What are the Benefits of Activated Charcoal in Soap

Do you have oily skin, sensitive skin or dry skin and have been looking for ways to enhance your skin care routine? Has it seemed like no matter what you try, it just isn’t working for you?

You’ve probably heard of activated charcoal before. It seems to be gaining popularity among the beauty and oral hygiene industry, but what you probably haven’t heard is why. Charcoal is made from bamboo, wood, coal and other substances, so how could it possibly have health benefits to it? And is it good to use for all skin types?

We’re firm believers that activated charcoal soap can be your newfound success to soft, smooth skin. Whether you use it in a bar of soap for your body, face, or even your teeth, you’ll never want to use another ingredient ever again.

What Does “Activated” Charcoal Soap Mean?

Regular charcoal comes from wood and coal which is why it’s used for fuel, but activated charcoal (also referred to as activated carbon) is different. In order for it to become activated, it goes through a high temperature steaming process to purify it and increase its surface area. Interestingly enough, just one tablespoon of activated charcoal can have a surface area as large as a football field.

This is why activated charcoal has been popularly used for removing toxins from people’s bodies since the 1800s. It has incredible detoxifying powers and was even used in soldiers’ masks during World War I to prevent them from being poisoned by chemicals. Veterinarians rely heavily on activated charcoal as well for pets who have accidentally swallowed poisonous substances.

Toxins bind to the activated charcoal as it makes its way through yours (or your pet’s) digestive tract, so it’s easy to see why dirt and oils on your skin wash off easily after using charcoal soaps or face washes. And no, you cannot naturally find activated charcoal. It is a manufactured product.

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Is Charcoal Soap Good For Your Skin?

Activated charcoal soap is perfectly safe to use on your face and body. In fact, it’s used in many different cosmetic and medical products. While it hasn’t exactly been scientifically proven, it’s known for being a great product to use on oily skin because of its ability to absorb toxins and remove even the toughest dirt and grime.

While charcoal soaps may appear unappealing at first because of the black colour, it easily washes away and leaves your skin feeling smooth and free from unwanted oils. Activated charcoal soap products are not just made from charcoal though. Other natural ingredients are typically added to improve health benefits even further such as:

Argan oil: moisturizes skin to promote a smoother complexion
Avocado oil: protects skin from sunburns, becoming dry and irritated, and can increase low collagen levels
Coconut oil: famously known for helping skin retain moisture and it possesses antibacterial properties to help prevent acne and even heal wounds
Jojoba oil: naturally moisturizes your skin while unclogging pores and is known for rarely ever causing an allergic reaction
Lavender essential oil: also has the ability to reduce acne and the appearance of wrinkles, soothe dry or irritated skin, treat inflammation, and more, all while making your skin smell fresh and natural (it’s also a good natural insect repellent)
Olive oil: helps skin to retain moisture, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and can protect it from damaging UV rays
Tea tree: a popular acne treatment as it can thoroughly reduce redness, swelling and inflammation
And other natural and organic essential oils that leave a light fragrance on your skin

Charcoal Soap Benefits

There are many benefits to using activated charcoal for soap. It’s a great product for all skin types as it’s known for:

Treating oily skin: Oily skin is the result of your body producing too much sebum. While this is a natural substance that’s actually good for our skin, some people produce too much and are left with clogged pores and acne. As mentioned above, activated charcoal is a very porous material, therefore, it efficiently absorbs unwanted oil and leaves your skin looking as fresh as ever before.
Treats acne-prone skin: While the charcoal can absorb nearly every unwanted oil and bacterial substances from your skin, it also acts as an anti-inflammatory that can be followed by acne breakouts. It can also rid your skin of dark or red spots leaving blemish-free, evenly-coloured results.
Smoothes wrinkles: As we age, our skin naturally appears looser due to a decline in collagen. Activated charcoal soap can slow down premature ageing or discolouration that occurs by tightening pores and increasing low collagen levels.
Provides moisture to dry skin: The great thing about charcoal soap is its ability to conform to your specific needs. While it has the ability to remove excess oil, it can also act as a natural skin moisturizer too. This is good news for those with sensitive skin who often have trouble finding a soap that won’t cause allergic reactions or irritation.
Treats conditions like psoriasis and eczema: Psoriasis and eczema are skin conditions that causes patches on the skin to appear red and scaly and are usually very itchy. They’re commonly found on joints like knees, elbows, ankles and sometimes scalps. By adding charcoal soap to your skin care routine, you can efficiently remove dead skin cells while cleaning deep down into the pores to prevent future breakouts.
Treats dandruff-prone hair: Charcoal shampoo bars are a great way to get rid of dead skin on your scalp while purifying your hair. Or, if you have some activated charcoal on hand, it can be used as a scalp treatment on its own before proceeding with your regular shampoo and conditioner.
Levels tone: If you’re someone who tans easily or just naturally have an uneven tone, charcoal soap can get rid of dark spots brought on by sun or dead skin. This is why you may often find activated charcoal as a main-listed ingredient on face mask packages.

Can Charcoal Soap Be Used Every Day?

While charcoal soap is definitely one of the best and most popular skin care products nowadays, you may not necessarily want to use it every single day. Some experts have recommended using it at least one to three times a week and switching back to your other go-to soap in between those days, especially depending on the type of skin you have.

Like other products, it can eventually make your skin feel dry and look flaky after too many uses, although there are charcoal creams you can use following your bath or shower to moisturize your skin again. And, depending on the ingredients added to the charcoal soap, it can cause irritation for those with increased sensitivity.

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Other Uses for Activated Charcoal

Charcoal soap products are no doubt a great investment, especially because they’re great for any type of skin. But it’s not just popularly used as soap. It can be used in a number of different beauty and medical products. As mentioned above, it’s used by healthcare professionals to treat people or pets with poison in their system and can also be used for things like:

Curing hangovers
Improving kidney function
Indigestion
Minimize odors associated with wounds (and keep air fresh in general)
Reduce high cholesterol levels
Reducing gas
Reducing nausea brought on by pregnancy
Whitening teeth

The Truth About Activated Charcoal Soap

It can be hard finding the right soap product for your specific skin type. It’s not only disappointing, but it’s frustrating. You just want to see improved results fast. If you fit under this category, we recommend trying charcoal. Our charcoal bar of soap is a highly-requested product for many reasons. Not only is it affordable, but it holds many benefits like unclogging pores, reducing inflammation and redness associated with acne, curing blemishes, moisturizing dry patches of skin, and getting rid of dead skin cells.

While charcoal is the main ingredient, we add natural and organic ingredients to enhance your new skin care experience even further such as avocado, argan and olive oil. Like charcoal, these ingredients are known for their many moisturizing benefits and washing away impurities. All of our products, whether charcoal-related or not, are free of harmful chemicals and are 100% certified vegan, cruelty-free, and non-GMO products.

While we may be passionate about charcoal products enhancing your skin, we don’t necessarily recommend using it every single day. Experts have suggested using it anywhere from one to three times a week for the best results. For those with sensitive skin, make sure you’re proceeding with caution if there are other ingredients added such as essential oils or even tea tree (often associated with reactions).

If you ever have any questions regarding our skin care products and if charcoal is the right soap for you, contact us at any time or follow us on social media for regularly posted tips and tricks, as well as new and improved products available.

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