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.

    CMAJ, 2010
  • Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010
  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001
  • The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.

    Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003
  • Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) treatment decreases lipid membrane chain conformational order and stiffness leading to increased water sorption and diffusivity, whereas sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) treatment increases lipid membrane conformational order and stiffness with increased water sorption capacity driven by its hygroscopic nature.

    Langmuir, 2014

Why other cleansers fit oily skin better

  • A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.

    International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sorbitol, Laureth-4 Carboxylic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Menthol, Methylparaben, Polyquaternium-39, Propylparaben, Charcoal Powder, Disodium Edta, Mannitol, Cellulose, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Methylisothiazolinone, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Iron Oxides

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

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