Unless you’re an artist or a fireman, your experience with charcoal is probably limited to the odd summertime barbeque, or perhaps Santa put it in your stocking as a kid. However, you’ve probably avoided charcoal in the past, or, at least, touching it. The second you touch charcoal, it gets all over your hands and clothes and you want nothing more than to wash it off. However, before you head to the tap after your next summer barbeque, hold off; you may be screwing your skin out of some serious wellness potential.
According to anti-ageing wellness expert Tynan Buck, beauty editor at XO Jane, ‘Because of its natural detoxifying properties, [charcoal] can be used to whiten teeth, remove poisons from your body, and cleanse! I’ve recently started trying out charcoal products and there are a few of them that I like so much that I’ve incorporated them into my normal skin care routine. My biggest issue with my skin is that, if left unattended, my pores clog up easily. I’m obsessively opposed to blackheads and will do anything to get rid of them, and to prevent their return (and they always return). I had heard that charcoal helps actively yank dirt out of your pores, and after using these three products, I buy it.’ So which products helped Buck to harness the power of charcoal?
1. Garnier Clean + Blackhead Eliminating Scrub: Buck details, ‘I start every shower with this exfoliating scrub. It’s an extra step getting ready in the morning, but it’s so good that I never skip it (or forget it.) It’s a gel-based exfoliating cleanser that’s surprisingly thick when you rub it in between your fingers, and really clings to your face as you scrub, which makes me feel like the charcoal is really sucking the grime out of my pores. The exfoliators deeply clean your face without being too abrasive to use every day. Personally, I use it about every other day, but do your thing.’
2. Garnier’s Clean + Shine Control Cleansing Gel: ‘After I’ve exfoliated all of the crap that’s built up on my face, I hit it with another dose of charcoal with Garnier’s Clean + Shine Control Cleansing Gel,’ notes Buck. ‘Much like its exfoliating counterpart, this is also a gel cleanser. This one is different because unlike the exfoliator, this gel cleaner is thinner than I expected. I only use about a nickel-sized drop and the cleanser does all the heavy lifting for me, dissolving dirt and any excess makeup from the day. It also keeps its promise of preventing oil build up and shine throughout the day.’
3. Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask: ‘Another way to take advantage of the detoxifying benefits of my new best friend, charcoal, is with the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask,’ says Buck. ‘Origins combines the grime fighting properties of charcoal with white clay, which also works to absorb toxins from the skin. This mask works to draw out impurities from deep beneath the surface of your skin and dissolving dead skin cells, leaving your face looking clearer from the inside out. Simply apply a thin but solid layer to problem areas or your entire face, and let dry, which only takes about five minutes. You’ll know it’s ready to remove when you can touch your fingers to the mask without removing any reside. Then, softly scrub off with a warm cloth and admire your beautiful face. A tube is 3.4 ounces, which would last you a while. I used only a nickel-sized drop of the mask and it more than covered my face, and I have a big face.’
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