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Black Wolf Nation Review
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Black Wolf Nation Review: Is There Charcoal in My Face Wash?

William Barton
Expertise:

Style, Grooming, Fitness, Boots, Workwear

William has been covering men's style, grooming, and fitness topics for The Adult Man since 2018 as both a writer and photographer. Based in North Carolina, he's also the face of premier men's boots website BootSpy.com and the popular BootSpy YouTube channel. If William could only wear one outfit for the rest of his life, it'd be slim blue jeans, a green fitted oxford shirt, Chelsea boots, and a nice watch. Read full bio.


Last Updated: Feb 16, 2024
10 min read

Black Wolf is a relatively young brand, so is it really possible for them to stand up against some of the bigger names in men’s skin care? After all, it usually takes some time to work out the kinks.

In our Black Wolf Nation review, we changed up our skin care routine and put the brand to the test.

Tailored skin care, done simply
The Adult Man Image/Icon Image source: Black Wolf
Black Wolf Nation

Bottom line: With different formulations for dry and oily skin, Black Wolf makes it easy to find the right skin care for your skin type. The scents are a bit different across each product, but they’re top-quality and the ingredients have deep cleansing properties that’ll help even your skin out, no problem.

Ratings: The Adult Man Image/Icon  Design The Adult Man Image/Icon  Quality of Materials The Adult Man Image/Icon  Value for Money The Adult Man Image/Icon  Craftsmanship The Adult Man Image/Icon  Customer Service
Pros:
  • Different formulations for dry and oily skin
  • Activated charcoal helps purify skin
  • Pleasant scent across all products
  • Save when you bundle, plus 15% off when you subscribe
Cons:
  • All products have different fragrances

When I turned 25, my skin changed drastically. 

Gone are the days of washing my face with a bar of soap. For whatever reason, when I hit my so-called “peak,” my skin revolted. 

I’ve been getting by with a minimal set of skin care products, but in the last year, excessive screen time has me looking much more haggard than I’d like. So I’ve been hitting up all the best brands in men’s skin care. 

I heard good things about Black Wolf face wash, so I switched up my routine for a few weeks to see if there was a noticeable difference. Keep reading to get the whole story. 

Things to Consider Before Buying Skincare from Black Wolf

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Black Wolf carries an impressive range of skincare products. Before diving in, it’s best to consider how much you’ll actually do

Take me, for example: I’m big on skincare, but I rarely wash my face twice a day. And I’m not a huge fan of specialized toners and creams. 

I’ll go for a product that gets me 90% of the results without too much thinking. So before you go buying from Black Wolf Nation, consider how in-depth you’re willing to go. 

I’ll dabble with specialized creams, but it’s difficult for me to make time for that every day, so the simpler bundles from Black Wolf are plenty enough for me. 

They offer results-based packages. So if you want to get rid of blackheads and solve your oily skin problem, you only need to shop in one place rather than pick from a random list of products. 


Black Wolf Skin Care Review

Black Wolf dry skin care package

The biggest difference between Black Wolf and the other men’s skincare brands I’ve tried is simple: they have different formulations for guys with dry skin and oily skin. 

Obviously, different skin types need different care routines, but few brands offer that flexibility in their lineup. 

Rather than shop for products, you’re really shopping for the result you’ll get. Dry skin? Just pick up the Black Wolf Dry Skin system. Blackheads? Snag their Blackhead reducing system. Easy.

Skincare System

black wolf face wash against black and white background

The only other brand I’ve tried that has separate formulations is Proven Skincare, but their products are custom-made and cost a relative fortune compared to Black Wolf

I really enjoyed my simple bespoke skincare routine from Proven, but ultimately, when it came time to re-up, I couldn’t justify the cost. Not when I still don’t have a drone or a pit-bike. 

I have dry skin, so I picked up their dry skin moisturizer to see if it works. The brand also sent along the moisturizer for oily skin, which I handed off to my brother to check out. 

Face Wash

Black Wolf face wash for oily skin

Black Wolf offers a face wash for dudes with dry skin, but I was more interested in their oily skin formulation for its activated charcoal and salicylic acid (which helps with blackheads). 

After trying out the products (you’ll see), it’s clear that Black Wolf is a fitting name. Activated charcoal plays a role in most of their skincare line, which has been touted for its purifying properties.

Activated charcoal is used in poisoning cases because it has an outrageously large surface area compared to its size (where my Vegas party-people at?). The idea is this: the charcoal essentially “sucks up” any dirt or oil it comes into contact with while being worked into your skin. 

This leaves your face more clear of grime than if you’d washed your face with a different product. 

consistency and color of Black Wolf face wash

I checked my face with an electron microscope to see if it was really true. 

Okay, I didn’t check my face with an electron microscope. You caught me. 

The truth is, this idea is theoretically possible and should work, but there’s no evidence that says it does work. 

The Black Wolf face wash comes out a satisfying black color and has a decent amount of sudsing action. 

Beyond activated charcoal, the wash also contains salicylic acid, which has a gentle exfoliating effect on your skin. I’m an expressive guy and I’ve earned some deep forehead wrinkles because of it. But I notice that my forehead tends to pick up more dirt than the rest of my face.

This causes more blackheads than I’d like. The salicylic acid in Black Wolf’s face wash is really helpful in reducing the number of blackheads while remaining gentile.

I’ve been trying a ton of different skincare systems the past year, and switching up your routine can cause breakouts, but in the few weeks I’ve been using Black Wolf, I haven’t had any issues. 

Black Wolf Nation Activated Charcoal Face Wash for Oily Skin

Activated charcoal and salicylic acid are a one-two punch that help eliminate black heads and eases you into a skin care system that doesn't dry your face out and create more oil.

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Face Scrub

texture of black wolf face scrub

I use the face scrub two to three times a week—I don’t want to over-exfoliate. The scrub uses walnut shells and bamboo stems to physically exfoliate the skin, which I much prefer to chemical exfoliants. 

There is a bit of acidic breakdown here, but it’s from natural ingredients like pineapple and papaya extract. 

A good face scrub is a critical part of an effective skincare routine—especially if you have dry skin like I do. Physical exfoliants are much gentler on sensitive skin, given you don’t over-do it.

The scrub also features activated charcoal, so using the wash and scrub back to back will help those dirt-destroying properties I mentioned earlier take effect better. 

Make sure to use the scrub after you use face wash. That’ll help reduce skin tears and keep your skin looking bright and healthy. 

Black Wolf Nation Exfoliating Bamboo Face Scrub

A good face scrub is a critical part of an effective skincare routine---especially if you have dry skin like I do. Physical exfoliants such as those used in the Black Wolf Nation Bamboo Scrub are much gentler on sensitive skin, given you don’t over-do it.

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Face Mask

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This is a bit of a new one for me. I’ve done a few face masks at my wife’s request, but I haven’t come across a brand for men that offers this as part of their main bundle. 

Again, it’s loaded down with activated charcoal to help remove impurities. I’ve now done this mask twice (once per week), and it’s been helping with the deeper pores along my forehead. 

I can’t say I’ve noticed a massive difference, and I can’t say that the mask specifically is helping as I’ve been using the products all together, but my skin is evening out, both in texture and color. My feeling is that the mask is helping heal up some damage I’ve done over the years with neglect. 

Black Wolf Nation Detoxifying Charcoal Peel Off Face Mask

This is a bit of a new one for me. I’ve done a few face masks at my wife’s request, but I haven’t come across a brand for men that offers this as part of their main bundle. Black Wolf's version is loaded down with activated charcoal to help remove impurities. I’ve now done this mask twice (once per week), and it’s been helping with the deeper pores along my forehead. 

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Moisturizer (for Dry Skin)

Black Wolf Review

I’ve been sticking with the dry-skin moisturizer and it’s been a fantastic job.

It has cooling cucumber extract and a host of ingredients that help build up your skin’s moisture-barrier without leaving a greasy feeling. 

I’m not a big fan of the added coloring in the moisturizer—I don’t see a need for it and the fewer ingredients the better. Still, when something works well, it’s hard to find a reason to change it. 

Black Wolf Nation Ultra Hydrating Moisturizer for Dry Skin

I’ve been sticking with the dry-skin moisturizer and it’s been a fantastic job. While I don't see the need for the coloring, it has cooling cucumber extract and a host of ingredients that help build up your skin’s moisture-barrier without leaving a greasy feeling. 

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Moisturizer (for Oily Skin)

black wolf body care products against black background

I handed the oily skin moisturizer off to my brother to try out. It’s helped even his skin tone out and we’ve both noticed a lot less oil buildup at the end of the day. 

He and I have different backgrounds with skin care. Knowing the best brands is part of my job, so I’ve got a lot of in-depth knowledge. My brother has other things to worry about. 

Maybe you’re like him—you just want something simple and easy. Maybe your face moisturizer now is the old body lotion in your bathroom cabinet. Maybe you don’t use any moisturizer at all. 

If that sounds like you, you’ll be pleased with this moisturizer as part of the larger skincare package. It’s more of a gel than a cream, and it offers a small amount of UVB protection. 

Plus, by reducing the oil your skin produces, you lower your chances of getting blackheads and breakouts. 

Black Wolf Nation Face Wash and Moisturizer for Oily Skin

I handed the Black Wolf Nation oily skin moisturizer off to my brother to try out. It’s helped even his skin tone out and we’ve both noticed a lot less oil buildup at the end of the day.

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Body Wash

how to get rid of black heads with Black Wolf body wash for oily skin

Black Wolf’s best-selling body wash is another activated charcoal cleaning powerhouse. The salicylic acid is helpful for guys who struggle with backne (back acne)—whether it’s whiteheads or blackheads. 

It creates a decent amount of suds and smells pleasant. Normally, I go for bar soap, and I’m almost always using an all-natural soap from my sister-in-law who makes her own from olive oil. 

Black Wolf body wash color and consistency

I’ve got Black Wolf loaded in my gym bag because the packaging is super portable and is much easier to carry with me than a bar of soap. 

Still, with cooling cucumber extracts, gentle exfoliation, and cleansing charcoal, this body wash is a nice pickup, especially as part of one of Black Wolf’s larger bundles. 

Black Wolf Nation Activated Charcoal Body Wash

This body wash reduces acne breakouts through a combination of black charcoal and salicylic acid. You can call it the wombo-combo, or you can call it something else. No matter what you call it, this stuff rocks for kicking acne to the curb.

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What do Other Reviewers Say About Black Wolf?

Having scoured over 2,000 reviews on Amazon, it’s safe to say that most folks are happy with their Black Wolf skincare systems. 

One product that stood out to me in the reviews (partially because I didn’t try it myself) was the razor bump cream. There are a few side by side images uploaded by customers that really show how effective it really is. 

My Thoughts Overall On Black Wolf

What I Like

  • Different skin types need different skin care—Black Wolf offers something for guys with dry skin and oily skin.

  • Black Wolf focuses on activated charcoal products, which are all about purification, dirt, grime, and oil removal. This helps clear toxins from your skin.

  • The fragrances are pleasant.

  • You’ll save by bundling, and you’ll save even more (15%) when you subscribe. 

What I Don’t Like

  • The products all have different fragrances, and while they’re all nice, I’d like to see them stick to one particular scent. 

Who Should Join Black Wolf Nation?

Ideal members of Black Wolf Nation are dudes looking for skin care with deep-cleaning and purifying ingredients to keep up with their active lifestyles. If you don’t have enough time to research which ingredients are best for dry or oily skin, don’t worry—Black Wolf made the process easy as can be.

The Verdict

Black Wolf separates itself from the pack with its focus on activated charcoal and creating separate products for guys with oily and dry skin. 

Really, the Black Wolf Nation is all about ease. 

If you don’t want to spend a ton of time figuring out which specific ingredients are good for this, that, and the other thing—just pick up the dry-skin routine (or oily skin routine). It’s as easy as that. 

The added activated charcoal is excellent at getting deep into pores and removing dirt, grime, and oil, and having multiple products with the ingredient ensure its effectiveness.

Black Wolf is working to make their fragrances the same throughout their product line, which I’m looking forward to. Still, it’s more important that the products are top notch. And that’s what Black Wolf is: top-quality skin care essentials for guys on the move.

Black Wolf Nation Activated Charcoal Body Wash

This body wash reduces acne breakouts through a combination of black charcoal and salicylic acid. You can call it the wombo-combo, or you can call it something else. No matter what you call it, this stuff rocks for kicking acne to the curb.

Check Price

FAQs

How do you use Black Wolf face wash?

Add a nickel sized amount onto your fingers and massage into your face and neck until you produce suds. We recommend using a skin care brush, which makes the face washing process easier.

Is charcoal good for your skin?

Studies are inconclusive about whether activated charcoal is beneficial for skin. We know it’s not bad for skin, and in theory, activated charcoal should be able to penetrate pores and remove dirt, oils, and impurities.

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