Product Review: Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox Pore Penetrator

I have to admit, I'm a little obsessed with Dr. Jart+.  I was first introduced to the products from the Korean dermatologist in my first Birchbox, in February.  I got a tiny little tube of Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Beauty Balm.  Instant love affair.  It's been a slippery slope since then.  I realized I actually do care what I look like, after years of telling myself I didn't.  It's awkward to realize you've been wasting your natural beauty well into your 30s.  I mean, I think almost every woman is gorgeous in her own way, with or without make-up (though some repulse me for other reasons, such as their lack of a soul or conscience, or terrible personality), but to realize that you can enhance your own is a feminist revelation.  (Maybe we'll discuss politics later.)

So back to the miracle brand.  I had never heard of a BB until I opened that box.  I fell in instant love.  I've always felt my skin was dull, and this really made it shine.  In a good way.  I purchased the full-size immediately.  It's wicked easy to apply (did I mention I lived in Boston for a spell?), provides great coverage without looking caked on, and gives my skin a nice dewy finish. 

I received another Dr. Jart+ product in my last box (Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream), and while I was doing some research (did I mention I'm a scientist?) on the Birchbox website, I came across something that looked interesting: Dr. Jart+ Black Label Detx Pore Penetrator (why are all of these products such a mouthful?).

Before I go any further, here are the important facts to know about  my skin: I have what I like to call "porcelain", and the rest of the world likes to call "pale" skin.  But, I look much younger than my 34 years because of my abstinence from the sun, so put that in your juice box and suck it.  I only have one real wrinkle, between my brows, from squinting and frowning (the exact same place as my mom, and my sisters are starting to get the same, so it's safe to say it's genetic).  I have huge pores, large enough to drive a truck through, on my nose and the area of my cheeks directly adjacent, and I am prone to the blackheads that accompany that situation (though mine are petite clogged pores, not the big gross ones I to refer to as "boy blackheads").  I also get the same small blackheads around my mouth and chin, and baby whiteheads around the base of my nose.   I'm prone to cystic acne, but there's not a whole lot to be done about that.  I get good old fashioned zits around my jawline, mostly.  I used to have oily skin until I started using oil as a moisturizer a couple years ago.  Now, it's perfectly normal during the summer and slightly dry during the winter (I plan on writing a post about my skincare regimen at some point, which I think you will find interesting if you have skin issues and use conventional products).  Finally, because of some health problems I have, I get scaly patches along my neck and throat and lower cheeks.  (I never in a million years thought I would write about my skin in such intimate detail on the internet, but the details are important to understand my review.) 

Pore Penatrator

This product is easy to use.  Just squeeze 2-3 pumps into your hand (it's the consistency of shine serum, which I thought a little odd, but I don't have a whole lot with which to compare it), and apply it wherever you are prone to blackheads (for me my nose, under my eyes, and my chin around my mouth).  Then relax for 5-10 minutes - you won't feel anything, as there are no harsh ingredients*.  It will sort of dry out a little bit (Remember those old peel-off masks from Freeman's that we all used in the 90s, not so much because they worked, but because it was fun to peel off once it was completely dry?  This mask won't do that).  Then you massage it in, and rinse it off with warm water.  Pretty simple.  Afterwards, I took a close look in the mirror at my nose and was shocked to find that there was nothing left in the pores.  I even grabbed my Tweezerman Extractor to see if I could get anything out.  Nothing.  This was unprecedented.  And I was in love.

The Birchbox website says this will also shrink my pores.  I've not had it long enough to see if this is true.  Even if it doesn't, who cares?  I certainly don't.  The fact that it sucks the gunk out of my pores with such efficiency, with no burning or tingling or unpleasantness at all is plenty for me.  And, since I used my accumulated Birchbox points, and took advantage of the free shipping for monthly brands, AND had a coupon,  it was a grand total of $3.40 (which means it wasn't a product supplied to me for the purposes of reviewing - I purchased this with my own money).  This is definitely a win. 

ps If anyone is interested in trying out Birchbox, or Ipsy, fill out the contact form to the right.  I'd love to send you an invite, which I think helps get you past the waiting list, and I get credit for it, so I can buy more products to review for the 5 people that read my blog. 
 
*It may not have felt harsh on my skin, but there are definitely some ingredients I don't agree with, like phenoxyethanol and parabens, plus a couple I haven't heard of before.  I try to be cognitive of what I'm putting on my skin, because it has a tendency to react poorly (i.e. I break out in hives), plus I think we're all exposed to so many environmental toxins that we should limit them as much as possible on a personal level. But on occasion, I find a product I like so much I look past it's chemical inadequacies.  This is one of them.