BEAUTY AND HEALTH BUZZ: THE BENEFITS OF ACTIVATED CHARCOAL

Activated Charcoal has reached “It” status in the health and beauty worlds and is being touted as one of the best magnets for drawing out  toxins and other impurities.

Did we say charcoal? Yes, we did. The very thought of using charcoal as a health and beauty ingredient makes us scratch our heads, too. But after hearing so much buzz about the benefits it may have on health and beauty, and that it has a long history of being used to prevent toxins and poisons from the body, the more we were intrigued.

Though you may not associate charcoal with anything but your barbeque, it’s becoming more popular in skin-care products. Activated charcoal, (or overly burnt charcoal), claims to have beauty benefits for skin by drawing oil, dirt and other harmful substances from clogged pores due to its powerful adsorption abilities.

When bacteria, and other toxins are drawn from the pores, it helps you to achieve a flawless complexion and fight acne. Activated charcoal in powder form is proven to adsorb thousands of times its own mass, which is why it has become super popular in masks and soap.

Here is a list of popular beauty products that use activated charcoal:

1. Boscia Detoxifying Black Cleanser is a warming gel cleanser that deeply cleans and detoxifies the complexion.

2. Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask draws out deep-dwelling pore-cloggers.

3. Biore Self Heating Mask and Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser both draw out deep down dirt, oil, and impurities from pores. They purify skin and remove 2x more dirt and oil than a basic cleanser.

4. Sephora Charcoal  Blotting Papers are double-sided sheets that banish shine without disturbing makeup. They are perfect for on the g moisture and oil absorption. 

5. Soap Walla Activated Charcoal & Petitgrain Soap Bar is designed to clean and soothe sensitive skin without leaving a film, and removes unhealthy toxins.

6. Lush Dark Angel Face Cleanser and Coalface Soap. The cleanser uses black sugar and charcoal to gently exfoliate and absorb excess oils leaving skin clean and fresh. The soap bar has powdered charcoal, which absorbs excess sebum and acts as a mild exfoliator, while rosewood and sandalwood oils reduce redness and clear up blemishes.

—Toni-Marie Ippolito