Black Beauty: Charcoal

It’s not the first ingredient that comes to mind when you think of skincare, but activated charcoal does have some surprising beauty benefits.

- Samreen Samad

Activated charcoal is definitely having its moment—it is being added to cleansers, masks, scrubs and even toothpaste. It may seem counterintuitive, but charcoal actually works as the perfect agent to draw out excess oil, grime and dirt from skin. It has super absorption powers that effectively cleanse pores, making it a very popular ingredient for beauty products today.

SKIN

Shrinks and cleanses pores

Makeup, pollution and sweat, all lead to clogged pores. These become the breeding ground for bacteria, and make skin look dull and uneven. Masks using activated charcoal help remove this deeply embedded dirt, sweat and grime, and suck out the excess sebum that otherwise makes pores appear larger.

Controls oil

Activated charcoal works wonders to remove excess oil from skin. Clients with oily skin can use a charcoal cleanser once or twice a week for smoother and balanced skin. However, they should avoid using it too often as it could cause dry skin. Those with dry skin should steer clear of this ingredient.

Acne treatment