Do you know that activated carbon otherwise known as charcoal has been shown to have beneficial effects when used in skincare?

However, before you quickly go and  grab a handful of charcoal grind it into bits, lets kindly note that the type you should be using in skin care is the more refined and purified version of that called activated charcoal.

Activated charcoal acts as an adsorbent and in chemistry is used as a purification agent in many processes. Most  commonly as an odor and color remover.

Most of us are familiar with those days of grinding charcoal and using the powder to whiten our teeth…! Yes we were applying science without even knowing It!

So activated charcoal works this way because it has a very porous structure chemically and hence works by trapping toxins and chemicals in its millions of tiny pores.

It doesn’t absorb the toxins, however. Instead it works through the chemical process of adsorption. Adsorption is the chemical reaction where elements bind to a surface.

The porous surface of activated charcoal has a negative electric charge that causes positive charged toxins and gas to bond with it. The nooks and crannies in activated charcoal are created through a heating process. It’s important to note that activated charcoal is not charcoal used in your barbecue grill! Barbecue charcoal is loaded with toxins and chemicals, and should never be consumed.

 

So how can it be used in skincare?

During the day, the skin comes in contact with lots of toxins and pollutants that stay on the skin’s surface, clogging its pores and attracting bacteria.. so activated charcoal in its inherent nature as a chemical adsorbent has the potential to deeply cleanse the skin, as these toxins and pollutants adsorb to its surface,  thereby producing clearer complexion as well as unclogging the pores.

An activated charcoal mask once a week will go along way in reducing acne, especially if the condition is caused by clogged pores, as activated charcoal will unclog the pores and help to get rid of the acne causing bacteria.

Also excessively oily skin conditions can benefit from using an activated charcoal face wash every other day or mask twice in a week.

If you have never tried an activated charcoal mask … do so and please share your comments .

 

Thank youactivated_charcoal

 

 

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