When most folks think of charcoal, they think of firing up the grill and cooking some burgers and hot dogs. But charcoal has many uses that goes back to the ancient Egyptians who used it on infected wounds. Charcoal has some amazing absorbent properties that can be useful on your skin as well!
What Is Activated Charcoal?
Activated charcoal is a form of carbon that has undergone some kind of heat or chemical processing that creates a network of pores within the charcoal. This network of pores increases the ability of the charcoal to attach various substances.
The process at play here is called "adsorption." Molecules and ions adhere to the surface of the charcoal, making it a great option for removing a variety of substances. The activation process increases the surface area of the charcoal and provides more binding sites for adsorption. This is why activated charcoal is effectively used for removing toxins and impurities in industrial applications and your skin.
Activated charcoal can be derived from a number of sources including coconut shells, peat, sawdust, and wood. Typically coconut-shell activated charcoal is used in the health and beauty industry. You'll also sometimes see activated charcoal being used in toothpaste because of its supposed teeth whitening properties.
Activated Charcoal Benefits for Skin
Activated charcoal has many reported benefits for skin, which are listed below:
1. Exfoliation
Activated charcoal works as a gentle exfoliant on your skin, which helps to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores. Gentle exfoliation on a regular basis can contribute to smoother and brighter skin.
2. Removal of Oil and Impurities
Because it readily binds to oil, toxins, and other impurities, activated charcoal can help to collect dirt, bacteria, and other micro-particles on your skin. It also helps to absorb excess oil on the surface of your skin, which is great for people that have oily skin or are prone to acne breakouts.
3. Pore Size Reduction
While pores in your skin are normal, large pores can become noticeable and undesirable. Because it removes many of the impurities on the surface of the skin, the presence of these large pores can be reduced by using activated charcoal. This results in a tightening of your skin and a more consistent complexion.
4. pH Balance
The removal of impurities and toxins via activated charcoal can help maintain a healthy pH level for your skin. This results in a healthy and balanced complexion.
Goat Milk Soap with Activated Charcoal
Several of our all-natural goat milk soaps include activated charcoal to adsorb and remove those impurities from your skin pores.
Midnight Balsam Goat Milk Soap
This is one of our favorites during the winter months due to the earthy aroma of balsam pines and cedar trees. It will leave you smelling like a mountain morning and leave your skin feeling smooth and refreshed!
This soap has notes of deep mahogany, cedarwood, and juniper berries. As is the case with all of our goat milk soaps, this one is great to use on your face, body, and even your hair!
This soap makes a bold statement with the rich smell of mahogany and leather. In addition to activated charcoal, it includes the scrubbing power of pumice to get you squeaky clean and smelling great!