If you’ve spent any time scrolling through your social media feeds lately, you’ve probably seen some women with activated charcoal face masks. These black face masks have become quite popular. You’ll see lots of beauty bloggers reviewing them.
The question is...
Why is Activated Charcoal so Good for Your Skin?
It's Super Absorbent. Activated charcoal is carbon that has been treated to increase its absorbency. The most common place it was used before the beauty industry became interested, was in emergency rooms when people had ingested poison or too much alcohol.
What does this have to do with your face?
According to Allure, one of the leading beauty magazines, the theory is that activated charcoal will bind to the dirt and oils on the skin. This should help you get your pores clean, and when you wash off the face mask, you are left with ultra-clean skin.
Does Activated Charcoal Only Bind with Dirt and Oil?
When using an activated charcoal mask, you may be wondering if all it will affect is the dirt and oils on your face. Well, according to Livestrong, activated charcoal is effective at drawing out bacteria, chemicals, poisons, micro particles and dirt from the surface of the skin.
The best part is that activated charcoal isn’t metabolized or absorbed by the body, so it isn’t going to be absorbed through the skin.
The activated charcoal can also be mixed at home with bentonite clay and water to make an at home mud mask.
Handling Activated Charcoal
Activated charcoal usually comes in a powder form. It is MESSY. If you plan on making your own activated charcoal masks or cleaners, close all windows and shut off your vents and fans to avoid making a huge mess.
If you do manage to get activated charcoal on your hands or skin while making your cleanser or face mask, you should wash it off immediately.
This is because of the absorbent nature of this type of charcoal; your skin will become extremely dry if you let the powder sit too long. Washing it off immediately or wearing gloves is the best way to avoid over drying your skin.
What about Other Products that Contain Activated Charcoal?
Many people believe that activated charcoal is the main reason that these type of beauty products work. There are many other active ingredients in traditional cleansers. These anti-acne ingredients and purifying ingredients aren’t suddenly worthless just because activated charcoal is on the scene.
It is great to have an option that is super absorbent, and you can use to make your own masks. That doesn’t mean it should be the only tool in your beauty arsenal. If you’re having a problem with chronic acne or rosacea, then you may want to skip the activated charcoal and head to a dermatologist.
Acne and chronic blackheads are caused by bacteria buildup in the pores. According to the Mayo Clinic, one of the biggest myths about acne is that cosmetics and dirty skin are the leading causes of acne. These things aren’t true.
Makeup won't worsen acne, especially if it’s oil free. If you are removing it regularly, it will not have the ability to cause the infected pores typically associated with acne.
Acne is not caused by dirt on the skin either. Scrubbing the skin too hard or using too many harsh soaps or chemicals can irritate the skin and make your acne worse. If you are having acne problems, using an activated charcoal mask could actually make the symptoms of your acne worse.
Before reaching for the newest trend in beauty remedies to clear up your complexion, it is best to consult a professional.
There are so many factors that go into having a healthy complexion that at home treatments could actually worsen your complexion. While activated charcoal is a great cleanser, it is not the be all end all of beauty products.
Last Updated : September 3rd, 2022
Debby Lee is the main author and founder of Mylighterskin.com
Debby is a full-time website manager and writer, with over ten years of experience. She is an expert writer in the areas of health and beauty, with a special interest in skin care.
