Summer is the season when our skin is more at the risk of getting damaged by sun, pollution, dirt, sand and oil. Exposure to all such elements causes clogging of pores. To face it all, you need one beauty ingredient that draws out all such impurities in one go. Most of the beauticians recommend activated charcoal to detoxify the skin. That is the reason why charcoal-based products and facemasks are topping women’s lists of beauty buys these days. Activated charcoal has immense ability to mop up the pollutants and harmful substances that cause basic skin-related issues like ageing, dehydration, puffiness and acne.
What is Activated Charcoal?
Activated charcoal is an odorless and tasteless powder. Derived from coconut shells, peat or wood, it is processed through high temperature to increase its ability as an absorbent.
How it Works?
When you apply it on your skin, it functions like a magnet to draw out all the sebum and toxins from your skin, making it refreshed and clean. Read on to find the advantages of using activated charcoal products on your skin.
1. Minimizes Large Pores
Those large open pores on your face are the last thing that any woman would like to have on her face (even men hate them). Pathogenic bacteria can easily enter your skin through large pores; causing pus, pimples and blemishes. Using charcoal facemasks unclog large pores by vacuuming all the toxins from them. Once your pores are clear of all the sebum and dirt, they become less visible.
2. Best for Oily Skin
Regular use of charcoal facemask is not recommended for dry skin type as it may over-dry your skin. Contrary to that, the exfoliating agents in activated charcoal work best for oily skin. Wearing charcoal mask on your skin (especially on your T-zone) twice a week, absorbs all greasy substance, leaving you with comparatively fair and breathable skin.
3. Cures Acne
Most of the acne products that you find in drugstores today, have active charcoal as the key ingredient. Applying it on acne-prone skin unclogs the blocked pores that cause acne. It also balances out the PH levels of skin. [Read here: How to Remove Acne Scars]
4. Removes Blackheads
Activated charcoal peel off masks are known for uprooting blackheads from the skin. It gently pulls out all the sediments from pores and hair follicles.
5. Combats Signs of Ageing
Activated charcoal defends against all ageing signs including—dark spots, pigmentation, wrinkles and discoloration. Activated charcoal mask tightens the skin to lessen wrinkles. It boosts elastin and collagen production by improving blood circulation towards your face. And you get ageless skin with lightened spots.
Note: Do not make it a part of your daily beauty regimen. It might deprive your skin of its natural and healthy moisture.
Best Charcoal Facemasks
Take a look at some of the best charcoal facemasks rounded up here to get flawless and illuminating skin.
L’Oréal Paris Pure Clay Detox Mask
This product is a combination of three different clays infused with charcoal. The creamy texture is easy to glide and works wonders in pulling out all impurities.
source: the fuss
Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Charcoal Mask
We recommend this charcoal facemask for beautiful skin as it removes the clogging debris gently and gives you soft and supple skin with glowing complexion.
Sanctuary Spa 5 Minutes Thermal Detox Mask
Rich with moisturizing agents like myrrh essential oils, this product ensures clean, soft, and revitalized skin each time you use it.
Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to Clear Pores
This one is particularly for the skin with large pores. Nutritive fusion of China clay and activated charcoal is enough to eliminate pore-cloggers. [Read here: How to Minimize Large Pores]
Freeman Feeling Beautiful Polishing Mask with Charcoal and Brown Sugar
Combining the advantages of both, charcoal and brown sugar, this facemask also works as a scrub. It gently removes the grease that causes acne on the skin.
Peter Thomas Roth Purifying Black Mask
Suitable for all skin types, this product is particularly recommended for mature women facing skin ageing problems. Besides detoxifying your skin, it is formulated to reverse the effects of ageing like wrinkles and fine lines.
source: youtube
Active Wow Charcoal Mud Mask
It’s a blend of activated charcoal and mud mask. The product promises to exfoliate, nourish, and cleanse your skin within 20 minutes. It has a number of natural ingredients to keep skin satin-soft and hydrated. The main plant-based ingredients include—kaolin, coconut, lavender, sandalwood, watercress, ginger, and guava. This particular product is reported to have given amazing results on acne-prone skin.
Boscia Luminizing Black Mask
The activated charcoal in the product provides complete relief from the pores on your T-zone. Addition of witch hazel combats excess oil on the skin.
Belif First Aid Transforming Peel Off Mask
Get your skin some natural strokes of exfoliation with the ingredients like white willow bark. Added lemon balm in it promises to cure any type of irritation on the skin.
source: thehappysloths
Yes to Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Mud Mask
The creamy texture of this plant-based mask blends like a dream. Besides charcoal, it has the fusion of botanical elements like watermelon, pumpkin, tomato, chamomile extracts and aloe.
source: Feel unique
Clinique City Block Purifying Charcoal
It’s not just a mask, it’s a scrub as well. Addition of tiny scrubbing beads sloughs off the dead skin cells, giving it a revitalizing sensation.
Goodal Black Charcoal Mask Sparkling Clear
Women with excess oily skin must try this charcoal mask on their T-Zones. Its amazing ingredients soak up all the grime and sebum from the deepest layer of skin. Its bubbly carbonation process reenergizes your skin.
Conclusion: Using activated charcoal face masks or other charcoal-based products on your skin is quite a safe option. It can be used freely on any skin type, from sensitive to dry (use less on dry skin). Make sure, you are not leaving the charcoal mask on your face for too long. Rinse the thick layer of the mask before it dries out completely and start to fall off in cracks. 10 to 15 minutes are good enough (or follow the label). Never use it without reading the instructions on the label and follow the procedure accordingly. For best results, do not forget to apply a hydrating moisturizer on your skin, each time after using it.