What the Science Says About This Popular Skin Care Ingredient

Charcoal has been all over the place in cosmetics lately, appearing in face masks, pore strips, toothpaste, and deodorant. In some places, it can even be found in coffee.

Charcoal is said to trap and flush toxins from the body, which is why it has become a trend in food and beauty products. But can charcoal soap really benefit your skin? Below we will analyze which statements are true and which are just banner ads.

Activated carbon versus regular carbon

While browsing the cosmetic passage, you can see a list   fashionbeautypalace  of "activated carbon" as an ingredient in some products.

 

Activated carbon is produced by treating a high-carbon material at very high temperatures and then "activating" it with steam or hot air. This process increases the surface area and pores of the material, so it can bind and absorb many types   techgeeksblogger  of liquids and gases.

 

Common ingredients used to make activated   triotechdigital  carbon includes wood, nutshells, fruit pits, peat, bones, and paper mill waste.

 

Activated carbon is often used to  computertechreviews   remove pollutants such as heavy metals, insecticides, and herbicides from water. It is also commonly used in emergency rooms to prevent swallowed drugs and poisons from being absorbed by the intestines into the bloodstream. Poisons bind to activated carbon and are excreted from the body.

 

How charcoal soap helps skin

While there is little evidence to support their   gethealthandbeauty  claims, some skincare companies claim that the absorption capacity of activated charcoal can:

 

remove dirt and other impurities from the pores of the skin

"Detoxifies" or "cleanses" the skin when used as a soap or facial cleanser.

help get rid of acne.

Works?

In theory, activated carbon can clump together and suck oils and contaminants out of the pores. But in practice, this may not be true. Research shows that it takes several hours of contact with the substance for activated charcoal to start its magic.

Side effects

The researchers say the activated charcoal in skincare products are generally safe to use.

However, an allergic reaction to any over-the-counter skincare product is always possible. This is why it's a good idea to test a small amount of any new soap or cleanser on the inside of your hand before applying it to the rest of your body or face.

Even when activated charcoal is taken by mouth, side effects are rare and most commonly include nausea and vomiting. It's important to note, however, that activated charcoal supplements can eliminate certain medications, such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), methylxanthines, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Charcoal soap to taste

Want to try charcoal soap? Here are some popular soaps and cleansers for face and body: