Garnier Pure Active Charcoal Anti-Blackhead Intensive Gel Wash promises to visibly reduce the appearance of blackheads. The cleanser is enriched with charcoal, known for its adsorbing properties (attracts dirt and impurities, causing them to stick to the charcoal before being rinsed away), blueberry extract and salicylic acid, which help to visibly reduce blackheads and help protect agains their reappearance.
The dark grey coloured gel wash is packaged in a pump bottle, and one pump of cleanser is sufficient to wash my face and neck. When a little water is added and my palms are rubbed together, the gel converts into a fairly thick white foam (they call it a mousse, but it's nowhere near as thick as a mousse), which is then massaged onto the skin before being rinsed off.
I have very oily skin, so my T-zone (nose, chin and forehead) have quite a number of blackheads, and after using this gel wash for two weeks, my blackheads are less noticeable. They're still there, they're just not as dark or as prominent. My skin does feel clean after using this gel wash, but I really don't like the mentholated forumla. I'm not a fan of menthol or eucalyptus in my face or body products, and if I had known that this product contained menthol, I would never have accepted the trial team invitation.
The amount of menthol in this gel wash is quite strong; its strong enough for me to want to get the cleanser off my face as soon as I start massaging the foam onto my skin as it makes my skin tingle and burn. It's really not a pleasant feeling at all. Personally, I feel that menthol or eucalyptus should be reserved for hair products and should not be added to face or body products at all, but that's just my personal preference.
I'd only consider using this product again if the formula is changed and the menthol is omitted, or they bring out a menthol-free version of this gel wash.
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.