What do you do, when you want to look young forever?
While I am currently blessed with youth, I know that beauty isn’t eternal.
This is why I have begun to work diligently on figuring out my ideal skincare routine. This includes a cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and the occasional mask.
Let’s talk about the Bamboo Charcoal Detoxifying Toner
In today’s The Things I Carry post, we’ll discuss my thoughts on African Black Soap and Bamboo Charcoal Detoxifying Toner. I’ve used this product for six months and think it’s about time I’ve shared my thoughts.
What I love about Bamboo Charcoal Detoxifying Toner
It is cheap- Compared to plenty of other beauty and skin-care products on the market, you can easily purchase this toner for less than ten dollars. It’s a great deal, especially for those, like me, who want to start developing habits on toning their skin everyday.
It is easy to find- While I do a lot of my shopping online via Amazon and other online retailers, I purchased my toner in a pharmacy. I can find it and other products from the African Black Soap line in most places and don’t need to resort to Sephora or other boutique shops.
It is made with Fair Trade ingredients- The bottle emphasizes the point that the toner is made with Fair Trade ingredients and apparently all products in the African Black Soap line carry this claim. This means that there is no parabens, no sulfates, and no animal testing. The fact that there is some ethical value to the product is a plus in my book.
What doesn’t work about Bamboo Charcoal Detoxifying Toner
The charcoal- While I conceptually love the idea of this toner having charcoal, I do not like how it leaves my cotton pads. I use my toner with cotton pads, now reusable pads, and enjoy seeing how my skincare routine cleans my face. However with the charcoal in the toner, sometimes I’m left unsure whether my face was in fact dirty, or if it’s the residue of my toner on the pad.
The spray bottle- Towards the fifth month of using the toner, the spray bottle would no longer work. Instead I needed to unscrew the top of my toner to use this product. While it was a small change to my overall skincare routine, I didn’t enjoy having to switch from spraying to the longer process of getting my cotton pads damp.
No recycling options- While I am not ‘zero-waste’, I am someone who is proactively trying to find ways to create less waste. The fact that there is no program or option to recycle this, disappoints me.
Other Thoughts about Bamboo Charcoal Detoxifying Toner
This product can be purchased online on Amazon, or at several pharmacies in the skincare aisle. As I mentioned, I purchased mine in-store. From what I’ve read, it’s meant for oily, blemish-prone skin, but I’m not entirely sure since I’m no skincare expert.
After six months of using this product, I didn’t purchase another one. Instead, I decided to ‘upgrade’ my skincare routine and purchase Origins’ Mega-Mushroom Relief Resilience Soothing Treatment Lotion which helps calm and reduce redness in the skin. Since my face has a tendency to ‘flare up’ whenever it pleases, I have decided to go with this product. Besides, Origins has a program that incentivizes people to bring back their bottles which I love and appreciate.
Would I recommend Bamboo Charcoal Detoxifying Toner?
Honestly, my answer would depend on who is asking. Not only is everyone’s skin type different, so this isn’t a one-size fits all solution, but I’m guilty for not purchasing this a second time after using it.
I think it’s an excellent toner for people like me who never developed a proper skincare routine and simply need to buy something to get started and develop the habit, but besides that I think there are plenty of other better products in the market.
It’s overall a good product, but it’s really only one I’d recommend to beginners who want to buy something quick and cheap. Once you want to invest more money, I’d recommend for you to get a facial, ask the person doing the facial what they’d recommend, and then make a purchase based off the knowledge you’ve gained.
Do You Know a Better Skincare Product?
As I’ve mentioned in my other post about Palmer’s Skin Therapy Oil, I’m always on the lookout for new additions to my skincare collection. I know that there are plenty of people who know a lot more about skincare than I do, so I’d love to hear your suggestions. For those who are curious, I have a combination skin type: oily in my T-zone and dry everywhere else.
So if you have any recommendations, I’d love to hear them. Feel free to comment below or tweet at me.
Otherwise, check out other posts that I’ve written on “The Things I Carry Series”
