I was targeted for this on Instagram (damn you!!) and decided to purchase it. It cost £6 from their website + £1.50 delivery. Quite expensive for what’s essentially a soap, but I wanted to try after reading lots of positive reviews from adults experiencing acne, which I suffer from (at the grand age of 33).
Okay, I say it’s “essentially a soap” but it’s much more than that. Not only is it vegan and cruelty-free, it includes lots of fancy inflammatory products to clean your face and it actively reduces spots from looking big and red. I can honestly say from just a week of using it, my skin feels extremely clean and spot free (which considering it’s the week before my period, that’s really saying something).
What are the fancy ingredients and why do they help?
The soap includes:
- Activated Charcoal
- Organic Tea Tree Oil
- Shea Butter
Plus everything else: Sodium Palmate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Aqua (Water, Eau), Glycerin, Charcoal Powder, Melaleuca Alternifolia Leaf Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Sodium Citrate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid.
Activated Charcoal
What does this do?
Super-absorbent particles to draw out dirt and unblock pores.
The holes in each particle act as a sponge to draw out bacteria and toxins
Each particle is naturally charged helping it to attract more dirt and excess oil
Smaller particles and lots of them mean a bigger active surface area
Quote from Carbon Theory website, https://carbontheory.com/collections/products/products/charcoal-tea-tree-oil-cleansing-bar
Organic Tea Tree Oil
What does this do?
This essential oil is derived from leaves of the Melaleuca tree.
Has purifying properties to cleanse the skin and kills bacteria
Natural antiseptic which reduces inflammation and clears breakouts
A natural astringent that can help reduce your pores
Quote from Carbon Theory website, https://carbontheory.com/collections/products/products/charcoal-tea-tree-oil-cleansing-bar
Shea Butter
What does this do?
Shea butter provides moisture without clogging the pores.
Has chemicals that mimic the bodies own hydrating properties
Rich in antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties
Shea butter’s fatty acid and Vitamin K concentration also helps your body to heal faster when your skin barrier has been compromised
Quote from Carbon Theory website, https://carbontheory.com/collections/products/products/charcoal-tea-tree-oil-cleansing-bar
How do you use the Carbon Theory bar?
I use it in a morning and before bed. It states on their website to “ditch the cleanser and face wash and use the Carbon Theory Cleansing Soap twice daily to experience The Theory of Every Skin“ which I’ve been doing. As I’m working from home, I’m not wearing makeup which to be honest, hasn’t really helped my skin as much as I thought it would. I get acne at the sides of my face (next to my eyes and across my forehead & chin) and I have oily skin. I also can’t resist a good popping session, which is obviously the worst thing to do.
This bar isn’t meant to take makeup off – you are advised to keep it away from your eyes too. If I’ve worn mascara during the day, I remove it first using Body Shop Camomile Cleansing oil with a Face Halo, and then use this bar to gently scrub away any remaining rubbish I’ve collected on my face from the day.
The instructions say to gently rub it into your skin for 30 seconds – exactly what I’ve been doing. I’ve stopped using the toner and cleanser that I was using (both Body Shop) mainly because I love reducing the amount of things I use on my skin, plus the Carbon Theory message above suggests ditching them. After the 30 seconds is up, I rinse with warm water (hot water inflames skin and makes spots appear worse & therefore encourages me to mess with them – which only worsens the problem) and leave my skin to dry. I don’t use a towel because they’re normally covered in dirt resulting in making acne worse (part of my other blog on 9 tips to help reduce acne).
Packaging
It comes in a resealable packet, making it perfect for storing away, out of sight when I’m not using it, and for traveling (what’s that? Cheers COVID-19).
Where’s my acne gone? Would I recommend? YES.
I can honestly say that for the week I’ve been using it, my skin has never felt so clean – extremely surprising considering this is the week before my period, which is normally when my skin is at its worst – acne all over, large red spots in groups and very oily skin. Even my skin feels less oily, unlike on a normal day, when by 3pm my skin feels like I’ve lathered myself in oil. In the afternoon my skin feels and looks the same as it did in the morning – no shine or feeling greasy! I’m very impressed.
I’m trying to stop popping spots too so the combination of that and using this bar has obviously done my skin wonders. I don’t look at my skin in the mirror after a shower which I realised is my most likely time to want to pop. #MotivationIndeed
Where can you buy it?
I bought it from the official Carbon Theory website but you can also get it from Boots. I didn’t manage to snag any discounts but if I find any, I’ll add them here.
UPDATE: use code dropgame for 10% off. You’re welcome 😉
What’s next?
I’ll give the soap bar another 3 weeks which will be a full month – plenty of time to see if this week has been a fluke or not.
Afterwards, I’ll probably get their moisturiser (such amazing reviews). And when my Soap and Glory face mask runs out, probably their facial scrub too.
Update: 3rd Jan 2021
Okay so I’ve just bought my 2nd soap – it’s absolutely amazing. I use it in a morning & before bed. If I have spots, in the morning they’re GONE! Even my usual big sore period spots have disappeared. I still get a few small spots on my forehead, but it’s nothing compared to before.
I’ve bought the Facial Scrub too that I use when I want a deep clean. I leave it on for 5 minutes, after using the soap, no more than twice a week. It’s got tiny little sand-type bits in it for extra exfoliation, so I give my nose & chin (blackheads) an extra rub, which gets everything out! Very pleased.
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