The Garnier Pure Active Charcoal Gel Wash comes in a nice bottle with a pump. My pump was slightly hard to use which is always awkward in the shower reaching up to shelf etc. Furthermore, products with pumps are never easy to just chuck in your toilet bag and take away due to leakage. The other option is to put some in a smaller pottle for trips away but some of us can't be bothered with that and it's often just more plastic.
I think the packaging is eye catching. The black bottle represents the charcoal product and makes the label really stand out. Not many products have black with facial products so it is a point of difference on the grocery shelf. Like other Garnier products, I like how they include a little bit of info of a small study they have already done on the product. It not only makes the product seem more thoroughly tested, but also ensures that it will likely benefit the consumers skin too.
On application the product is like a clear gel and very smooth and luxurious to apply. It foams up after about 10-15 seconds of massaging which is good as it ensures I'm actually giving my face a decent wash instead of rushing. When rinsing off your skin feels incredibly soft, like it has been exfoliated, however, it almost feels like it leaves a small residue on the skin....which leads me to my next negative point.
Unfortunately, something about this product has caused my skin to break out (I also appreciate my breakout could be completely unrelated to this product). I have even gotten whiteheads around my nose where I only ever had blackheads. I think it has actually improved the size and number of blackheads....but if it leads to breakouts it is pointless. I have finally cleared my skin out over the last 3 months after years of mild acne by removing cow's milk from my diet. It could be a coincidence this product has made me skin have a small breakout. I will have a break from it and try again in a few weeks as if it wasn't for the breakout I really like everything else the Garnier Pure Active Charcoal Gel Wash has to offer.
Would I recommend this to friends? Yes, unless they have acne-prone skin in which I would recommend with caution (but I do appreciate so much more goes into acne than just external products e.g. diet, hormones, genetics, stress etc.).
I would like to think this product wasn't the sole reason for my breakout, and will try again once my skin has calmed down.
So I was abit apprehensive with using this to begin with because I usually like to keep away from products that have salicylic acid in it, but I gave it a go and I absolutely love it! Unlike other cleansers I have used, this cleanser doesn't leave my skin feeling dry and tight right after washing. My usual pimple spots have been pretty empty since using this for a week. On else I run out of this bottle I will definitely repurchase.
Tips: I find that it makes my face feel amazing if I use it after steaming my face for abit so my pores are opened.