Have you ever been browsing the beauty section of your favorite store and come across an item containing Charcoal? Charcoal?!? You gasp, wondering why you would ever want to put something that is a staple of grilling anywhere near your fragile skin. Thankfully, Activated Charcoal is a different substance than what we use to create our favorite barbecue fare. Although the idea might seem a little crazy, there are several reasons why you can find this fantastic ingredient up and down the skincare aisle.
Now don’t freak out: Activated Charcoal is a byproduct that occurs when common Charcoal is heated to high temperatures in the presence of oxygen. This process creates small pores that increase the surface area of the Charcoal, and therefore, its absorption properties. Like standard Charcoal, it can be made from coconut shells, bamboo, peat, coal, olive pits, sawdust, or other ingredients. However, Activated Charcoal is quite different from what you would use for an outdoor grill. Because of its wider available surface area for reactions, it is this Charcoal variant that is often used as a main ingredient in many beauty products.
Surprisingly, Activated Charcoal has been around for centuries. The extensive abilities of Charcoal have been of great help to mankind, finding the origins of its use in ancient traditional medicine. Due to its ability to both prevent absorption of toxic substances and eliminate poison that has already been absorbed by the body, Activated Charcoal has been proven useful in treating both poisonings and drug overdoses! For this reason, Activated Charcoal can be found on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines, which is quite the honor. To this day, people still use food-grade Activated Charcoal for undergoing detox, teeth whitening and water filtration, among other things.
Here’s the great news: applied topically, Activated Charcoal does this same work for your skin that is does for your insides! Because of the incredible absorption properties that Activated Charcoal has to offer, the beauty and cosmetic industry have made sure to include this beneficial ingredient at every chance they get. Activated Charcoal has become the latest on-trend addition to most skin treatments from beauty brands across the board. A quick breeze down the aisle will reveal Charcoal soaps, cleansers, shampoos, toothpastes, gels and more.
Does the idea of using a Charcoal face soap still sound absurd and a little repulsive? You should consider these benefits it has to offer.
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Cleanses and Exfoliates the Skin
Bacteria, viruses, dirt, dead skin cells and other pollutants form a thin layer on your face daily. If these are left unattended to, they will continue to build up and cause the skin on your face to become dirty, greasy, oily, and irritated.
Activated Charcoal soaps have natural detoxifying and renewing effects on the skin. The Charcoal actually absorbs impurities, toxins and dead cells directly off your face! Its mildly course texture is also perfect for gently scrubbing your face, acting as an exfoliant.
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Sensitive-skin Friendly
Being a toxin absorber, Activated Charcoal soap is the most ideal option for people with sensitive skin. Activated Charcoal is inherently inert, so its properties will not interfere with the intricate balance required to maintain delicate skin. Being inert also means that it is incapable of triggering allergic reactions. It’s a natural way to keep your face clean and maintain a healthy and glowing complexion.
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Reduces Facial Pores
Every day we are exposed to an overwhelming number of environmental pollutants, many particles of which enter our pores and clog them shut (yuck)! The dirt, dust and smoke in our environment then continues its onslaught, next settling on top of our clogged pores, irritating them and enlarging them in appearance. When these impurities are not addressed, your complexion is altered and your facial pores become enlarged and more visible.
Charcoal face soap is an ideal solution to tackle this issue. It binds to the dirt and grime lodging itself in your pores and extracts it all. It then sanitizes your clogged pores and makes them significantly less visible. When used with an exfoliating scrub, you’ll receive an even deeper clean that leaves you feeling fresh, with restored radiance and a more even complexion.
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Treats Oily Skin
We need oil to keep our skin soft and block out irritants. However, when our sebaceous glands produce too much oil it becomes an issue, leaving the skin feeling greasy, with clogged pores and acne. Also, once oily skin takes hold it can be hard to regulate, and many sufferers of this condition go through multiple products trying to find one that works for them.
The good news is that Charcoal soap might be the perfect skin care treatment to manage an oily face. Its absorbent ability will pull out excessive oils, providing a more regulated skin surface to apply makeup to. Go easy on the applications though; two to three times per week is plenty for most users. Overdoing it can trick your skin into thinking it is too dry, and actually cause your oil-production to go into overdrive. (And we don’t want that!)
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Eliminates Acne
Many individuals have had to deal with acne’s profound social, psychological and physical effects. The unsightly presence of whiteheads and pimples are a clear sign of skin discomfort and can create feelings of shame when present. Pores are the points through which the sebaceous glands release sebum to maintain skin PH and balance. When pores become clogged it prevents sebum from releasing, causing a buildup of oil, dead cells, bacteria and other impurities. The absence of the protective sebum then causes a breakout of acne as your skin responds to these harmful intruders.
As you know by now, Charcoal soap’s primary function is detoxification. It gets rid of these built-up toxins and impurities by extracting them, ultimately clearing the skin. Also, by unclogging your facial pores, it restores sebum release back to normalcy. The antibacterial effect of Activated Charcoal will reduce acne and improve the health of your skin.
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Clears Skin Blemishes
Eczema, dryness and psoriasis often give skin an unpleasant, cracked, and angry appearance. Psoriasis comes from a buildup of skin cells, scales, itchy and dry patches. Eczema may occur as a result of dryness, irritation or bacterial infections. These conditions cause skin blemishes and discoloration that are emotionally upsetting and hard to get rid of.
Charcoal soap is an excellent exfoliant, removing dirt, grime, and dead cells from the face. In fact, its antibacterial effects are so effective that it has the ability to treat psoriasis and eczema, conditions that typically require intervention from medical prescriptions. Activated Charcoal addresses these conditions by moisturizing the skin and allowing for effective natural barriers to be revived. It is the best natural option to restore skin to its prior health.
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Prevents Premature Aging
Loose skin is an issue that all of us face as we age. The fountain of youth has yet to be found, but that hasn’t stopped beauty companies from offering a number of treatments to reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. In truth, however, signs of aging are best handled before they begin to make their appearance, and not surprisingly, Activated Charcoal is a proven natural anti-aging solution.
Charcoal face soaps have an almost magical quality of blocking the formation of loose skin. Showering with this black soap will make your skin firmer and tighter, and even has the ability to get rid of unwanted signs of age, like wrinkles and fine lines. Regular use means you will help prevent facial tiredness, dullness, and other ageing tendencies we would rather avoid.
Activated Charcoal is truly one of those wonder ingredients that almost sounds too good to be true. The good news for us is, it really IS that good! Adding Activated Charcoal to your skin care routine is a practical guarantee of improved skin clarity and elasticity.
“Where do a find this best kept secret,” you ask? Look no further than our Oil Reducing Charcoal Face and Body Soap. This organically sourced soap is the perfect addition to your skincare routine, ensuring a brightened and clear complexion for years to come.
