Activated charcoal: the beauty industry's best kept secret is blowing up

(Credits) Activated charcoal is traditionally used in hospital emergency rooms to treat drug overdoses and alcohol poisoning; those carbon pills that you take whenever you get food poisoning might also come to mind. But what’s with the craze of activated charcoal beauty products which run the gamut from activated charcoal masks, to activated charcoal tooth powder? Read on to find out! How does activated charcoal work? activated charcoal (Credits) Activated charcoal essentially acts like a magnet, and attracts and absorbs dirt, oil, and toxins. Because of its magical absorption capabilities, and taking into account the fact that it’s an all-natural product that contains no chemicals, activated charcoal is a great choice for a deep cleanser. What activated charcoal products are there? Activated charcoal masks and cleansers are perfect for those who suffer from oily skin. When you wash your face with an activated charcoal cleanser, or use an activated charcoal mask, the dirt and oil from your pores are absorbed by the carbon in the activated charcoal, and gets washed away once you rinse your face. Be careful not to go overboard, though - if you’re trying out the masks, anything more than three times a week is likely to dry out your skin! Activated charcoal shampoos are also great for removing oil, dirt and toxins from your hair. If you feel your scalp and hair being weighed down by the product build-up from hairsprays, hair serums, and leave-in conditioners, a little activated charcoal will also go a long way in remedying that. If you have an oily scalp, go with any of the options you find on the market; if you have a normal or dry scalp, consider purchasing activated charcoal and just adding a teaspoon or two to your normal shampoo. activated charcoal (Credits) Activated charcoal toothpaste and toothbrushes can help you to achieve a beautiful, pearly white smile. Plenty of people swear upon using activated charcoal as a “home remedy” - this will help to whiten and brighten teeth without the exorbitant expenses associated with professional whitening treatments done at the dentist’s. Take your pick from charcoal toothbrushes, charcoal tooth powder, as well as charcoal toothpaste. These bond to the organic substances such as coffee, red wine, tea, and nicotine which cause teeth stains, and also remove plaque and tartar from your teeth. If you’re concerned about your dark underarms, activated charcoal powder or capsules can also help to whiten underarms. Here’s a simple recipe: break up 2 activated charcoal capsules in a bowl, and add two tablespoons of raw honey and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Spoon the mixture out and use it to exfoliate your underarms. Let it sit for 10 minutes, before rinsing off. What this mixture does is to suck out the impurities and dark dead skin cells from your underarm. It even neutralizes underarm odour - and when done once a week, you’ll see your underarms becoming lighter over time!