Activated Charcoal In Skincare
By Kalira Tanlongo
I vividly remember when I first heard about activated charcoal, it was during my time in college and at the time it was definitely a trend.
I was particularly curious about the term “activated charcoal” especially because there was the claim that it worked wonders on the skin and also the fact that I saw charcoal in my household and all the knowledge I had about charcoal was that it was fuel meant to bring my food to life. LOL!
I first thought about how different activated charcoal was from the charcoal I was used to and apparently there was a difference. Activated charcoal is processed at very high temperatures which are it’s activating factor and made from bone char, coconut shells, petroleum coke, peat, coal, olive pits, or sawdust. The charcoal I am used to, however, is not processed under very high temperatures and it is said to contain additional substances that are more toxic to humans.
Now to the real reason why activated charcoal can be a skincare game-changer for you!
It is a fine black powder and a natural pore cleansing ingredient. And for someone who has large pores, I definitely had to give it a shot. At first, I was a bit skeptical about purchasing activated charcoal because I didn’t know which brand to trust or if I was going to get the actual powder, and so I resorted to purchasing products with Activated Charcoal.
The Bioré Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser was my first, and after emptying my first bottle I repurchased about 3 more times until I felt the need to try new products. This product is one of my favorite cleansers just yet and aside from the tingle, I feel when I use it, I also love the results I got from using the product.
In my personal experience, I can attest to the fact that activated charcoal as an ingredient in your skincare definitely plays a deep pore cleansing role, after a sixty second cleanse with my Bioré cleanser my skin usually felt smoother and supple.
The way activated charcoal operates is that the charcoal molecules reach down into your pores to attract and remove dirt, toxins, and impurities from your skin without absorbing the essential vitamins and nutrients contained in your skin, and that is why activated charcoal is usually tagged a great detoxifier.
One other thing I love about activated charcoal is the fact that it is a natural product and does not add new chemicals to your skin when you use it.
Activated charcoal is not limited to cleansers alone but face masks are also made out of them. In face masks, the charcoal binds to the dirt and pulls it out. Although I do not have much experience with activated charcoal face masks, I have seen great reviews from the Celiore Naturelle Pull Charcoal Mask, which is a local brand with amazing skincare products.
Activated charcoal as scary as it may sound is actually a great deal for your skin. If oily, like I am, it is a great addition to your routine because it works to pull not only dirt and impurities but also pulling excess sebum from your skin.
Activated charcoal also leaves your skin feeling smooth, supple, healthy, and definitely radiant.
