Activated charcoal is an odorless, tasteless, and non-toxic ingredient made from substances such as coconut shells, olive pits, or sawdust. This fine black powder is “activated” by processing it in very high temperatures. Since it’s very porous, it traps toxins and chemicals that it comes in contact with.
As a result, it has many different uses, including alleviating gas and bloating, and lowering cholesterol. You can find at an activated charcoal at an organic health food store, usually sold in a capsule form,
Due to its absorption abilities, it has recently grown in popularity in beauty products. Here are some of the uses of activated charcoal for your teeth, skin & hair:
Teeth Whitener
Have you seen activated charcoal toothpastes lately? It’s because the activated charcoal absorbs the substances that cause stained teeth. You can achieve whiter teeth after regular use! It can also improve your oral hygiene because it can bind to the bacteria living in your mouth and help prevent cavities and gum disease- as well as bad breath!
Face Wash or Mask
Some skin products contain activated charcoal because of its detoxifying properties. It can reduce blackheads and acne by drawing dirt and impurities away from your pores. And if you’re a victim of oily skin, this ingredient is a life-saver! According to Natural Living Ideas, activated charcoal is an environmental-friendly natural exfoliator. It can be a substitute for exfoliators with “tiny plastic pellets which wreak havoc on the environment and aquatic life.”
Shampoo
Since activated charcoal is both antibacterial and anti-fungal, it can improve the health of your hair. It removes any build up and impurities that may result in oily hair or dandruff. It’s a deep cleanser that can also eliminate any odors from your hair and scalp. In fact, you can also use it to eliminate any unpleasant body odors!
Activated Charcoal & Coconut Oil Cleansing Skin Balm
DIY Skincare submitted by Megan at Green Mountain Beauty
Beauty enthusiast Megan created this coconut oil and activated charcoal cleanser to gently exfoliate and moisturize your skin. The two main ingredients for this cleanser are coconut oil, which is an incredible moisturizer, and activated charcoal, which binds to compounds through absorption to exfoliate your skin.
You Will Need:
- Coconut oil
- Beeswax or a plant wax such as candelilla
- Activated charcoal
- Hemp oil (or any you choose)
- A clean, dry jar
- Rosemary essential oil (optional)
What You Do:
- Place equal parts coconut oil and hemp seed oil into your jar with 1-2 tablespoons of wax (we can’t give exact measurements here as it depends on the jar size you will be using to store your cleansing balm, but for reference for our small container, we used 2 tablespoons of each oil and 1 tablespoon of the beeswax).
- Pour the oil from your jar into a clean bowl and heat slowly over a bain-marie or a hot water bath so that the wax melts.
- Add 2-4 drops of the rosemary essential oil and 1 teaspoon of activated charcoal powder and stir slowly to combine.
- Then simply pour your oil and charcoal mixture back into the original jar, cover with a lid and pop in the fridge to solidify. Once solid, your cleansing balm is ready to use!
How To Use:
Take a pea sized amount of the cleanser and massage into the skin to remove impurities and makeup, avoiding the delicate eye area. You can also leave the balm on your skin for up to 5 minutes to allow the oils to moisturize and the charcoal to pull any toxins from the skin’s surface. Remove with a washcloth that has been soaked in warm water and follow up with your usual skincare routine.
If your skin is very dry you can add in a couple of tablespoons of Shea butter to the melting process and swap the hemp seed oil for olive oil! Hemp seed oil is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C, which helps to restore and regenerate skin. Hemp seed oil is a lighter oil with a comedogenic rating of 0, which is to say it doesn’t clog pores. It’s a very light oil making it ideal for acne-prone skin.
Megan is a DIY health & beauty addict. She’s committed to making her itsy-bitsy apartment chemical free and her diet as unprocessed as possible. You can find her work at Gold Mountain Beauty where she is responsible for the blog. Be sure to follow Megan on her Instagram and Pinterest.
