Hunter Lab Charcoal Cleansing Stick

Hunter Lab Charcoal Cleansing Stick

Efficacy100/100IrritancyHigh

Works for

Cleansing
Sodium stearate, Cetearyl alcohol + 2 more
Cleanses gently
What the product description says
“Charcoal Cleansing Stick”
Source: Hunter lab

This product works by removing dirt and oil from the surface of the skin. It uses a combination of mild cleansing agents (cetearyl alcohol, cetearyl glucoside, sodium cocoyl isethionate, sodium stearate) and should be able to cleanse the skin gently. Still keep in mind that any cleansing can disrupt the skin barrier, and most people do not need to cleanse their skin more than once per day.

Sodium stearateEffect: HighHelps oil and water mix together~3.4–5.2%
Cetearyl alcoholEffect: HighA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture~2.5–3.7%
Sodium cocoyl isethionateEffect: HighHelps water and oil mix together. Can be used as a cleansing agent~1.5–2.2%
Cetearyl glucosideEffect: HighHelps water and oil in the product mix well together and improves product texture~1.2–1.8%

Can it cause trouble?

Irritancy
7 strong irritants: Mentha piperita oil, Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil + 5 more — patch-test recommended
High risk
We flagged 14 ingredients with irritancy potential. Severity depends on your sensitivity threshold; the table lists the worst offenders first.
IngredientFunctionIrritationEst. amount
Mentha piperita oilUsed as a fragrance and can be irritatingHigh~0.35–0.85%est.
Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oilAn essential oil that can be irritating. Has some anti-bacterial propertiesHigh~0.3–0.75%est.
ParfumAn aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredientsHigh~0.15–0.5%est.
CitralA fragrance with a lemon scent. A likely irritantHigh~0.1–0.3%est.
CitronellolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.25%est.
GeraniolA fragrance. Can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.2%est.
FarnesolAdded to create a nice product smell. Can be irritatingHigh~0.05–0.15%est.
Aloe barbadensis leaf juiceTraditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skinMedium~5–7.5%est.
Sodium stearateHelps oil and water mix togetherMedium~3.4–5.2%est.
Sodium cocoyl isethionateHelps water and oil mix together. Can be used as a cleansing agentMedium~1.5–2.2%est.
Cetearyl glucosideHelps water and oil in the product mix well together and improves product textureMedium~1.2–1.8%est.
Argania spinosa kernel oilAn emollient that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Might have some weak anti-oxidant propertiesMedium~0.5–1.15%est.
Caprylyl glycolHelps preserve products and creates a nice product textureMedium~0.3–0.75%est.
Citric acidCan work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pHMedium~0.15–0.55%est.
Comedogenic
2 ingredients rated 2 or more on the 0–5 pore-clogging scale
2 flagged
These ingredients have a comedogenic rating of 2 or more on a 0–5 scale; the table shows each one's rating. In leave-on products they can clog pores in acne-prone skin.
IngredientFunctionRatingEst. amount
Cocos nucifera oilAn emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic3/5~0.6–1.35%est.
Cetearyl alcoholA non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture2/5~2.5–3.7%est.

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Ingredients

Filter by role to see what each ingredient is doing.

Propanediol~23–34%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Acts as a solvent for other ingredients. Speeds up the absorption of other ingredients into the skin

More about Propanediol
Water~12–18%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Plain old water

More about Water
Aloe barbadensis leaf juice~5–7.5%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
MoisturizingAntibacterialAnti-inflammatoryReduces irritationReduces rednessAnti-blemishAnti-aging

Traditionally used to treat sunburns, dermatitis and inflammation, but evidence for its effectiveness is lacking. The extract can contain humectants that help attract water into the skin

More about Aloe barbadensis leaf juice
Sodium stearate~3.4–5.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps oil and water mix together

More about Sodium stearate
Cetearyl alcohol~2.5–3.7%
Comedogenic 2/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
2/5
Works for
CleansingMoisturizing

A non-drying alcohol. Works as an emollient. Helps water and oil mix together and creates a nice product texture

More about Cetearyl alcohol
Euphorbia cerifera wax~2.4–3.6%
Formula
Glycerin~1.6–2.4%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

One of the best moisturizing ingredients. Naturally present in skin. It attracts water to the upper layer of the skin working as a humectant

More about Glycerin
Sodium cocoyl isethionate~1.5–2.2%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil mix together. Can be used as a cleansing agent

More about Sodium cocoyl isethionate
Cetearyl glucoside~1.2–1.8%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Cleansing

Helps water and oil in the product mix well together and improves product texture

More about Cetearyl glucoside
Prunus amygdalus dulcis oil~1–1.5%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidationAnti-aging

An emollient that softens the skin

More about Prunus amygdalus dulcis oil
Cocos nucifera oil~0.6–1.35%
Comedogenic 3/5
Irritation risk
Low
Comedogenicity
3/5
Works for
Moisturizing

An emollient. Found to be as effective as a moisturizer for dry skin as mineral oil. Could be comedogenic

More about Cocos nucifera oil
Charcoal powder~0.9–1.35%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

Benefits for the skin are not clear

More about Charcoal powder
Argania spinosa kernel oil~0.5–1.15%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
MoisturizingAnti-oxidation

An emollient that helps soften the upper layer of the skin. Might have some weak anti-oxidant properties

More about Argania spinosa kernel oil
Camellia sinensis leaf extract~0.45–1.1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Anti-oxidationAntibacterialAnti-agingEvens skin toneMoisturizingAnti-blemish

Can contain potent anti-oxidant compounds (abbreviated ECG, GCG, EGC, and EGCG) that might help protect the skin from free radicals. Can help calm down inflammation and has some anti-bacterial properties. Unfortunately, these antioxidants are unstable and lose their effectiveness very quickly in products. The concentration of the antioxidant compounds in the extract also tends to be low to be effective in topical formulation

More about Camellia sinensis leaf extract
Camellia sinensis leaf oil~0.4–0.9%
Formula
Sesamum indicum seed oil~0.45–1%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low
Works for
Moisturizing

A good moisturizing plant oil. Due to the high linoleic acid content, it helps soften the upper layer of the skin, reduce water loss and support skin barrier function

More about Sesamum indicum seed oil
Mentha piperita oil~0.35–0.85%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Used as a fragrance and can be irritating

More about Mentha piperita oil
Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil~0.3–0.75%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High
Works for
Antibacterial

An essential oil that can be irritating. Has some anti-bacterial properties

More about Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil
Phenoxyethanol~0.3–0.7%
Formula
Irritation risk
Low

A preservative. It helps prevent bacterial growth in cosmetic products

More about Phenoxyethanol
Caprylyl glycol~0.3–0.75%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium
Works for
Moisturizing

Helps preserve products and creates a nice product texture

More about Caprylyl glycol
Parfum~0.15–0.5%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

An aromatic blend of unspecified and possibly irritating ingredients

More about Parfum
Citric acid~0.15–0.55%
Irritant · medium
Irritation risk
Medium

Can work as an exfoliant but is typically used to adjust the product pH

More about Citric acid
Citral~0.1–0.3%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance with a lemon scent. A likely irritant

More about Citral
Citronellol~0.05–0.25%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Citronellol
Geraniol~0.05–0.2%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

A fragrance. Can be irritating

More about Geraniol
Farnesol~0.05–0.15%
Irritant · high
Irritation risk
High

Added to create a nice product smell. Can be irritating

More about Farnesol
Ingredient list view

Propanediol, Water, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, Sodium stearate, Cetearyl alcohol, Euphorbia cerifera wax, Glycerin, Sodium cocoyl isethionate, Cetearyl glucoside, Prunus amygdalus dulcis oil, Cocos nucifera oil, Charcoal powder, Argania spinosa kernel oil, Camellia sinensis leaf extract, Camellia sinensis leaf oil, Sesamum indicum seed oil, Mentha piperita oil, Melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl glycol, Parfum, Citric acid, Citral, Citronellol, Geraniol, Farnesol

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Worth comparing, line by line.

Match % combines shared ingredients, the first five ingredients, shared actives and hero ingredients, irritancy (lower counts in the alternative's favour), texture and body area. Only products in the same routine step are compared.

Side-by-side comparison of this product against its closest alternatives
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Match—36%34%34%
Price—$12.98—$2.65
Shared key ingredients—3 of 94 of 93 of 9
Key difference—Hyaluronic AcidNiacinamideNiacinamide
Irritancy High Medium Medium Medium
Drying alcohol————
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