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Activated charcoal is one of 2019’s hottest health and beauty trends. This natural ingredient has been touted as a health cure for common medical concerns including kidney health, gastrointestinal distress, discolored teeth, and even for removal of impurities from the skin!
While we aren’t so sure all of these claims are factual, there is mounting scientific evidence that charcoal may be effective as a skincare ingredient. Activated charcoal is known as an absorbing agent, which means it has the potential to whisk away unwanted bacteria, irritants, dirt, and dead skin from the surface of the skin.
With this in mind, we will be exploring the nuts and bolts of activated charcoal, why you should consider activated charcoal in your soap, and an example of how to incorporate activated charcoal into your regular skincare regimen!
Activated charcoal, also known as activated carbon, is a carbon-based substance derived from natural materials including coal, coconut shells, and many types of wood. The “activated” part of the name refers to the process of creating large pores in the structure of the charcoal.
Activated charcoal comes in many forms, including:
Activated charcoal is used in the medical world to treat certain types of overdose. While this is not a pleasant thought, it is a powerful example of activated charcoal’s ability to absorb unwanted toxins -- particularly those which are organic in nature.
So how does activated charcoal translate to soap and skincare? Let’s take a look!
“Detox” is an often misused and misunderstood concept. Detox diets have little scientific evidence to support their claims of eliminating toxins.
However, activated carbon (charcoal) is a very real method to detox both internally and externally. When used in soap, activated charcoal may lift away impurities, leaving the skin exfoliated, clean, and refreshed!
Many exfoliating products are effective at removing skin impurities, excess sebum, and so forth. The downside is that chemical and mechanical exfoliants may also strip away useful compounds from skin if overused.
Activated charcoal is much more gentle, allowing for more frequent use on even the most sensitive skin types.
Perhaps most important, the very nature of carbon speaks to its purity. Activated carbon is simply a form of carbon which can be used for skincare. There are no necessary chemical additives or any other irritants which may harm your skin.
At its core, activated charcoal soaps and scrubs are meant to be detoxifying, exfoliating cleansers. These products can easily replace your existing cleansers and/or exfoliants in a typical skincare routine.
Here is an example of a daily skincare regimen which harnesses the natural power of activated charcoal:
Generally, yes -- you can use activated carbon on the skin once daily. However, for those with particularly dry or sensitive skin, less frequent usage might be more appropriate.
Absolutely! Activated charcoal (carbon) works very well with other common skincare ingredients like lavender oil, shea butter, coconut oil, and much more.
It certainly can, but that is dependent on your personal needs. Activated charcoal soaps are intended for everyday use in the same manner as you would use a traditional bar of soap or body wash.
If you shower more than once daily for any reason, it might be a good idea to have a secondary method of washing as well as to not over-exfoliate your skin.
The Yellow Bird was founded with a simple goal: use pure and simple ingredients, free of synthetic chemicals, to nourish skin and promote health. We believe that activated charcoal is an ideal ingredient for our customers to receive top quality skin care without any irritating or unnecessary synthetic ingredients!
To learn more about our company and our products, please explore our about us page or take a quick skincare quiz to find your ideal skincare match!
