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Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser for sensitive skin

Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser

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A weak match for sensitive skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 exfoliation for redness and irritation due to salicylic acid, which aids in mild skin renewal, and glycerin for humectant action, though menthol may cause discomfort for your sensitive skin.
  • The cleansing action is moderate, with sodium laureth sulfate and salicylic acid helping to decongest pores.

How to apply

  • Use your cleanser in the AM and PM routines every day. Start using it daily since your sensitive skin needs gentle care.
  • Apply this first in your morning and evening skincare routine before toner and moisturizer. This clears away dirt without upsetting your skin.
  • Gently massage a small amount onto your face using soft circles. Avoid any rough rubbing to keep redness away.
  • Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it wash away impurities softly. Clean skin feels fresh and comfortable afterwards.
  • Avoid getting the cleanser in your eyes and do a quick patch test before first use. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.

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

Why is Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser a weak match for sensitive skin?

This cleanser is a weak match for sensitive skin because it contains menthol, which may cause discomfort, alongside strong cleansing agents and salicylic acid that can strip moisture. Cleansers suited for this skin need hydrating and soothing ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides, with gentle cleansing properties and no allergens to protect the skin barrier.

Pain, 2006

Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for sensitive skin?

This cleanser is a weak match for sensitive skin because menthol may cause discomfort, and strong cleansing ingredients like sodium laureth sulfate can strip moisture. A cleanser of this type needs effective hydrating and soothing ingredients like niacinamide and ceramide-3 to prevent irritation and keep redness down.

Pain, 2006

What does Activated Charcoal do for sensitive skin?

Activated charcoal is unlikely to benefit sensitive skin because activated charcoal products lack clinical evidence to support claims that they can provide skincare benefits. Sensitive skin needs products with gentle ingredients that calm irritation and strengthen the skin barrier.

Clinics in Dermatology, 2020

What does Salicylic Acid do for sensitive skin?

Salicylic acid may cause irritation on sensitive skin, so it requires careful use and good sun protection to keep skin comfortable. A product for this skin type needs gentle, soothing ingredients and a mild formula that respects the skin barrier.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 1999International Journal of Toxicology, 2003

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

This cleanser fits into both morning and evening routines for sensitive skin, though it may cause discomfort because it contains menthol. A cleanser for this skin needs to be very gentle and fragrance-free to clean without causing redness or irritation.

Pain, 2006

Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?

This cleanser is a weak match for sensitive skin and contains ingredients like menthol and salicylic acid that may cause irritation when paired with retinol. To protect easily irritated skin, this skin type needs a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser and hydrating ingredients like glycerin or ceramides instead.

Pain, 2006

How often should I use this cleanser?

This cleanser is a weak match for your sensitive skin because ingredients like salicylic acid and menthol may cause discomfort, redness, and irritation. A cleanser for this skin needs gentle, hydrating ingredients like glycerin and soothing plant extracts to keep the skin calm and comfortable.

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores since it helps clear them out, but it may cause dryness and irritation for sensitive skin. This type of skin needs gentle, hydrating ingredients like glycerin and soothing plant extracts rather than harsh cleansing agents and menthol.

Pain, 2006

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

This cleanser is generally too harsh for the thin skin around the eyes due to ingredients like menthol and strong cleansers that may cause discomfort. Sensitive skin of this type needs gentle, hydrating ingredients and fragrance-free cleansers that protect the skin barrier.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Pain, 2006

Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Topical 30% l-menthol decreased cold pain thresholds and enhanced pain responses to suprathreshold noxious cold stimuli without affecting other stimuli in 39 healthy subjects compared to ethanol control.

    Pain, 2006
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
  • 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 sensitive skin better

  • Menthol in this cleanser

    Topical menthol induced significant pain, cold sensations, punctate and cold hyperalgesia, and increased cutaneous perfusion in 10 subjects compared to ethanol control, acting as a human model for cold pain by sensitizing peripheral cold C nociceptors and activating cold-specific A delta fibres.

    Brain, 2004

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.

How does it fit your skin?

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How does it fit your skin?

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