Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on July 2011

Say goodbye to those blackheads that make your nose look like a strawberry. Myyuki’s Black Paint is a multipurpose organic soap bar that serves as makeup remover, facial wash and aromatherapy. It is made with 21 different plant oils, silk, honey and binchotan, a.k.a. the confusingly named “white” charcoal powder (it’s actually black)—which gives it its particular pigment. The natural-oil rich soap is crafted to relax the skin and slowly dissolve the hardened keratotic plugs out of your pores. The delicate mixture of essential oils extracted from olive, almond, macadamia nuts, grapeseed, camellia, sunflower seeds, coconut, hazelnut, peanut, palm, lavender and rosehip releases a refreshing fragrance that will soothe you inside as well as outside.

Slight alkalinity allows you to smear the wetted black soap all over your face, massage for half a minute and, instead of foaming, wash the grime off with warm water. Hear your skin squeak like a well-washed tupperware—without losing the moisture of your skin.

A Monde Selection Grand Gold Quality Award winner for three years running, Black Paint comes in 60g (¥1,890) and 120g (¥2,625) bars. When the dead skin cells start flaking off, use Myyuki’s Black Sponge (¥840) to gently them rub off. If you can’t get used to the idea of smearing black all over your face, there is also a White Paint (¥2,100 for 60g; ¥3,150 for 120g), which includes fine pearl powder in its ingredients. For more delicate skin, foaming chamomile soap is recommended.</p

Find points of sale or buy online at http://blackpaint.jp.