I often describe this $6 Bioré cleanser as a 'plunger for your face' — it uses activated charcoal to clear the grime from my pores

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• I've been using Bioré's $6 Charcoal Cleanser since middle school and I still swear by it as a 27-year-old.
• It uses activated charcoal to bind to the grime in your pores and on the surface of your skin and it lifts those impurities away as you rinse.
• I compared it to a fan-favorite luxury charcoal face wash by Charlotte Tilbury, and still preferred the one from Bioré.

The Bioré Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser was put on my radar sometime in my middle school days when I was a pimple-prone teen. Now, at 27 years old, I'm just as committed to using it as I was back then.

I often describe this cleanser as a "plunger for your face," and I mean that quite literally: It gets deep into my pores to remove the dirt and grime from my skin thanks to the activated charcoal and salicylic acid.

According to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King, activated charcoal is more than just a trendy gimmick. "Doctors use activated charcoal to remove toxins from people who have an acute overdose — so the thinking is that if activated charcoal can attract toxins in the stomach, it may do the same for the skin." Patricia Giles, aesthetician and beauty director at SKINNEY Medspa, explained to me that activated charcoal has powerful absorption and anti-inflammatory properties, noting that it acts as "a deep pore cleanser and detoxifier as it binds to dirt, toxins, and dead skin cells" when used in skincare.

What it's like to use the Bioré Charcoal Cleanser

This cleanser is really simple to use.

The first step is to wet your face either in the shower or at your sink. From there, pump a few drops of the cleanser onto your hands and begin working it in circular motions around your face. In seconds, the once dark gray formula will transform into a white foam.

I like to spend about 30 seconds rubbing it around on my face so it has time to penetrate the pores and work its magic. After rinsing it off, I often notice a "tingly-cool" sensation that's most noticeable on the bridge of my nose or on my cheeks, as those are my problem areas (and where I sweat the most throughout the day).

When I need a really deep clean, I like to use my Pro X Olay Face Brush with the cleanser. The vibrations loosen up gunk in my pores and the spinning brush head helps the product distribute evenly. Plus, the face massage is a nice way to wake up tired, puffy skin.

I use this cleanser year-round, but because it can be a bit drying, I adjust its role in my regimen depending on the season. During colder seasons, I tend to scale back my use to a few times a week and add in a heavier moisturizer. But once summer rolls around, I ramp up my use of this cleanser to twice a day to combat the extra oils from sunscreen and heat.

How this $6 cleanser stacked up to a more expensive fan-favorite brand

I've tested hundreds of beauty products thanks to my job writing about them, and Charlotte Tilbury's brand ranks high on my list. The brand's Pillow Talk lipstick is universally flattering and can always be found in my handbag. The brand somewhat recently released a charcoal-based cleanser, and I knew I had to put it to the test against the version from Bioré.

At first glance, Bioré and Charlotte Tilbury's version (which comes in a set with another cleanser for $46 total) appeared virtually the same; both claim to draw out impurities from clogged pores. They even have the same color, texture, and easy application. But when I put them to the test, it became clear that in this case, expensive didn't mean better.

Tilbury's cleanser, unfortunately, did more harm than good. The formula felt heavy on my skin, and when mixed with water, the consistency turned oil-like and made my pores feel clogged — which was confirmed when I began breaking out after a few uses.

Considering that the Charlotte Tilbury cleanser is more than triple the price, it seems obvious to me that Bioré's cleanser provides a better value.

Cons worth mentioning

Because of the tingling sensation the cleanser leaves behind, my face can experience some redness. But, with a cool rinse, the redness quickly subsides after a few minutes. Besides this, there are no major red flags or concerns in my book.

In general, I'd just advise anyone to start small. How often you should incorporate activated charcoal into your routine depends on your skin's sensitivity. You may need to build up a tolerance if your skin is particularly dry or if you react easily to more intense ingredients. It's important to monitor the effects on your skin and work your way up to using it a few times a week.

The bottom line

The only thing I hate more than spending money is spending money on products that don't work. As a conscious consumer and a long-time loyalist, I have been nothing short of ecstatic over the results I get from using this cleanser.

It's easy to use, effective, and cheap, and it's been keeping my skin clean and clear since middle school. Who says teenage love doesn't last a lifetime? If you're asking me — or my favorite cleanser — we're in it for the long run.

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