🇬🇧United Kingdom

Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser for dry sensitive skin

Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser

Low

  • LowDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ConcerningSafety

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

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 your dry or flaky skin due to salicylic acid, which aids in mild skin renewal, but the presence of sodium laureth sulfate and menthol can strip natural oils and cause irritation, counteracting the humectant action of glycerin.
  • The formula contains charcoal powder for moderate cleansing and pore decongestion, which is beneficial for skin concerns.

How to apply

  • Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your face fresh. Start slowly once a day if your dry skin feels sensitive at first.
  • Apply your cleanser first thing in your routine before any toner or moisturizer. Follow the usual steps for your AM or PM daily routine.
  • Gently massage the cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to protect your dry skin.
  • Apply the cleanser to slightly damp skin to help it clean gently without stripping moisture. This method is very safe for sensitive and dry skin types.
  • Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and avoid the delicate eye area. Always do a patch test before using the product for the first time.

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 dry sensitive skin?

This cleanser is a weak match because ingredients like sodium laureth sulfate and menthol may strip natural oils and cause irritation on dry sensitive skin. A cleanser for this skin needs gentle, hydrating, and barrier-repairing ingredients such as ceramides and hyaluronic acid to maintain moisture and protect the skin.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2026

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

Sodium laureth sulfate and menthol make this cleanser a poor fit for dry sensitive skin because they can strip natural oils and cause irritation. Cleansers for this skin type need hydrating and barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and prebiotic thermal water to maintain moisture without stripping.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Activated Charcoal do for dry sensitive skin?

Activated charcoal helps draw out impurities and excess oil from the skin. However, for dry sensitive skin, it can sometimes be too stripping, so this skin type needs gentle cleansers paired with ingredients that rebuild moisture and calm irritation.

What does Salicylic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?

Salicylic acid is generally a poor fit for dry, sensitive skin because it is designed to clear out pores by removing excess oil, which can easily leave dry skin irritated. A product of this type needs gentle exfoliating helpers paired with rich, soothing moisturizers and barrier-repairing ingredients to keep dry skin calm and comfortable.

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

This cleanser is a weak match for dry sensitive skin because ingredients like sodium laureth sulfate and menthol can strip natural oils and cause irritation. To work for this skin type, a cleanser needs gentle, hydrating ingredients like glycerin and soothing plant extracts that clean without removing moisture.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2026The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022

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

Using this cleanser with retinol is a weak match for your dry sensitive skin because harsh ingredients like sodium laureth sulfate and menthol can easily strip natural oils and cause irritation. If you still choose to use them together, apply the cleanser first to clean your skin, and follow with a gentle, barrier-repairing moisturizer before applying your retinol to help protect against dryness and irritation.

How often should I use this cleanser?

This cleanser is a weak match for your skin, as strong cleansing ingredients and menthol may strip your natural oils and cause irritation. A cleanser for this skin needs gentle, hydrating ingredients and soothing agents to clean without disrupting your moisture barrier.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2026

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

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores since it contains charcoal for pore decongestion, but it may cause dryness and irritation on dry sensitive skin because strong cleansing agents strip natural oils. This type of skin needs gentle, hydrating cleansers with mild ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to keep the skin barrier soft and calm without stripping moisture.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2026

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

This cleanser is too harsh for the thin skin around your eyes and may strip natural oils there. For the body, cleansers for dry skin need gentle ingredients like glycerin and soothing plant extracts to keep skin soft and comfortable.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • 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
  • Treatment with sodium lauryl ether sulfate emulsion increased transepidermal water loss and skin surface pH while reducing stratum corneum hydration and natural moisturizing factor content compared to diacyl phospholipid emulsions and controls, irrespective of UVA irradiation, in eight healthy volunteers.

    International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2026
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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 dry sensitive skin better

  • Sodium laureth sulfate in this cleanser

    Squamometry successfully detected subclinical skin surface alterations and discriminated between the irritating effects of sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate on human skin using an open assay model.

    Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2001
  • 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?

Scan your face, then any product.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.