What You Need to Know About Activated Charcoal in Skincare

Activated charcoal is one ingredient that has gradually taken the beauty world by storm, becoming a featured product in many facial soaps and scrubs. Formed by treating charcoal with oxygen, activated charcoal has been used for thousands of years in medicine.

The detoxifying properties of activated charcoal draw out toxins and impurities from the face and skin, leaving it clearer and less susceptible to breakout. Activated charcoal also possesses antibacterial and antifungal properties that inhibit the growth of bacteria in the skin and speeds up the healing process from acne and other skin infections.

Here are 4 benefits of using activated charcoal in your face and skincare routine:

CLARIFY
Activated charcoal and its detoxifying properties double as an excellent clarifying agent. What makes activated charcoal even more popular in skincare is the inert nature that makes it work for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

Activated charcoal fights acne-causing bacteria, removing impurities and excess oil from clogged skin pores. This clarifying property of activated charcoal is why we add it to “ smooth ”, our facial bar.

EXFOLIATOR
The gritty nature of powdered activated charcoal makes it a gentle chemical exfoliant. Exfoliating rids the skin of dead skin cells, allowing the growth of new skin cells, which makes your skin look younger and rejuvenated. Using activated charcoal as an exfoliant draws out dirt and pollutants from your skin while also removing dead layers of skin cells.

Its deep pore cleansing properties draw out impurities from the skin’s pores dragging them to the surface of the skin, making exfoliating faster and more effective. Activated charcoal is used best when paired with other ingredients such as tea tree oil.

ACNE
Activated charcoal contains antibacterial properties, which makes it effective in fighting acne, blackheads, and whiteheads. Bacteria, fungus, and clogged pores are often responsible for acne on the skin, and one way to prevent this is to include activated charcoal in your skincare routine.

Its absorbent properties leave your skin’s pores clog-free and reduce your pores’ size, in turn reducing oil production. Activated charcoal does not only inhibit the growth of these acne-causing bacteria and fungi, but it also speeds up the skin’s healing from acne and other skin infections.

OILY SKIN
White natural oil production ensures the skin remains moisturized and wrinkle-free. However, when produced in excess, this oil can be a problem causing oily skin, which gets even worse during the summer season. Oily skin traps dirt and other environmental pollutants that eventually clog the skin.

The absorptive property of activated charcoal helps bind these impurities and excess oil in the skin. It does this by using its gritty nature to loosen deeply ingrained particles in the skin’s pores. Continuous usage of activated charcoal products over time reduces oil production in your skin, balancing out your oily skin.

Activated charcoal has shown to be one of the most important ingredients in skin care in the last 2 decades. From exfoliating to clarifying. From helping with acne and oily skin, your skin care soaps and cleansers should be fortified with activated charcoal.

Please contact me with any feedback. I love discussing soap!

michael@alliesnaturals.com