Benefits, Uses, And Side Effects

What Is Charcoal Soap? How Does It Work?

Charcoal soap is made from activated carbon. Activated carbon has recently gained much attention in the health and beauty industries. It is made from natural carbon sources like peat, ordinary coal, wood, or coconut husk.

Charcoal soap binds grime and dirt on the skin and can absorb contaminants a thousand times heavier than its weight. A pinch of activated charcoal can leave your skin incredibly clean at half the effort.

You may come across activated charcoal as an ingredient in certain products. So, what exactly is it?

Activated Vs. Regular Charcoal

Activated charcoal, also known as activated carbon, is an odorless, fine black powder. It is made by heating charcoal at high temperatures and activating it with oxidizing gas or another chemical. This procedure increases the surface area of the charcoal and creates pores that can absorb pollutants. Nutshells, wood, peat, paper mill waste, and fruit pits are used to generate activated charcoal.

Activated charcoal can adhere to and absorb impurities from your pores. However, in practice, this may not be the case. According to a study, activated charcoal takes a few hours to perform its wonders after coming in touch with a substance (1).

While there is no danger in experimenting with activated charcoal in cosmetic products, there is little evidence to support its skin care advantages (2).

Activated charcoal and regular charcoal appear similar, but some important distinctions exist. Activated charcoal is more porous, has a bigger surface area, and is purer than regular charcoal.

The porous nature and large surface area of activated charcoal help absorb toxins and other pollutants effectively. While regular charcoal is also an absorbent, it is not as effective as activated charcoal.

Charcoal soap provides numerous benefits to the skin. Continue reading to know them.

Benefits Of Charcoal Soap For Skin

It is safe to use activated charcoal soap on your face and body. It is found in many cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. While it hasn’t been scientifically verified, it is recognized as a fantastic product to use on oily skin. It absorbs toxins and removes the most stubborn grime and dirt.

Charcoal soaps make your skin smooth and free of undesirable oils. However, activated charcoal soaps are not merely made of charcoal. They contain olive oil, coconut oil, and other essential oils. These oils leave a subtle aroma on your skin and increase skin health.

Charcoal soap works on all skin types. It provides numerous benefits to the skin.

1. May Help Treat Oily Skin

Excess production of sebum in the body cause skin to turn oily. While sebum usually benefits the skin, its excess production can clog the pores. The porous feature of activated charcoal effectively absorbs this excess oil and leaves your skin fresh.

2. May Help Reduce Acne

Activated charcoal soap is well-known for its effectiveness in treating acne. It helps remove toxins and skin pollutants and aids in acne treatment. It even removes acne scars from the face.

3. May Aid Psoriasis Treatment

Charcoal soap may alleviate psoriasis symptoms. Activated charcoal soap helps with skin detoxification. It is an exfoliator that removes toxins and bacteria from the skin. However, always check with your doctor before using charcoal soap for psoriasis treatment.

4. May Help Reduce Pore Size

Dirt settles in your skin pores when you spend a lot of time in pollution. As a result, pores appear large and visible on the face. Charcoal removes debris and treats clogged pores by shrinking them.

5. May Help Preventing Premature Aging

Charcoal soap may prevent premature aging. It may help reduce wrinkles and rejuvenate the face.

6. May Suit Every Skin Type

Charcoal soap is compatible with all skin types. It can remove excess oil from oily skin. It also moisturizes and nourishes dry skin, and is suitable for people with sensitive skin. In addition, it efficiently addresses skin allergies as well as facial redness.

7. Is A Natural Exfoliator

Exfoliating with charcoal soap may help get rid of excess skin. Its texture offers mild and natural exfoliation. Charcoal soap also boosts skin shine by eliminating dead skin cells. In addition, your skin may stay youthful and elastic for a longer time.

8. May Deep Cleanse Your Skin

It is good to give your skin a deep cleanse once or twice a week. Charcoal soap removes excess oil, grime, and other pollutants and keeps your skin clear and oil-free. Other cleansers remove the filth and oil alone off the skin surface. In contrast, charcoal soap penetrates deeply and removes even the deep-seated skin pollutants. Using this soap daily will help reduce pore buildup.

Follow the instructions mentioned in the following section to get the maximum benefits out of charcoal soap.

How To Use Charcoal Soap For Better Results?

• Wash your face with warm water to loosen the dirt and oil.
• Lather charcoal soap with your hands and apply it to your face, avoiding your eyes and mouth.
• Clean your skin with gentle circular motions, focusing on the T-zone and acne-prone regions.
• Scrub your face gently for 30 to 60 seconds if you have dry skin.
• If you have oily, acne-prone skin, massage your face for 1 to 2 minutes.
• To seal your pores, rinse your face with warm water followed by a splash of cold water.
• Gently pat your skin dry using a clean towel.
• Apply a pore-minimizing toner and a water-based moisturizer to complete the look.

The purported benefits of activated charcoal for skin are not scientifically-verified. Hence, one also must be wary of its potential negative effects.

Potential Allergies And Side Effects

Activated charcoal is a potent cleanser, and may cause skin irritation in some people.

• May result in rough skin exfoliation if the charcoal powder is not fine.
• All brands may not give the expected results.
• May cause an eye infection if it gets into the eye.
• May cause rashes, swelling, and itching.

Note: Test a small amount of any new skin care product on your inner arm before using it on the rest of your body or face.

To Conclude

Charcoal soap provides numerous benefits to your skin. It can significantly improve your skin care routine and shift your everyday skin care approach. Charcoal absorbs toxins and removes the most stubborn grime and dirt. It keeps your skin smooth and fresh. Activated charcoal and charcoal soaps are both readily available and reasonably priced. Most of the benefits of charcoal soap are backed only by anecdotal evidence, and warrant further research. Although charcoal soaps are safe, be wary of its potential adverse effects. Consult a doctor before using them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can charcoal soap be used every day?

Using activated charcoal soap every day is usually safe. However, if you have especially dry or sensitive skin, you should use it less frequently or check with your doctor about its usage.

Does charcoal soap lighten your skin?

Many brands recommend using charcoal soap for skin whitening. However, there is no evidence that using charcoal soap will lighten your skin color. Charcoal soap is known for enhancing your skin’s natural color by eliminating all impurities, dead skin cells, and debris.

Is charcoal soap bad?

Charcoal soap is usually considered safe for all skin types. However, it may cause some side effects in certain individuals. Consult your doctor before using it.

Sources

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Monomita holds a master’s degree in journalism and mass communication. Her passion for and understanding of all things related to… more