Activated charcoal, also known as 'activated carbon' has become a popular ingredient for skin care products in the past few years. But it’s not new – charcoal has been used in the beauty and medical industries for years. The ancient Egyptians used it as a poultice to clean wounds. Hindu documents from 450 B.C. discuss charcoal for water filtration.

In the 18th century, charcoal was studied by chemists who were interested in its ability to protect the human body from toxins. Activated carbon is still used today in water filters and as a poison antidote. Charcoal is known for its ability to absorb and draw out oil from the skin. This makes it a great addition to soaps, scrubs, masks and more.

"Activated charcoal has become a popular ingredient for skin care products in the past few years."

There are various types, including activated charcoal, sugar charcoal and Japanese charcoal (aka white charcoal). The different types of charcoal have various origins and production methods. “Regular” charcoal usually comes from wood, coal or peat. This type of charcoal is often used as fuel.

Activated charcoal, on the other hand, is most commonly used for medical, beauty or purification processes. To become “activated,” the charcoal goes through a high temperature steam activation process that increases its surface area, which increases the charcoal’s ability to absorb and filter.

Benefits of Activated Carbon Soap

The key benefits associated with our Five Elements Activated Carbon Soap are listed below.

Treats Oily Skin and helps reduce blemishes

Activated charcoal will not harm your skin, which makes it a good addition to your cleansing routine. Applying activated charcoal to your skin, it’s claimed, will remove impurities from your skin’s surface and can even extract toxins from beneath the skin. For adults with mild acne, a charcoal cleansing soap can help prevent outbreaks. The antibacterial properties of charcoal can also alleviate infections, or keep them from happening. In addition, following a healthy diet and lifestyle with plenty of exercise, cleaning and moisturizing your skin regularly, and the use, preferably, of organic skin care products, will go a long way towards supporting a healthy, radiant skin.

Exfoliates and Reduces Pore Size

The texture of activated charcoal makes it a gentle exfoliant and is effective at the removal of dead skin cells; unlike plastic beads, it doesn’t impact the environment! With regular use, pore size decreases and cleaning the skin in this way removes contaminants and excess sebum that may aggravate the growth of pimples.

Suits All Skin Types

Skin suitability is a major concern when using any skin care product. While charcoal soap is suitable for most skin types, if your skin is very dry, charcoal soap may be too drying; however, we have counteracted this effect by adding our signature ElementalTM Phytoextracts to the soap, thereby providing a rich anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial nutrient dense defence mechanism to assist with re-hydrating and moisturising the skin.

Treats Dandruff

Our charcoal soap can be used as a soap and shampoo. When used as a shampoo, it helps treat skin conditions like dandruff and dry scalp. Black charcoal soap produces a rich lather to provide a pampered and luxurious feel to both the hair and the skin.

Essential Oil Benefits

Lavender essential oil is regenerative and found in hair formulas for all types of hair and scalp conditions. Many people lose their hair because of a medical condition called alopecia areata. Alopecia is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to reject its hair follicles as foreign objects. Lavender oil is a natural product to help treat this disease. A sense of calm is a bonus! Lavender oil also has antimicrobial properties, and it can be used to combat bacterial and fungal disorders.

Ylang ylang is used in aromatherapy to relieve stress and relax an individual. The oil’s calming fragrance has a euphoric effect on the nervous system, and reduces anxiety, tension, fear, etc., thus it may reduce hair fall due to stress.

It’s Organic!

No nasty additives have been added, providing assurance that all ingredients are hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, biodegradable, vegan and non-GMO. The oils have been harvested from sustainable sources.

Five Elements Activated Carbon Soap is available for purchase online through the Five Elements Shop.