Charcoal cleansing balm for oily, pore-conscious skin: HEEDA

How did I use the HEEDA charcoal cleansing balm?

I used it when visible-looking pores and excess oil were bothering me. The product came with a spatula and a plastic inner lid, so I could use it without scooping it out with my hands.

• Use the spatula to scoop out an amount suited to the size of your face.
• Spread it over a dry face, then massage areas where blackheads or pores are a concern.
• Roll it over makeup more thoroughly, then add water to emulsify it.
• Finish by rinsing thoroughly with lukewarm water.

What were the texture and post-cleansing feel like?

It felt rich rather than runny, so it was easy to scoop out only as much as I needed. When I rubbed it with water, I could see the emulsification process as it turned white.

My boyfriend said his pores felt as though they tightened after using it. The blackhead-prone areas that had felt bumpy also seemed to settle down and feel softer for me, so I wanted to keep using it.

What did I check about the ingredients and cleansing power?

It was described as a product made in Korea using Korean Jirisan true charcoal. It said it contains naturally derived ingredients including white rice flower, rice bran, green tea, camellia oil, plum blossom, peony, mugwort, houttuynia cordata, jojoba, and olive.

The original product information also said it could cleanse color makeup and camouflage cream in one go, and introduced figures for improving the moisture barrier and pore area. However, those are claims from the product information; I only recorded my experience of how it felt to use.