Every time a new idea or trend comes up in the beauty and wellness industry, a commonly raised question is its ability to withstand the test of time. One such idea that came up 7-8 years ago was beauty products based on Activated Charcoal. But time proved that this idea is here to stay. In this blog, we will cover various aspects of this ingredient, like what is it, benefits of using activated charcoal as a soap and the correct usage.
What is Activated Charcoal?
When charcoal is treated to become highly absorbent and porous, it becomes activated charcoal. This treatment of charcoal involves the addition of oxygen to it at high temperature, which inturn alters its internal structure, makes it porous and increases its surface area.
What makes Activated Charcoal a great dirt absorbent?
Charcoal has a negative charge. Hence, it can easily absorb dirt, toxins and gases which are positively charged. This, coupled with the large surface area created by activation, helps in effective absorption of large amounts of dirt. Another information to know so as to understand the safety levels of activated charcoal is that they are also commonly used in emergency rooms to absorb drugs and toxins from the bloodstream.
How does an Activated Charcoal Soap function?
Activated Charcoal is widely used in soaps for its ability to absorb dirt, oil, product builtup, pollutants or bacteria. By removing impurities, this ingredient not only helps to clear the pores, but also to minimize its size and visibility over time. The following are the benefits that one can get by using activated charcoal soap on their skin:
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Helps to absorb impurities like dirt, oil, product buildup, pollutants and bacteria. This will further help in preventing breakouts.
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Tightening of the pores and making the skin more firm.
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The grainy texture of Activated Charcoal will help to remove dead skin. This will help the pores to breathe, beauty products to penetrate, and skin to be healthy from within.
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Brightens complexion.
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Calms redness and inflammation.
How to rightly use an Activated Charcoal soap?
First thing to know about using an Activated Charcoal soap is whether it is for the face or for the body. Due to the slight coarseness of charcoal, it is always suggested not to use an activated charcoal body soap on the face. As facial skin is much thinner than that of the body, wrong usage could lead to rashes and other issues.
The next factor to remember is the frequency of usage. Over usage of activated charcoal products can lead to depletion of natural oils produced by the skin, making it dry and flaky. Hence, it is always advised to use activated charcoal beauty products only 2-3 times in a week.
Activated Charcoal is a great natural beauty product, and its right usage can give you immense benefits.
