Skincare Ingredients - Activated Charcoal

When most people think of charcoal, they probably think of a pile of black briquettes used for grilling meat. While the two may seem similar, charcoal is quite different from its popular grill-fuel counterpart and has earned significant popularity in recent years as an ingredient in skincare and body care products

Activated charcoal is produced from carbon sources that have been exposed to oxygen, which increases the absorptive capacity of the carbon. Due to its highly absorbent nature, Activated charcoal is used in medicine as a decolourising agent, poison treatment, and detoxifying agent. In skincare products, activated charcoal is usually found within beauty masks, and face washes as it has the ability to absorb oil from the skin's surface without drying out the complexion.

There are several different ways that Activated charcoal can be beneficial for the skin.

• Skincare purist Dr Whitney Bowe says Activated charcoal can help detoxify pores by removing oil and dirt, making it an ideal ingredient for oily or acne-prone skin types.
• Since Activated charcoal is highly absorbent, applying a face mask with this ingredient will pull impurities from the skin's surface, leaving it clean and smooth.
• Skincare expert Katie Somerville claims Activated charcoal is excellent at removing environmental pollutants from skin, making it an effective ingredient for dry or sensitive types who often suffer from redness due to acne medication or harsh weather.

Read our Ingredients Guide