Lumin Charcoal Face Wash for oily acne-prone skin
Charcoal Powder
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
Bergamot Oil Fruit
Centella Asiatica Extract
Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractHigh
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 excellent cleansing for your oily skin, as charcoal powder absorbs excess oil and potassium cocoyl glycinate effectively removes impurities, while Centella Asiatica Extract and Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract provide soothing benefits.
- The formula is well-suited for oily skin due to charcoal powder's absorbent properties and anti-inflammatory action from Centella Asiatica Extract, though targeted ingredients for acne are supportive rather than primary.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing botanical extracts.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly praised for its deep cleaning and oil control, particularly for oily and combination skin types. Many users enjoy its fresh scent and good lather. However, a moderate number of users with sensitive skin report experiencing irritation or dryness, likely due to the essential oil content.
Highlights
Deep cleaning feel Mostly Mentioned
- “Satisfying deep clean”
- “removes grime”
- “skin feels clean”
Effective oil control Often Mentioned
- “Balances oily skin”
- “removes excess oil”
- “less greasy residue”
Jar packaging Often Mentioned
- “Only con is the jar”
- “dip your fingers”
- “prefer pump containers”
Good lather Sometimes Noted
- “Excellent foaming action”
- “moderate foam”
- “satisfying lather”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “Smells clean”
- “citrussy fragrance”
- “fresh scent”
Drying effect Sometimes Noted
- “Left me feeling dry”
- “tightness after cleansing”
- “dry patches”
Potential irritation Sometimes Noted
- “Irritation potential”
- “not for sensitive skin”
- “reactive skin issues”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “Price is steep”
- “expensive for 3.4oz”
- “cheaper dupes exist”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, dermapproved.com, theadultman.com, standard.co.uk, ozhairandbeauty.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Lumin Charcoal Face Wash a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Lumin Charcoal Face Wash is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin because charcoal powder absorbs excess oil while gentle cleansers remove impurities, and soothing extracts calm your skin. This formula has an excellent safety profile with no irritation risks, helping to keep your face feeling clean and balanced.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Molecules, 2023
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Charcoal powder makes this cleanser a great fit by absorbing excess oil, while Centella Asiatica extract helps calm the skin. Botanical extracts like green tea leaf extract also support clear, balanced skin with very low risk of irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
What does Charcoal Powder do for oily acne-prone skin?
Activated charcoal products lack clinical evidence to support claims that they can treat conditions like acne or provide exfoliative benefits for oily skin. A product of this type needs ingredients that effectively clear pores and balance oil to truly help acne-prone skin.
What does Butyrospermum Parkii Butter do for oily acne-prone skin?
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter helps protect the skin barrier, but because it is quite heavy, it may feel too rich for oily acne-prone skin. Skin of this type usually needs lighter, balancing ingredients like natural plant oils with a higher linoleic acid to oleic acid ratio that help keep pores clear and smooth.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser fits in your morning and evening routine as the first step after removing makeup at night. It helps lift away impurities and excess oil safely while keeping your skin calm.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol as part of your routine, applying the cleanser first in the evening before your retinol treatment. This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin due to its soothing botanical extracts.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It offers excellent cleansing by soaking up excess oil, and it is unlikely to cause irritation.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
Lumin Charcoal Face Wash is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as it contains charcoal powder to absorb excess oil and soothing plant extracts like Centella Asiatica to help calm the skin.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Molecules, 2023
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid using it directly around the eyes. While the formula is very safe and gentle, cleansers with charcoal and strong cleansing agents can easily dry out or irritate the very thin skin in the eye area.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (linalool and limonene).
What the research says
Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Soap-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, 1989A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Combining bergamot essential oil-loaded nano-phytosomes with spironolactone significantly improved therapeutic response against acne vulgaris compared to bergamot essential oil-loaded nano-phytosomes alone in patients.
Pharmaceuticals, 2023Topical cutaneous administration of bergamot essential oil and ammonium glycyrrhizinate co-loaded ultradeformable vesicles showed superior anti-inflammatory activity compared to vesicles containing ammonium glycyrrhizinate alone in human volunteers.
Biomedicines, 2022Topical application of suntan preparations containing bergamot oil with 5-methoxypsoralen produced no phototoxic response under solar simulated radiation but caused a photosensitizing effect in skin type I volunteers exposed to high ultraviolet A doses, along with low photogenotoxicity and low systemic concentrations.
Skin Pharmacology, 1993Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020A 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, 2017Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009Topical application of green tea extract encapsulated chitosan microparticles improved skin elasticity, melanin index, and facial wrinkles compared to a placebo in female volunteers without causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Myristic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Stearic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cocamide Mea, Charcoal Powder, Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Potassium Cocoate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Sorbitan Olivate, Bergamot Oil Fruit, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil Flower Geranium Oil Flower, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Lemon Peel Oil, Rose Oil Flower, Sandalwood Oil, Cymbopogon Martini Oil Palmarosa Oil, Centella Asiatica Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract Japanese Knotweed Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract Baikal Skullcap Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract, Disodium Edta, Linalool, Limonene
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.