As a skincare junkie always on the hunt for the best new products, I was intrigued when I first heard about Black Wolf Nation. This up-and-coming indie brand has been causing quite a stir in the men‘s skincare world lately. They‘ve been featured everywhere from Men‘s Health to Forbes, and boast nearly 50k avid followers on Instagram.
Curious to see if their products could live up to the hype, I decided to put Black Wolf Nation to the test for a full 30 days and share my honest thoughts. Over the years of experimenting with countless skincare lines, I‘ve learned to be brutally discerning. For an in-depth Black Wolf Nation review, keep reading to see how this rising star stacked up.
What is Black Wolf Nation?
Founded in 2018 by brothers Sam and Alex Lewkowict, Black Wolf Nation‘s mission is to simplify skincare for the average guy. "We made a hardworking, no-nonsense skincare line for real guys with real-life everyday skincare problems," explains cofounder Sam Lewkowict.
Their product line reinvents men‘s grooming with straightforward, high-performance formulas delivered right to your door. All Black Wolf Nation products are crafted with potent, skin-enhancing ingredients to combat grit, grime and daily stresses on your skin. And crucially, everything is cruelty-free and made in the USA.
Black Wolf Nation‘s current lineup includes:
- Activated Charcoal Face Wash (for oily and acne-prone skin)
- Activated Charcoal Body Wash
- Detoxifying Charcoal Peel-Off Face Mask
- Soothing Razor Bump Cream
- Hydrating Face Moisturizer
- 3oz Travel Size versions of their bestsellers
- Several bundles and skincare kits
Pricewise, Black Wolf Nation sits in the affordable to mid-tier range, with products spanning from $7 for a travel size face wash up to $84 for a full shower bundle. You can buy them a la carte or save 15-20% by subscribing for regular deliveries every 45, 60 or 90 days.
So what makes Black Wolf Nation unique in an increasingly crowded men‘s skincare space? I‘d say it comes down to their obsession with simplicity, the quality of their formulas, and their bold, no-BS branding that really speaks to men. Let‘s take a closer look.
My 30-Day Black Wolf Nation Skincare Journey
To give Black Wolf Nation a fair review, I used the following regimen every day for 30 days straight:
AM Routine:
- Activated Charcoal Face Wash
- Hydrating Face Moisturizer
PM Routine:
- Activated Charcoal Face Wash
- Hydrating Face Moisturizer
- Detoxifying Charcoal Peel-Off Face Mask (2x per week)
After Shaving:
- Soothing Razor Bump Cream
In the Shower:
- Activated Charcoal Body Wash
Activated Charcoal Face Wash Review
Black Wolf‘s Activated Charcoal Face Wash is their flagship product, and I can see why. The sleek black tube looks great in my shower. When you squeeze it out, this face wash has a cool gray color and creamy consistency that lathers into a nice foam. The scent is refreshingly minty.
I have combination skin that gets oily and acne-prone in my T-zone. After cleansing with this both morning and night, my face felt thoroughly cleansed without any tightness or stripping. On days when I skipped my morning cleanse, I definitely noticed my skin looking more greasy by noon.
Over the 30 days, I saw a reduction in blackheads on my nose and fewer breakouts overall. I‘ll credit that to the activated charcoal, which draws out deep impurities, and the salicylic acid exfoliating away dead skin. This face wash also has soothing ingredients like aloe and vitamin E so it calms any redness.
Hydrating Face Moisturizer Review
I‘ll shamefully admit I used to be a moisturizer skeptic. I thought my oily skin didn‘t need it! Using Black Wolf Nation‘s Hydrating Face Moisturizer twice a day for a month totally changed my mind.
This lightweight, quick-absorbing white cream delivers an instant hit of moisture without any greasiness. It leaves my skin soft, smooth and calm. Compared to going moisturizer-free, my skin now looks so much healthier, brighter and more even.
The star ingredients here are hyaluronic acid to hydrate, antioxidant vitamin C, squalane to protect the skin barrier, and niacinamide to fight redness, oiliness and enlarged pores. After 30 days, I can absolutely confirm my skin is more balanced and less reactive, with a naturally dewy finish I never thought I could achieve with my oily complexion.
Detoxifying Charcoal Peel-Off Face Mask Review
Twice a week, I treated myself to Black Wolf‘s Detoxifying Charcoal Peel-Off Face Mask, and wow, do I love this product! It applies smoothly and dries down comfortably in about 10 minutes. Peeling it off is such a satisfying experience, like all my stress, dirt and blackheads are coming off with it!
With bamboo charcoal powder to absorb excess oil and witch hazel to minimize pores and soothe, this mask leaves me feeling deeply cleansed and refreshed. My pores look visibly smaller and clearer after each use.
Activated Charcoal Body Wash Review
For my body, I sudsed up with Black Wolf Nation‘s Activated Charcoal Body Wash in an invigorating blue sage and citrus scent. Just like the face wash, this looked super cool with its gray color and felt satisfying to use with its rich lather.
I tend to get some bacne and chest breakouts in the summer, but using this regularly really helped keep body breakouts in check. No more embarrassing pimples peeking out of my collar! The charcoal and salicylic acid are clutch for keeping pores clear.
Soothing Razor Bump Cream Review
I don‘t shave my face daily, but when I do, razor burn and ingrown hairs are the bane of my existence. Black Wolf‘s Soothing Razor Bump Cream has been a face-saver for me this month.
Whenever my skin felt itchy, red or irritated post-shave, massaging a dab of this cream over my face and neck instantly soothed and cooled things down. With calming ingredients like cucumber and vitamin E, plus coconut to fight bacteria, this kept pesky razor bumps from forming. A little goes a long way, so this tube should last me a while.
The Verdict: Is Black Wolf Nation Worth It?
So after a month of consistently using Black Wolf Nation‘s top products, what‘s my verdict? Overall, I‘ve been really impressed – both by the immediate results and the improvement in my skin over time. Everything I tried delivered on its claims and was a pleasure to use.
Black Wolf Nation has definitely earned a permanent spot in my skincare routine. I saw clearer, smoother, healthier and more even-looking skin from head to toe. While I loved everything, the standouts for me were the Activated Charcoal Face Wash and the Hydrating Face Moisturizer. Those two are a power duo for oily, acne-prone skin.
In terms of downsides, I personally had no issues with any of Black Wolf‘s products. They worked well for my combination, acne-prone skin without any irritation or breakouts. However, skincare is always a "your mileage may vary" situation. Some reviewers with ultra-sensitive skin said the charcoal and exfoliating ingredients were too strong for them. A few people also reported getting defective products with broken or leaky packaging. Thankfully Black Wolf offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Compared to other popular men‘s skincare brands like Lumin, Brickell and Tiege Hanley, I‘d say Black Wolf Nation‘s formulas are just as high-quality, if not better thanks to their cleaner ingredients. Their price point is on par with or slightly more affordable than competitors. If you want an effortless, streamlined routine or struggle with oily and acne-prone skin, Black Wolf is 100% worth checking out.
The bottom line? Black Wolf Nation gets my extremely picky stamp of approval. These are well-formulated, effective products I‘ll happily continue using and recommending to my male friends and family. Skincare shouldn‘t be complicated – and Black Wolf makes building a solid routine for men easy as can be. For an indie brand, they absolutely hold their own and live up to the buzz.
Of course, as with any skincare, I always recommend patch testing products first just in case, and giving your skin at least 30 days to adjust to any new routine. But if you‘re a guy looking to level up your grooming game without a bunch of fuss, Black Wolf Nation is a great place to start. Their products prove that with the right formulas, achieving your best skin yet can be a walk in the park.
Have you tried Black Wolf Nation yet? Let me know about your experience in the comments below!
