Wendy Reiner Charcoal Masks The Dirty Truth Interview

Wendy Reiner Charcoal Masks The Dirty Truth Interview

We've all seen the videos online and across social media of people unclogging their pores with DIY or pre-purchased charcoal masks. It's an obsession that's sweeping the country and faces of women (and men), but we can't help but wonder, is applying glue to your face and ripping clean your pores, really the best solution?

Australian Skin Clinics Skin Therapist and formulator for Balense Skin Care, Wendy Reiner, reveals the dirty secret behind the internet's newest beauty fad.

The ingredients
Yes charcoal is a detoxifying ingredient. However, when it's combined with a base that dries and needs to be peeled off, there becomes a problem.

The popularity
Charcoal masks are extremely fashionable, most likely due to the exposure gained from popular social media influencers and beauty vloggers. Unfortunately, they are more of a gimmick than a true beauty product. We no longer need to be doing the sort of aggressing ripping and pulling to our skin that charcoal masks encourage. Those interested in charcoal masks should instead look for newer, more gentle and detoxifying masks that fall under the banner of anti-pollution defence.

Their effectiveness?
Charcoal masks draw out oil and moisture from the skin, which can potentially lead to a dryer complexion. Once applied and completely dry, the physical action of removing a charcoal mask from the skin can contribute to the tearing of collagen elastin and other fibres, as well as micro-tearing and causing micro-trauma to the skin.

A much more effective way of reducing pore size and clearing up blackheads is by using products with ingredients such as salicylic acid and other advanced enzymatic exfoliators. If you are going to be using a wet-to-dry charcoal mask, I would recommend that you wet it down first before peeling it off.

The alternatives?
The action of peeling off a dry mask cam be quite brutal on delicate skin. I would highly recommend having a professional microdermabrasion with a trained dermal technician, using products that will hydrate the skin and making it pliable while it undergoes the exfoliation treatment.

Australian Skin Clinics recently introduced a unique-to-market High Performance Microdermabrasion treatment that contains a 10-step process. The treatment is supported by the Balense skin care range and provides clients with softer, brighter and tighter skin.

In terms of home care, I would recommend the Balense Microdermal Cleansing Scrubor the Balense Next Generation Cleanser + SRC. These offer a good combination of enzymatic and physical exfoliation for regular, at-home skin care.

If improving the vitality of skin is of concern, then the ReBalense Enzymatic Moisturiser can be added to the above combination, which includes an advanced, gentle yet very effective enzymatic exfoliator.

Interview with Wendy Reiner, Skin Therapist and Formulator for the Balense Skin Care Range

Question: Why are Charcoal Masks bad for our skin?

Wendy Reiner: The action of peeling off a dry mask, like a charcoal mask, is quite brutal on delicate skin. The physical action of removing these masks can contribute to the tearing of collagen elastin and other fibres, as well as micro-tearing and causing micro-trauma to the skin.

Charcoal masks can also draw out oil and moisture from the skin, potentially leading to a dryer complexion.


Question: Why do you think Charcoal Masks have become so popular?

Wendy Reiner: Charcoal masks are extremely fashionable and popular due to the exposure gained from popular social media influencers and beauty vloggers. Unfortunately, they are more of a gimmick than anything as we don't need to be doing that sort of thing to our skin.


Question: Why is charcoal a good ingredient?

Wendy Reiner: Charcoal is a detoxifying ingredient which has been used for its cleansing properties for centuries. It acts as a kid of magnet, which draws dirt and debris from the skin. However, when it's combined with a base that dries and needs to be peeled off, such as glue-based ingredients, there becomes a problem.


Question: Can you share your alternatives to Charcoal Masks?

Wendy Reiner: There are newer masks coming on to the market and Balense Skin Care is about to release the next generation in detoxifying masks that fall under the banner of anti-pollution defence.

I would highly recommend having a professional microdermabrasion with a trained dermal technician, using products that will hydrate the skin making it pliable while it undergoes the exfoliation treatment.

Question: What is the best solution for blackheads and clearing out pores?

Wendy Reiner: A much more effective way of reducing pore size and clearing up blackheads is by using products with ingredients such as salicylic acid and other advanced enzymatic exfoliators.

In terms of home care, I would recommend the Balense Microdermal Cleansing Scrub or the Balense Next Generation Cleanser + SRC. You'll get a good combination of enzymatic and physical exfoliation between those two products.

One thing that people can add to that, especially if they want to improve the vitality of their skin, would be the ReBalense Enzymatic Moisturiser, which includes an advanced, gentle yet very effective enzymatic exfoliator.


Question: How can we prevent blackheads?

Wendy Reiner: Following a simple skin care regime of cleanse, boost, hydrate and protect will significantly assist in preventing the appearance and severity of blackheads. It's all about nurturing and caring for your skin, rather than attacking it with fad products. Look for active ingredients such as salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid.

If your skin needs a little extra attention, I would recommend visiting Australian Skin Clinics for a complimentary skin consultation. Their trained dermal technicians can assess your skin and provide professional treatments such as microdermabrasion, medi-aesthetic peels and skin boosters to further enhance your results.


Question: Can you tell us about the Balense Skin Care range?

Wendy Reiner: Despite being an experienced skin therapist, I have had my struggles with achieving clear flawless skin. Like many other woman, I am prone to blemishes and am now at an age where retaining a youthful appearance is extremely important to me. I decided to take all my tertiary learnings and my experience and unpack the skin care puzzle for myself. And so, Balense was born. I was so impressed with my own visible results that I had to share this with the rest of the world.

The Balense range has been designed specifically to target most skin care concerns, using a highly advanced delivery technology to strategically enhance the appearance of even the most sensitive skin. Balense provides easy care for acne, Rosacea, dry skin, premature ageing and skin types with pigmentation concerns. The use of cutting-edge skin care ingredients and potent antioxidants delivered by time release technology provide fast, visible results.

Question: What are your top three favourite Balense Skin Care products?

Wendy Reiner: Next Generation Cleanser + SRC, ReBalense Anti-Ageing Serum and Illuminate Brightening Serum.


Interview by Brooke Hunter