Women Are Treating Charcoal As The Latest Beauty Cure-All For Their Skin
Black never goes out of style, even when it comes to cosmetic treatments.
Fashion darlings might turn to silk and chiffon for inspiration, but the trendiest beauty treatment is just a little grittier.
Charcoal, best known as the ashy briquettes fueling your summer barbecue, might be the beauty fix-all you've been seeking.
Don't worry – we won't recommend raiding the stash below your grill. This kind of powder is a little different.
Recently, beauty brands have boosted production of scrubs, soaps and masks containing activated charcoal.
Unlike the kind you might know from your backyard, orally-ingested activated charcoal is most commonly used in treating poison victims because it prevents the toxins from absorbing into the body's systems.
It might sound like a cheesy, late-night infomercial, but activated charcoal is being touted as the cure to a myriad of beauty ills: yellow teeth, acne-prone skin and even a cleanser for the digestive system.
But like most do-it-yourself treatments, the application can get a little messy.
To purchase charcoal, many opt for breaking open pre-made capsules. On the other hand, you could spring for a container of the inky powder in bulk.
Experts, constantly confused by our commitment to the exciting beauty fads, aren't sure if charcoal is anything more than an Instagram-friendly trend, but major beauty brands like Lush and Origins have already committed to touting its wondrous properties.
Wendy Brooks, Origins' global product development director, told the New York Daily News the company stands behind charcoal.
She said charcoal is known to "absorb 100 to 200 times its weight in impurities, making it an excellent natural ingredient to help purify and deep-clean skin."
If green masks have you down, and nothing seems to get rid of ever-present dental stains from your coffee habit, give charcoal a try.
Activated charcoal is the powder your medicine cabinet and kitchen have been missing.
Charcoal adherents claim to have seen incredible benefits.
Whether you choose a scrub, wash or juice, slathering on a black product takes guts.
Activated charcoal reportedly draws dirt and impurities from pores, resulting in altogether fresh skin.
Although dermatologists aren't convinced charcoal is more effective than other targeted treatments, its popularity continues to grow.
If slathering your face in charcoal seems like too much, begin by dabbing it on trouble spots to dry up zits.
Not into DIY? Activated charcoal masks are available at most price points.
You could even try it with friends and wine, for moral support.
Activated charcoal is an exotic take on your Sunday night pampering session.
Ready to get a little intense? Ditch your squeeze of toothpaste in favor of whitening activated charcoal.
When trying the black tooth scrub, it's important to dilute the powder with water.
Gentleness is key to avoiding damage to tooth enamel.
If black toothpaste feels a little to "Walking Dead" for you, try activated charcoal as a juice.
Since the powder removes poisons from the body, health lovers hope it'll purify their bodies.
The easiest way to purify the body's exterior, however, is using activated charcoal soap.
Whatever your preference, activated charcoal is certainly a sensation.
Activated charcoal is the adventurous new beauty trend we can't resist trying out.
Citations: Activated Charcoal For Beauty Now The Latest Health Fad But Clinical Benefits Still Unknown (Medical Daily), Charcoal Activated (Mayo Clinic), Blackened beauty Charcoal and its purifying properties are the latest health fad (NY Daily News), What Does Charcoal Do for Skin (LIVESTRONG), How To Whiten Your Teeth With Charcoal (Prevention), Charcoal Beauty Products For Beautiful Skin Hair (Huffington Post)
