You’ve probably heard of it before for its effective medicinal uses of absorbing toxins or poisons out of the body. Because of its super absorbency power, activated charcoal acts like a magnet inside the body to attach to chemicals so they can be excreted out of the body.
This is also true when it is used externally, which is why activated charcoal is so great for detoxifying and cleansing the skin. Used on the skin, activated charcoal attaches to dirt and oil and cleans out the pores of its impurities so you end up with clean and beautiful skin.
One thing to mention about activated charcoal is that using it too much can dry out the skin. Because it cleans out the oils from the pores, it can also reduce the moisture you need to keep your skin healthy. This is why you need to be careful so you don’t use it too often. However, when you incorporate it in into your skin care routine sparingly, you’ll begin to see some wonderful changes to your skin like I did.
Benefits of Activated Charcoal for Skin
- Reduces acne
- Treats oily skin
- Decreases blackheads
- Deep cleans your skin
- Soothes cuts, insect bites, and skin irritations
- Evens out skin tone
How to Use Activated Charcoal
- USE A CHARCOAL CLEANSING BAR SOAP.As I mentioned before, using charcoal too often can dry out your skin. This is why you need to find a high quality soap with a special formula that also contains moisturizing oils.
- DEEP CLEAN WITH A CHARCOAL CLAY MASK. I only use charcoal mask twice a week, and I actually look forward to the days I do them because I’m obsessed with the way it makes my skin feel afterwards. It’s such a simple routine that yields really great results. My skin looks so much better, clearer, with reduced pore sizes and blackheads.
Just a note: your skin may feel dry and look red right after you use the mask, so follow up with a high quality moisturizer. The redness should go away after a few hours so I like to use the mask at night before I go to bed so I can wake up to improved skin tone and quality.
You can see my DIY method of using charcoal clay mask below, but if you don’t want to make your own, I highly recommend this Purifying Charcoal Mask. It’s top-notch quality with its mineral-rich mix of kaolin clay and charcoal, and you can feel a huge difference in your skin from just 1 use.
Are you convinced yet that you need to start including activated charcoal into your skin care routine? If not, give this homemade charcoal clay mask a try and I bet you’ll absolutely love it!
Homemade Charcoal Clay Mask
Prep time: 1 min
Cook time: 15 mins
Total time: 16 mins
Ingredients
- ½ tsp bentonite clay
- ¼ tsp activated charcoal powder
- ½ tsp raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar*
Instructions
- Wash your face as usual and dry it thoroughly with a towel.
- Using a plastic or glass container** and measuring spoons, combine all ingredients and mix until a paste is formed. Add more apple cider or water if the mixture is too thick to spread.
- Apply and spread the charcoal clay mask on your face in a thin layer, avoiding your eyes and your mouth.
- Leave on for 15-20 minutes until the mask dries.
- Wash with warm water and follow up with your favorite moisturizer.
- Use every 3-7 days, depending on how your skin feels.
Source: pinterest
