Makeup Monday: Activated Charcoal Beauty

Last week’s Makeup Monday covered some of my top natural beauty products currently in my cabinet. If you missed it be sure to check it out! 

Activated charcoal has long been used in Ayurvedic and Eastern European cultures for a variety of beauty and medical reasons. Over the last few years, the US has really embraced the ingredient for everything from skincare to teeth whitening!

What is activated charcoal?

“Activated charcoal is a type of charcoal that’s processed (heated) to make it more porous. Activated charcoal’s negatively charged, porous texture helps trap toxins, preventing your body from absorbing them.” (www.healthline.com)

The porous surface makes activated charcoal the perfect ingrediant for:

• Face masks (perfect for minimizing oil and blackheads).
• Removing stains from teeth (coffee and wine included).
• GETTING RID OF BLOATING!

I have tried a lot of different charcoal activate products and weeded out the musts from the never agains!

These are products I have bought multiple times that are kept in my daily beauty rotation.

1: Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask

I have raved before about Origins Rose mask and this activated charcoal mask is equally amazing! It cleans out my pores like nothing else ever has. This mask goes on smoothly and rinses away leaving clean and fresh blemish free skin behind! I prefer to use this mask once a week as even with oily skin using it too often can cause dryness.

2: Active Wow Activated Coconut Charcoal Powder

This product is a black powder almost like soot which seems counter intuitive when it comes to teeth whitening! To use, you simply wet a tooth brush, dip in the powder and brush as normal. I love that there is no gum sensitivity when using this product! However, BE CAREFUL when using this product as it can be messy! I only use it in the shower to reduce the chances of my bathroom looking like a fireplace. Seriously- check out this woman who was not cautious when using!

3: Binchotan Charcoal Body Scrub Towel

Want healthy glowing skin? Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. 

I find sugar or salt scrubs to be messy and like a tub never lasts me very long. I much prefer to do a full body exfoliation with a towel. This Binchotan one is woven/infused with activated charcoal that I gives it an extra boost to smooth away dead skin. Additionally, charcoal is antibacterial so this towel won’t accrue icky bacteria like a typical washcloth.

4: Four Sigmatic Mushroom Lemonade Mix

It’s important to remember what you put in your body ends up on your skin! If you’re going to apply activated charcoal to your skin, why not detox from the inside out? I’ve been OBSESSED with Four Sigmatic adaptogenic mushroom products for a while and this Charcoal Lemonade is no exception.

• It looks super cool when you drink it- like a black magic potion.
• It acts like a black magic potion that banishes bloating!
• It’s sugar free, caffeine free and vegan.

Bonus: This product has Chaga Adaptogenic mushroom in it! These mushrooms are “high in antioxidant properties and beta-glucans. Chaga is traditionally used to stimulate the immune system, balance energy, and reduce inflammation. Chaga is also known to help reduce fatigue and increase mental sharpness.” (Moon Juice) Activated charcoal, chaga and lemon make this drink a perfect trifecta to leave your tummy feeling happy and bloat free.

Just a head’s up on this product from Four Sigmatic:

“Not for use by children. Consult your physician before use if you are pregnant, lactating, taking medication, have a medical condition or are planning a surgery. Do not take at the same time as medications or supplements, as charcoal may reduce their effectiveness. Keep out of reach of children.”

Are you are fan of activated charcoal?

I would love to hear which products you’ve tried with this amazing ingredient or if you are going to try any of the above!