Deep Cleansing With Biore: Charcoal Cleanser, Pore Strips & 1 Min Mask

One of the first 'skin care' products I used as a teenager was the Biore Cleansing Pore Strips. I can vividly remember wetting the patch and precisely applying across my nose, waiting for it to dry before peeling it off and inspecting the residue. I was never convinced that they actually did much, but it made me feel grown up and like I was looking after my skin (when I was probably just ripping off a thin layer of it.) Fifteen years later, the original cleansing strip brand is back with an updated approach to looking after our skin that's twice as good as the original. You can still get your hands on the original pore strips, which aim to unclog and lift dirt from pores, as well as a Self-Heating One Minute Mask and Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser - one of the hot new skincare ingredients.

Charcoal has long been used in skin care treatments, thanks to its chemical properties that allow the substances to draw out impurities. It chemically binds other substances to its surface and can absorb thousands of times its own weight, making it perfect for use in cleansers and masks that work by purifiying the skin. Biore's cleansing facial wash works by drawing out impurities from the skin and trapping them within the tiny charcoal fragments, allowing them to be washed away and leave skin feeling refreshed. Although it doesn't lather too much, if you work it with water between your palms does create a super light foam which you can use to massage into the skin. There's an invigorating slightly minty scent, it doen't feel heavy on the skin and there's no drying or stripping sensation; it's great for all skin types and perfect for keeping spot prone skin free from impurities.

The One-Minute Mask is packed in handy individual sachets that contain the perfect amount for a full-face application. As you apply the grey formula is starts to heat up using an exothermic reaction - its ingredients react with your skin to create heat energy, which aids the absorption and effectiveness of the formula. Again, it contains the benefit of charcoal to draw out impurities and leave skin feeling refreshed without drying it out; the last thing you need it to pile on a tonne of moisturiser to replenish lost hydration following a treatment. These are both handy products which are pleasant to use and add a touch more cleansing care to a standard skincare routine; they're not 'teenage' branded or aimed specifically at acne prone skin, so they slip into any age bracket and need with ease. Affordable, effective and a little bit nostalgic too.

The Biore Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser is available for £4.99, the Cleansing Pore Strips are £7.99 for a pack of six and the Self-Heating One Minute Mask is £7.99 for a pack of four. All available from Boots and online.