Garnier Skin Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Anti-Imperfection Serum

I was hesitant yet curious about this product, as it's black from the charcoal I was concerned it would leave a tint or hue using it for daytime use however I quickly found out I needn't have worried as it not only doesnt leave a hue, it soaks in quickly and the scent and texture are both really good. After a month I have noticed redness diminished. The 3 hero skincare ingredients delivered targeted treatment to my oily acne prone skin, leaving it matte in texture and clear of blemishes.

When I applied for this trial team my skin was in an absolutely terrible state. I get hormonal acne at certain times each month but this was a particularly bad instance and my combination skin had been looking oilier - potentially just one poor product choice. I was also keen to reduce marks and redness.

The serum is quite thick and syrupy and smells ok (not Garnier’s best smelling product!). It’s a black colour which rubs in clear, but I found if I accidentally used too much or my face was slightly damp it created a soapy texture.

Initially I used it all over as a serum which required a couple of pipettes worth of product. I later began to just apply it to my spots and oil -prone areas. I would love some advice as to what other serums I could use in combination with this to achieve the perfect, complete skin appearance I am after.

The charcoal does dry out the oilines and remove toxins (I'd previously seen success using a cleanser which contained charcoal as a teenager). I am still getting spots but feel they’re clearing up faster. The orange peel pore texture remains but I have seen a definite reduction in my skin redness.

After using the Garnier Skin Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Anti-Imperfection Serum for a while, I have to say it's a good product. The serum has a pleasant texture and absorbs quickly into the skin without leaving any greasy residue. I appreciate the inclusion of AHA and BHA exfoliants, as well as the charcoal ingredient, which is known for its purifying properties.

While the serum didn't provide me with an instant, dramatic transformation, I did notice some positive changes in my skin. It helped to unclog my pores and reduce the appearance of blackheads and blemishes to some extent. My skin felt smoother and slightly more refined after using it regularly.

However, I must admit that the results weren't as significant as I had hoped for. Perhaps my expectations were set too high, or it could be that my skin requires more time to fully respond to the product. I'm willing to continue using it and see if the results improve over time.

One thing worth mentioning is that the serum didn't cause any irritation or dryness on my skin, which is a big plus. It has a mild, pleasant scent that isn't overpowering, making it suitable for those who are sensitive to fragrance.

Overall, the Garnier Skin Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Anti-Imperfection Serum is a good addition to my skincare routine. While the immediate difference may not be groundbreaking, I believe it has the potential to deliver better results with continued use.

Left my face feeling quite dry and was used alot more then was suggested as i found it hard to spread .It did remove blemishes really well

I was selected to trial the Garnier Skin Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Anti-Imperfection Serum.

The product arrived just as I arrived home from 2 weeks in Fiji. Timing worked out quite well, as I came home with a bit of a break out of pimples. I'm not sure if it was the tropical heat, or the over-indulging while on holiday, but it's the worst my skin has been since I was a teenager.

Straight away I began using this in the hopes it would tackle my pimples.

It stung a little bit when applied because I had a bit of dryness - but certainly nothing unbearable. It soaked into my skin quickly and once rubbed in, you could see a slight tinge of black from the charcoal.

After using it for about a week, I noticed a very very slight improvement. I was hoping that it would have made much more of a difference.

I continued to use it, and I feel that it might have helped a little - but I have used store-bought products in the past that are a lot more fast-acting for pimples.

Not bad, but if I were to break out again, I'd be buying something else - this was just too slow for me.

I was rather off put by the idea of a black serum but I had seen this all over tik tok so wanted to try! It’s a really nice hydrating serum and my husband even uses it. There was absolutely no downtime of skin irritation getting used to it like other serums. I feel i need to buy one more and see if it continues giving me a nice even glow over a longer period of time

As a background to my skin type, I have combination skin that is typically oily on my nose/chin and normal elsewhere. I’m prone to the occasional breakout on my chin. I have obvious pores around my nose which I'm always keen to try reducing!

The product comes in a small glass bottle with a pipette. One full squeeze of the pipette is all I needed to cover my whole face. I estimate that you could probably get two months of twice daily use of this product before it runs out.

The consistency of the product is quite goopy/sticky, but it doesn't feel bad on my skin. Immediately after use, my skin did feel more matte and smoother which was a good base to start with before applying makeup. The product has the same smell as every other Garnier product I've tried, it's hard to describe, but it's quite a fresh smell in my opinion.

I wondered whether I'd still be able to see the charcoal on my skin after use, but the black colour disappears when you rub it in.

I've been using this product for over a month now, but unfortunately, I haven't noticed any significant improvement in my skin. My breakouts seem to be about the same level they usually are. My pores appear the same and if anything, my skin seems even more red than it was a month ago.

I think the main issue with this product is that the AHA/BHA concentration is just too low. If it was a bit higher there might be better results. However, it is a drug store brand, so for the price it's not terrible.

I wouldn't discourage anyone from using this product if it sounds like something that would help your skin, but I wouldn't actively recommend this product.

I like this serum it’s light and smells nice. It’s quite strange to put a black serum on your skin but it disappears instantly and soaks into skin nicely without feeling heavy or sticky. It’s helping with my acne along my jawline so will continue to use the entire bottle as it’s working for me

I enjoyed using this serum, but there are other serums I would choose over this one. It has a very masculine/unisex smell and I just couldn’t get past it. It is a very tacky formula and slightly foams up when applying on the skin and takes a while to dry down. It doesn’t feel like other serums I’m used to using, overall it is a good serum my husband really liked using it I think this is better as a male product. I didn’t notice any difference in my skin texture, redness or oiliness while using this. But I am currently 38 weeks pregnant and my skin is abit wild at the moment

I've been using the Garnier Skin Active AHA + BHA Charcoal Anti-Imperfection Serum 1-2 times per day for a few weeks, and I really wanted to like it but I just don't think it agrees with my skin. I ended up having more breakouts than usual and my pores are more congested. I can't say for certain that this was CAUSED by the serum, but it definitely didn't do anything to PREVENT it. If you are sensitive to fragrance in your skincare products I'd say you should give this one a miss. This serum is pretty heavily fragranced which could be part of the reason why it didn't work so well for me. I didn't enjoy the texture of this serum; I like my serums to feel moisturising and almost melt into my skin, but this one feels quite sticky and tight, and kind of sits on top of my skin like a film if I don't spend extra time rubbing it in. The black colour of the product does disappear once you apply it, but I notice that it leaves little black splatters marks on my bathroom counter when I take the stopper out of the bottle (and I do try to be careful!). One positive thing I have noticed is that it does seem to help blemishes heal and fade faster. I had a couple of spots that just dried up and flaked away after a couple days. Overall I don't think I would use this again. I have tried other AHA + BHA products that work better for my skin and have a nicer texture and (lack of) fragrance.