Learn why charcoal became a beauty trend, and enjoy its many skin benefits.
In recent years, charcoal soap has made quite a stir in the world of skin care, and with good reason. It is made of activated charcoal, a natural component known for its capacity to absorb toxins, pollutants, and foul odors. Activated charcoal benefits the skin in many ways.
Including activated charcoal in cosmetic, body, and skin care products is an excellent way to absorb and draw out oils and debris trapped in your pores.
Charcoal soap is considered to be a natural remedy for treating skin issues. In combination with other skin-healing substances, it may work wonders on your skin. This article will discuss the benefits of charcoal soap for the skin, how to use it, and more. Keep reading.
What Is Charcoal Soap? How Does It Work?
Charcoal soap is made from activated carbon. Activated carbon has recently gained much attention in the health and beauty industries. It is made from natural carbon sources like peat, ordinary coal, wood, or coconut husk.
Charcoal soap binds grime and dirt on the skin and can absorb contaminants a thousand times heavier than its weight. A pinch of activated charcoal can leave your skin incredibly clean at half the effort.
You may come across activated charcoal as an ingredient in certain products. So, what exactly is it?
Activated Vs. Regular Charcoal
Activated charcoal, also known as activated carbon, is an odorless, fine black powder. It is made by heating charcoal at high temperatures and activating it with oxidizing gas or another chemical. This procedure increases the surface area of the charcoal and creates pores that can absorb pollutants. Nutshells, wood, peat, paper mill waste, and fruit pits are used to generate activated charcoal.
Activated charcoal can adhere to and absorb impurities from your pores. However, in practice, this may not be the case. According to a study, activated charcoal takes a few hours to perform its wonders after coming in touch with a substance (1).
While there is no danger in experimenting with activated charcoal in cosmetic products, there is little evidence to support its skin care advantages (2).
Activated charcoal and regular charcoal appear similar, but some important distinctions exist. Activated charcoal is more porous, has a bigger surface area, and is purer than regular charcoal.
The porous nature and large surface area of activated charcoal help absorb toxins and other pollutants effectively. While regular charcoal is also an absorbent, it is not as effective as activated charcoal.
Fun FactCharcoal soap provides numerous benefits to the skin. Continue reading to know them.
Benefits Of Charcoal Soap For Skin
It is safe to use activated charcoal soap on your face and body. It is found in many cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. While it hasn’t been scientifically verified, it is recognized as a fantastic organic product to use on oily skin. It absorbs toxins and removes the most stubborn grime and dirt.
Charcoal soaps make your skin smooth and free of undesirable oils. However, activated charcoal soaps are not merely made of charcoal. They contain olive oil, coconut oil, and other essential oils. These oils leave a subtle aroma on your skin and increase skin health.
Audrey Victoria, a YouTuber, used a charcoal-based face soap for one week. In her vlog, she gave daily updates on her experience and skin condition, mentioning several positive observations during her one-week trial. She highlighted that her skin appeared smoother, and she experienced a significant reduction in acne and pimples. She also mentioned that the soap did not irritate her sensitive skin, which she found impressive, and said, “I’m just in shock, my skin feels amazing…. It’s definitely from that soap; my skin looks so good today (i).”
Charcoal soap works on all skin types. It provides numerous benefits to the skin.
1. May Help Treat Oily Skin
Excess production of sebum in the body causes skin to turn oily. While sebum usually benefits the skin, its excess production can clog the pores. The porous feature of activated charcoal effectively absorbs this excess oil and leaves your skin fresh.
2. May Help Reduce Acne
Activated charcoal soap is well-known for its effectiveness in treating acne. It helps remove toxins and skin pollutants and aids in acne treatment. It even removes acne scars from the face.
3. May Aid Psoriasis Treatment
Charcoal soap may alleviate psoriasis symptoms. Activated charcoal soap helps with skin detoxification. It is an exfoliator that removes toxins and bacteria from the skin. According to anecdotal evidence, these properties may also prove beneficial in using charcoal soap for treating eczema, dermatitis, and other skin conditions. However, always check with your doctor before using charcoal soap for psoriasis treatment.
4. May Help Reduce Pore Size
Dirt settles in your skin pores when you spend a lot of time in pollution. As a result, pores appear large and visible on the face. Charcoal removes debris and treats clogged pores by shrinking them.
5. May Help Preventing Premature Aging
Charcoal soap may prevent premature aging. This anti-aging soap may help reduce wrinkles and rejuvenate the face.
6. May Suit Every Skin Type
Charcoal soap is compatible with all skin types. It can remove excess oil from oily skin while nourishing it. It also provides moisturizing benefits for dry skin, and is suitable for people with sensitive skin. In addition, it efficiently addresses skin allergies as well as facial redness.
7. Is A Natural Exfoliator
Exfoliating with charcoal soap may help get rid of excess skin. Its texture offers mild and natural exfoliation. Charcoal soap also boosts skin shine by eliminating dead skin cells. In addition, your skin may stay youthful and elastic for a longer time. Some people use charcoal for dandruff treatment due to its exfoliating properties. It can also absorb excess oil from the scalp and potentially detoxify it. However, there is no scientific evidence to support the anti-dandruff effects of charcoal soap, and it is best to consult a trichologist for proper treatment.
8. May Deep Cleanse Your Skin
It is good to give your skin a deep cleansing once or twice a week. Charcoal soap removes excess oil, grime, and other pollutants and keeps your skin clear and oil-free. Other cleansers remove the filth and oil alone off the skin’s surface. In contrast, charcoal soap penetrates deeply and removes even deep-seated skin pollutants. Using this soap daily will help reduce pore buildup.
9. May Treat Wrinkles
Anecdotal evidence suggests that activated charcoal may offer anti-aging benefits. Some people claim that using charcoal soap can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, resulting in even-textured and youthful skin. However, the anti-aging effects of charcoal are not scientifically proven.
Quick TipThese are a few charcoal soap benefits. Follow the instructions mentioned in the following section to get the maximum benefits out of charcoal soap.
How To Use Charcoal Soap For Better Results?
- Wash your face with warm water to loosen the dirt and oil.
- Lather charcoal soap with your hands and apply it to your face, avoiding your eyes and mouth.
- Clean your skin with gentle circular motions, focusing on the T-zone and acne-prone regions.
- Scrub your face gently for 30 to 60 seconds if you have dry skin.
- If you have oily, acne-prone skin, massage your face for 1 to 2 minutes.
- To seal your pores, rinse your face with warm water followed by a splash of cold water.
- Gently pat your skin dry using a clean towel.
- Apply a pore-minimizing toner and a water-based moisturizer to complete the look.
The purported benefits of activated charcoal for skin are not scientifically-verified. Hence, one also must be wary of its potential negative effects.
Potential Allergies And Side Effects
Activated charcoal is a potent cleanser, and may cause skin irritation in some people.
- May result in rough skin exfoliation if the charcoal powder is not fine.
- All brands may not give the expected results.
- May cause an eye infection if it gets into the eye.
- May cause rashes, swelling, and itching.
Note: Test a small amount of any new skin care product on your inner arm before using it on the rest of your body or face.
Infographic: Important Benefits Of Charcoal Soaps
Activated charcoal has many benefits for the skin, as discussed in the article. It helps in absorbing excess oil, dirt, and grime and acts as a natural remedy for various skin issues. Check out the infographic below to know about some of the most important benefits of charcoal soaps.
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
Key Takeaways
- Charcoal soap, made from activated charcoal, cleanses the skin thoroughly, removing dirt or grime.
- This soap suits oily skin, contains skin-enriching ingredients, may aid psoriasis, and reduce acne.
- It may prevent premature aging, reduce pore size, and deep cleanse and exfoliate the skin.
- However, this soap can cause skin irritation, swelling, and eye infections.
