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Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it 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

  • Suitable for your oily skin, this cleanser contains charcoal powder to absorb excess sebum and salicylic acid for mild pore cleansing. Glycerin is included to provide a soothing effect, ensuring comfort for your skin.
  • While it offers general cleansing benefits for oily skin, the salicylic acid concentration is supportive rather than primary for addressing your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The product has a good safety profile with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.

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

★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 acne-prone skin?

This cleanser works for your oily skin by using charcoal to soak up extra oil and salicylic acid to clean pores, though it is only a helper for breakouts rather than a main treatment. It has a good safety profile with no irritation risks, but for oily acne-prone skin, a cleanser of this type needs soothing and effective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, or probiotics to properly balance oil and manage acne.

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

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

This cleanser fits your oily skin with charcoal powder to absorb excess oil and salicylic acid for mild pore cleaning. Glycerin adds a soothing effect to keep your skin comfortable. Cleansers that fit this skin best need soothing and effective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, or probiotics to manage breakouts and balance oil production.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

What does Activated Charcoal do for oily acne-prone skin?

Activated charcoal is unlikely to provide proven benefits for oily and acne-prone skin, as these products lack clinical evidence to support claims that they can treat conditions like acne or provide exfoliative effects. Oily and acne-prone skin typically needs ingredients that regulate sebum production and gently clear pores without irritation.

Clinics in Dermatology, 2020

What does Salicylic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?

Salicylic acid helps clear breakouts and keeps oily skin balanced by reducing oil levels and calming inflammation. It is well suited for oily, acne-prone skin because it targets pimples while helping keep the skin hydrated and protected.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019

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

This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routines as the first or second cleansing step to wash away excess oil and impurities. Oily acne-prone skin needs a cleanser that combines salicylic acid to mildly clean pores and charcoal to soak up extra sebum while keeping the skin comfortable.

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

You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first and following it with your retinol treatment once your skin is dry. This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation, but an average fit for acne-prone skin means it works best when paired with targeted acne treatments and gentle moisturizers containing ceramides or soothing plant extracts.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser daily in your morning and evening routines. It is unlikely to cause irritation on your oily skin and helps keep pores clean.

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

This cleanser is unlikely to clog your pores or cause breakouts because it contains salicylic acid to help keep pores clean and charcoal to absorb extra oil. However, because reviewers frequently mention that it can leave skin feeling dry and stripped, an oily acne-prone skin type needs a gentle, hydrating cleanser that removes dirt without disrupting the skin barrier.

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 the very thin skin directly around your eyes to prevent dryness and irritation. To properly care for and cleanse the delicate eye area, this type of product needs ultra-gentle, fragrance-free cleansing ingredients that respect thin skin.

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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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 acne-prone skin better

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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QR code: get the Lovi app
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