Charcoal is a humble ingredient that is taking the beauty world by storm. This black powder is good for your skin, great for your teeth and is excellent for cleaning out toxins. For all the benefits activated charcoal claims to offer, it was only a matter of time before it was found in products everywhere.

Activated charcoal and regular charcoal are almost identical — the only difference is that activated charcoal has been created solely for medicinal use. To create activated charcoal, regular charcoal is heated with a gas that causes the charcoal to expand, creating a porous surface that traps toxins.

Most of the charcoal used today is activated. It is charcoal with added oxygen for a more spongy texture with an increased ability to absorb toxins and is made from burnt coconut shells. People using charcoal for beauty purposes should be aware not to purchase petroleum-based charcoal or charcoal that contains sorbitol, a sweetener and laxative that can lead to cramping pains and diarrhea.

Activated charcoal is known to absorb toxins in the body. Studies show that adding a tablespoon in your smoothie few times a week can do wonders to the skin and the body. Charcoal has been utilized for medical and healing purposes for thousands of years. Charcoal was used in ancient Egypt and is a mainstay in Chinese medicine, but only became legitimized in the West in 1831 when a professor from the French Academy of Medicine tested its ability to absorb poison while simultaneously not getting absorbed by the body. Ever since, charcoal has been used on overdose patients, to treat GI tract infections, and in water filtration because of its capacity to extract toxins.

According to nutritionist Raneem Abdulmajeed, burning a source like debris, fruit shells or wood makes charcoal, which then absorbs the good and beneficial material, removing the unwanted ones. It is then crushed and put into capsules that are now found at local pharmacies. “Charcoal works by binding to toxic substances in the stomach and intestines and prevents toxins from spreading throughout the body,” she said. “Now it is being thought of as an ingredient that can detoxify the entire body.”

When it comes to beauty, charcoal promises to plunge dirt from pores, remove deep layers of oil from the skin, and expel concealed toxins. “Activated charcoal grains are extremely absorbent; the charcoal acts like a magnet that attracts and absorbs toxins. When dirt and oil in your pores come into contact with the carbon, they stick to it, drawing them out of your skin, and then get washed away when you rinse the treatment off your skin,” said beautician Rola Haddad. “The charcoal gives your pores a gentle but thorough deep-cleaning, by soaking up all the horrible substance trapped there. Giving you a smoother, clearer skin with more refined pores and fewer blemishes,” she added.

Charcoal is great for those with oily to combination skin. It helps out bacteria and dirt from the pores, but the exfoliating process does have a strong drying power so those with dry or dehydrated skin will end up with even drier skin.

To use activated charcoal on your skin, you can make your own face mask. “Start by mixing one capsule of the powder into a teaspoon of aloe-vera gel with one teaspoon of rosewater, few drops of tea tree oil and a pinch of sea salt,” said Haddad. “Mix together until you have an even consistency. But be aware that this face mask is going to be black and while it will stain anything it touches, it won’t stain your skin. Apply to your skin, let it dry, and then rinse off with cold water to help close up those pores,” she added.

Activated charcoal is also used as a teeth whitener. This can be a bit messy and might stain. “Apply tooth paste on a disposable toothbrush and dip it in activated charcoal and brush. Make sure to limit use to 1-2 times a week to avoid wear on tooth enamel,” said the beautician. “Activated charcoal is odorless and tasteless, so aside from having temporarily black teeth, you won’t be able to tell you’ve got charcoal in your mouth,” she added.

Always remember to check with the doctor if you face any bad reaction or skin rash.

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