Biore Charcoal Pore Minimizer ($9.99 at Ulta) draws dirt and oil out of the skin with natural charcoal to help your pores look smaller.
Charcoal seems to be the latest buzzword in skincare, but it's been around for a long time due to it's ability to draw dirt and oil out of the skin like a magnet. I've been using the Freeman Charcoal and Black Sugar Mask for a few years now (see my review here) and it's one of my favorites. Charcoal an insanely porous material that works by the process of adsorbtion (nope, that's not a typo!). Adsorbtion is different from absorption in that it doesn't suck things in like a sponge, it attracts things like molecules, atoms, and ions to it by electrical attraction so they stick to the surface. You can take it internally to help an upset stomach or gas pains (I used to give it to my son when he was a baby- it's called Colic Calm and is a lifesaver for all you new moms out there!), and it's also used in medicine help to remove poisonous substances from your body like alcohol or venom by attracting them to it and whisking them out of your body so they don't absorb into your bloodstream. In skincare, it attracts dirt, oil and sebum as well as any other environmental impurities sitting on your skin or in your pores and draws them out, making your skin look clearer and brighter. This whole process helps to minimize pores because when pores are clean, they look smaller (nothing can actually shrink your pores despite some product claims). So charcoal is a great ingredient for all skin types, but especially oily or acne-prone.
 |
| Biore Charcoal Pore Minimizer |