Lately, activated charcoal has been making more and more of a splash in the world of organic and natural beauty products. The ingredient is increasingly used in facial cleansers, masks, scrubs, body soaps, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and even juices, promising healthy glowing skin, and whiter teeth to flaunt.

In the organic beauty world, there seems to be a craze every other month, a new ingredient stirring beauty bloggers into a frenzy of enthusiasm and inspiring on countless reviews, takes, and recommendations. Welcome to 2016: activated charcoal seems to be the new ‘It Girl’ on the scene, so it’s high time we got down to telling you a bit more about what this black magic is all about.

The first time I came across activated charcoal in a beauty product was when I was researching natural deodorants, trying to find a brand that would work perfectly without irritating my skin. Googling the day away, I came across a multitude of products containing charcoal. As my enthusiasm grew, I couldn’t stop myself from ordering a bar of bamboo-charcoal soap, convinced it would finally provide relief for my oily skin (It hasn’t, by the way, but mainly because I only use it as a body soap).

As these research-filled days usually tend to go, in the end I also decided that I needed to get my hands on the pure product itself to fully understand what it could do. Since it’s in so many beauty products, I figured I could DIY it into my own beauty routines somehow.

After a long search, I finally managed to get my hands on a jar of activated charcoal. I had to visit at least a handful of pharmacies before I found one that sold it in its pure form: a pitch-black powder, its blackness so complete that opening up the jar gave the effect of staring into space.

Though to this day I hesitate to use the black powder in my homemade masks (it is pitch-black, after all), I do tend to brush my teeth with it at least once a week, as charcoal seems to be able to remove tea and coffee stains gently but effectively.

The how and what of activated charcoal

The most well-known use outside of todays beauty industry for activated charcoal is a medicinal one: the blacker-than-black powder is used as an emergency treatment for certain kinds of poisoning. It works by attaching itself to toxins in the stomach and preventing them from entering your bloodstream.

Despite the surge of charcoal use in cosmetic in recent years, charcoal has been used in medicine for centuries. It dates all the way back to 1500 B.C., when there’s evidence of the substance being used to absorb unpleasant odors from putrefying wounds or within the intestinal tract. Before that, the Egyptians had already figured out that charcoal somehow inhibited rotting. They wrapped their dead in cloth and buried them in layers of charcoal to preserve the corpses. Later on, the ingredient was also used in their embalming practices.

There is a huge difference between run- of -the mill coal that you get for a summer barbecue and activated charcoal. Activated charcoal means that the carbon is infused with oxygen to prepare it for human ingestion (in the case of poisoning) or cosmetic products. The process of oxygenation creates an incredibly porous surface, increasing the coal’s ability to absorb matter and toxins. Activated charcoal might just be the most absorbent cosmetic ingredient out there today, having the power to absorb thousands of times its own weight.

Charcoal in beauty products

Activated charcoal is used in beauty products because of what charcoal does when it comes into contact with certain toxins. To these toxins, the charcoal acts like a magnet. On your skin, it will attract and absorb dirt and oil. As the raving online reviews suggest, the stuff seems to do the trick.

Activated charcoal’s superior absorbency, combined with its antibacterial properties, makes it an amazing ingredient for oily and acne-prone skin types. It is used to draw out impurities, prevent further breakouts, and even aids with healing pimples.

It’s not just oily skin types that can benefit. Activated charcoal is also used as an anti-aging ingredient, as it tightens pores and smoothens the skin. It also reduces inflammation, which is a big thing when it comes to preventing premature aging. Normal skin types also benefit from decongested skin after its use, leaving behind a clearer, toned complexion.

At the moment, Amazingy carries two products that contain activated charcoal, the first being May Lindstrom’s Problem Solver. This mask comes in powdered form and is activated by adding (preferably filtered) water. The Problem Solver combines the healing powers of antioxidant-rich raw cacao (which you can read more about here), bamboo charcoal, and different salts with warming spices. The mask helps to purify and tighten pores, prevent and heal blemishes, and stimulates circulation. Heads up to those of you with sensitive skin: the mixture of spices also contains cinnamon, which can be an irritant to sensitive skin types. You can read more about cinnamon, and all of its wonderful health benefits, here.

Another charcoal-infused product is the Bamboo Charcoal Konjac Sponge Puff, which is the ideal sponge and gentle exfoliator for acne prone and oily skin types. It not only deep-cleans your pores, removing blackheads, dirt and oil, but also retains the natural pH balance of your skin.

The numerous uses of charcoal

In addition to beauty products, having a jar of activated charcoal in your kitchen cabinet can come in handy for a multitude of other things.

• Mixing a dash of charcoal with a bit of water and cornstarch or flaxseed powder can help sooth bee stings, poison ivy rashes, snake bites, and spider bites.
• Activated charcoal can be quite effective in reducing digestive gas, especially after eating certain foods (such as beans) that are known to be gas-inducing. In addition, it can bring relief to an upset stomach or nausea. For internal use, activated charcoal can be bought in supplement capsules
• As mentioned above, charcoal is increasingly used in dental products, as it is helpful in changing pH in the mouth, killing bad bacteria, drawing out toxins, and removing stains. I tried this out in the most basic way possible, by dipping a wet toothbrush into the powder, and gently brushing my teeth with it for a few minutes. After thorough rinsing, I re-brushed with my regular toothpaste, just for that minty-fresh taste, and I felt like it worked surprisingly well.
• Activated charcoal is often used in water filtering products, as it traps impurities, including pesticides, industrial waste, and other chemicals.
• Activated charcoal can be used in DIY facial masks for a clearer, more toned complexion. Mix a teaspoon (or the content of two capsules) of activated charcoal with 1.5 teaspoons of filtered water, a bit of aloe vera juice (preferably directly from the plant itself), and if you happen to have it on hand, half a teaspoon of bentonite clay. Stir until you get a smooth paste, wet your face with either water or a floral toner for an easier application, and leave the mask on for about 10 minutes.
  As for the mixing part, make sure to only use a plastic or wooden spoon, as both charcoal and bentonite clay can pull toxins from metals.

I wouldn’t blame you, if you’re already itching to start your own search for beauty products containing charcoal. May Lindstrom’s Problem Solver, or the Konjac Sponge, are both an excellent start to activated charcoal, but if you really curious about other brands, make sure to always check how the charcoal that is used in the product is made. Charcoal made from bamboo or coconut shells are both said to have lots of health and skin benefits, whereas charcoal made from petroleum is an obvious health hazard.

What are your experiences with activated charcoal? Share your thoughts and tips in the comment section below.