Harness the Virtues of Activated Charcoal for Radiant Skin and Healthy Hair: Everything You Need to Know About Charcoal Soaps and Simple DIY Recipes for Homemade Charcoal Soap (2021)

Charcoal is a rage these days that helps detox, purify and cleanse your skin. Its best for attending to a combination of oily and acne prone skin as well. With some unique properties, it can function both as a soap and a shampoo, and also treat hair conditions like dry scalp and dandruff. In addition to its amazing benefits, a black charcoal soap is absolutely inexpensive, produces a rich lather and gives a luxurious feel to your skin that makes you feel pampered. Activated charcoal soaps can be used every day just like any other traditional soap bar or body wash. But if you are in the habit of showering more than once, then it would be best to have another method of washing to avoid over-exfoliating your skin.

A homemade charcoal soap is essentially activated, meaning that it acts as an exfoliant which removes dead skin cells easily from the skin’s surface, leaving behind a smooth and radiant skin, firming it up and reducing any facial wrinkles or fine lines. The main ingredient in this homemade soap is activated charcoal powder which treats both blackheads and acne, removes toxins and gives you a fresh & clean look.

An excellent additive to soaps, scrubs, masks and more, charcoal is a popular skincare ingredient and comes in different types of which activated charcoal is the most renowned, followed by sugar charcoal, Japanese charcoal, etc., each of which have a different origin and method of production. Whilst, regular charcoal is extracted from wood, peat or coal and often used as a fuel, activated charcoal is mostly used for purification, medicinal or beauty processes.

Activated charcoal binds other substances chemically to its surface and holds them there so that the molecules stick to the surface. Charcoal can actually adsorb 1000 times its weight. Having been in use for thousands of years, charcoal’s detoxifying properties were quite popular among native Americans and ancient Egyptians and it was also used in WWI in gas masks to prevent chemical poisoning of soldiers. Now, activated charcoal can not only treat stomach/intestinal issues but also absorb bacteria when you suffer from cold, remove bad breath and even ease a hangover!

An activated charcoal cleansing soap can not only absorb excess oil but also cleanse your skin of all the dirt and grime. It has amazing properties of controlling facial oil, removing dead skin cells and making the skin clean and flawless. It is also highly beneficial in acne treatments and clearing any scars/marks which are left behind after the acne. A charcoal soap can also treat clogged pores of all dirt and pollution, restoring them to their natural size post cleansing. It can also make your skin firmer and taut at a faster pace.

Besides being an excellent exfoliant, a charcoal soap can also help treat skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema and is also effective in treating dry and cracked skin. It also prevents recurrence of such conditions. With the unique benefit of functioning both as a soap and as a shampoo, it can also help treat dandruff and a dry scalp.

Fascinatingly, activated charcoal isn’t water soluble and adding polysorbate 80 blends it better with water. When you add charcoal to any product, dissolving it in oil aids in mixing it easily. For instance, use 1 tsp charcoal to 1 tbsp 99% isopropyl alcohol for a melt and pour soap and a lightweight liquid oil for a cold-processed soap. Activated charcoal can also be added directly to the melt n pour or cold process soap mix, but dissolving it helps eliminate any clumps.

This cold process soap recipes includes the healing benefits of charcoal and lavender both for facial and body use and features a black and white swirl.

Activated charcoal is excellent at trapping chemicals and preventing their absorption, and is mostly safe for use in adults, albeit short-term. However, it can have some side effects like constipation or black stools with some serious, however rare effects, like blockage of an intestinal tract, vomiting into the lungs and dehydration. It is best to use activated charcoal for short-term only, especially for women who are pregnant or lactating, as also those of you who have gastrointestinal blockages, should use it only after medical consultation.

Renowned for its cleansing properties, charcoal’s organic and can attend to varied skin problems and some of the best activated charcoal soaps in the Indian Market include TNW (The Natural Wash) Handmade Charcoal Soap for blackheads and acne, Khadi Natural Herbal Charcoal Soap, Cinthol Charcoal Deep Cleansing Bath Soap, Bombay Shaving Company Charcoal Deep Cleansing Bath Soap, Divine India Charcoal Soap, Soulflower Deodorizing Charcoal Natural Cold Process Soap and Sage Apothecary Charcoal Handmade Soap.