Title: The Real Dirt on Products with Activated Charcoal

By Cai Subijano

These days you can find activated charcoal in everything from green juice to toothpaste. But what is it, exactly, and why add it to your skincare routine?

Also known as activated carbon, this stuff is either made from heating up coconut husk, bamboo, or Ubame oak (the Japanese call it “binchotan”). The heating process activates the charcoal and allows them to adsorb toxins and impurities. This stuff is so potent, it’s been used by hospital emergency rooms to treat poisoning!

When applied to beauty and personal care products, beauty experts like Annmarie Gianni believe that it can have benefits, like removing impurities, exfoliating, balancing oily skin, and shrinking pores.

Excited to see how activated charcoal can improve your skin? Here are the some of the products in the store that contain this wonder ingredient:

Crystonite Supercharged Mask. There are only two things in this product: All-natural bentonite clay and activated charcoal. This stuff is the best when you’re breaking out as it can be used as a mask or spot treatment. There are specific instructions for how to mix this mask on the Crystonite website, but basically, it’s best mixed with raw apple cider vinegar. Also, avoid using metal utensils or bowls to mix because metals can be absorbed by the clay, rendering the mask less effective.

Artifact Skin Co. Jeju Island Bamboo Charcoal Konjac Facial Sponge. This product is made from the roots of the Konjac potato plant in the pristine Jeju Island in South Korea. The vegetable fibres of the Konjac sponge have a unique net-like structure that will gently cleanse and exfoliate your skin. The addition of  activated carbon and various minerals will help draw out impurities and excess oil. You can use this with or without a cleanser and it is also the most gentle way to remove clay masks, like the Crystonite Supercharged Mask. Be sure to change your sponge every 4 to 6 weeks!

Lapcos Charcoal Peel Off Bubble Mask. Containing kaolin and bentonite clays, fruit extracts, and charcoal powder, this peel-off mask instantly bubbles on contact with your skin for an oxygenizing, exfoliating, and impurity eliminating cleanse—and for really wacky selfies! Leave it on your face until the mask bubbles up. After bubbles appear, let it dry for 10 to 15 minutes, and then gently peel off the mask.

Lapcos All in One Bubble Cleanser. This is the facial wash version of the Lapcos Charcoal Peel Off Bubble Mask as it contains the same ingredients to clean out pores, eliminate impurities, and gently exfoliate skin. It also creates oxygenating bubbles that leave the skin feeling clean and refreshed. Spread a liberal amount on your skin and let it bubble for a minute, then rinse off. You can use this with the Artifact Skin Co. Konjac sponge for an event deeper cleanse.

Do you already use activated charcoal in your routine? Give me the dirt at cai.tastecollection@gmail.com!