Adding this dark, gritty substance to your beauty regime may seem a little counterintuitive. It’s black, it’s powdery, and it may seem just a little bit too weird.
But before your interest starts to wain, and you write off activated charcoal as just another beauty fad, you should know that science backs it. In fact, activated charcoal has been used in hospital emergency rooms for years to treat alcohol poisoning and drug overdoses. The clever little ingredient does so by attaching to toxins in the stomach and absorbing them before the bloodstream can.
Basically, activated charcoal is carbon that has been treated to increase its absorbency. The theory behind using charcoal in beauty products comes from this science. In a nutshell, charcoal acts like a magnet to attract and absorb dirt and oil. When you rinse, all the nasties get washed away.
Here’s why you need a little activated charcoal in your beauty routine.
1.It treats acne
If you’ve been struggling with a breakout or two, activated charcoal could be your answer to pimple-free skin. It works a treat when it comes to fighting off acne-causing bacteria, removing any impurities, reducing redness and inflammation and keeping the old pores squeaky clean. Use it in the form of a cleanser, face mask, or any other charcoal infused beauty product and say goodbye to problematic skin.
2. It whitens teeth
It’s hard to imagine that putting something black on your teeth may actually make them whiter, but it’s true! Activated charcoal whitens teeth by bonding to many of the organic substances that stain teeth like coffee, red wine and nicotine. If that’s not enough to make your (soon to be) pearly whites jump for joy, it also scrubs off plaque and tartar from teeth, due to it’s slightly abrasive, gritty texture.
3. It balances oily skin
Activated charcoal works wonders for oily skin because it helps draw sebum, dirt, and makeup residue out of your pores. Over time, regular use of charcoal can lead to clearer pores that can do their job better, by removing excess oil from your face and helping to balance the skin.
4. It’ll rid your hair of grease
If you’re in the market for bouncy, shiny locks then activated charcoal may just be the product for you. Able to soak up more than 100 times its weight in impurities, activated charcoal makes an excellent hair cleanser. It also polishes away dirt, oil and scalp build-up by exfoliating and deep cleansing. Not only will your hair feel and look great, your scalp and hair will also be healthier, resulting in stronger, faster hair growth.
5. It’ll soothe and heal your skin after insect bites or bruises
If you have a minor cut, bruise or you have been on a mosquito’s menu recently, applying charcoal locally can help to soothe the skin around, lessen the swelling and absorb the toxins from insect bites.
