Beauty

What is the deal with charcoal in skincare?

Activated beauty

08.05.2017

By Gwen Ong

What is the deal with charcoal in skincare?

Historically, bamboo charcoal was first used to formulate medicines and filter water for tea in the Ming Dynasty. Later it gained recognition as an emergency treatment in hospital for poisoning. Today, the gritty black ingredient can be found in supplements, juices, pastries and various household items.

 

But what’s the deal with charcoal skincare?

 

For one, it’s more than a beauty fad. Activated charcoal, which is commonly found in skincare, is made from charcoal that has been heated and thus, it expands to form a larger surface area to absorb a higher amount of pollutants. This is a powerful ingredient that can help detoxify and rid the skin of bacteria, dirt and oil – activated charcoal has the ability to attract and absorb up to 100 times its weight in impurities.

 

While this is enough a reason to slather soot on your face, take care not to overdo it. Activated charcoal products are best to be used for deep cleansing once a week as a mean to help unclog pores and balance your skin. If you want to try the charcoal skin detox, check out these beauty items that are available from Sephora:

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Related stories:

Why micellar water deserves a spot on your beauty shelf 

4 Multitasking cleansing oils to add to your beauty ritual

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