Detoxifying Charcoal Face Mask

Activated charcoal is a widely used product in herbalism and, for some years now, it has also made its mark in the cosmetic market, thanks to the availability of peel-off masks, also known as Black masks. Have you ever tried them?

Today, I’ll tell you how to create a detoxifying mask with activated charcoal.

Activated Charcoal

 

Inside the masks I mentioned, you’ll find Charcoal powder, the scientific name for charcoal; a jet-black powder, 100% plant-based, insoluble in water and oil, obtained from the burning of bamboo or coconut shells; quite popular in the Asian market, its porous structure ensures abrasive, absorbent, and mattifying action.

We have thus learned to appreciate not only its coloring properties but also its exfoliating action, which helps remove dead cells and clean pores, stimulating cell turnover and improving the appearance and radiance of the skin.

Its absorbent and sebum-normalizing action is particularly suitable for oily and acne-prone skin, while it should be used sparingly on all other skin types.

How to Use Activated Charcoal

I’ll make a disclaimer before indicating the correct use of activated charcoal.

It is quite common practice to use activated charcoal tablets purchased online or in herbal stores to prepare the homemade Black mask, with the addition of vinyl glue to achieve the peel-off effect. I believe this is entirely improper use, as vinyl glue is a chemical substance that should be used for other purposes, certainly not cosmetic.

Furthermore, dietary supplements containing activated charcoal are obtained from preferably non-resinous softwoods, such as lime, poplar, birch, or willow, and in some cases peat, which have nothing to do with the Charcoal powder we are discussing now. Often, they are also enriched with other active ingredients such as Fennel, which work in synergy with charcoal itself and are supplemented with excipients that aid absorption and confer volume, shape, and consistency to the supplement itself.

Therefore, if you are a fan of DIY, I recommend using exclusively Charcoal powder, available in cosmetic raw material stores.

 

Tips for Correct Use of Activated Charcoal

Prepare a non-metal bowl and add a tablespoon of activated charcoal powder, a teaspoon of acacia honey, and a tablespoon of hydrosol or a tablespoon of lukewarm water, and mix manually with a wooden spoon until you get a soft, yogurt-like mixture to apply without dripping.

I remind you that hydrosols have different characteristics, here are the most common ones:

• Rose hydrosol: anti-aging, toning, and soothing, suitable for dry and mature skin;
• Chamomile hydrosol: soothing and anti-inflammatory, suitable for sensitive and irritated skin;
• Mint hydrosol: refreshing and astringent, suitable for impure and acne-prone skin;
• Witch Hazel hydrosol: astringent, purifying, and sebum-regulating, suitable for oily and impure skin.

You can also add essential oils, depending on your needs and skin type:

• Lavender: antibacterial, purifying, healing, refreshing, regenerating, aromatic, ideal for normal, combination, and oily skin
• Litsea: anti-aging, antibacterial, purifying, refreshing, aromatic, excellent for oily skin with enlarged pores
• Damask Rose: anti-aging, astringent, refreshing, aromatic, ideal for delicate and sensitive skin, irritated, with couperose, and mature skin
• Tea tree: antibacterial, toning, aromatic, ideal for dry and impure skin.
• Ylang ylang: regenerating, sebum-normalizing, and firming, aromatic; suitable for all skin types
• Roman Chamomile: soothing, aromatic, excellent for delicate and sensitive or irritated skin.

Charcoal-containing masks should be applied to the skin, avoiding the periocular and perioral areas, left on for about 30 minutes, and removed like a film, in the case of peel-offs, or with a sponge soaked in lukewarm water. Weekly application for a clean and radiant face in individuals with oily and acne-prone skin; while it is recommended to reduce to twice a month for all other skin types.

I look forward to hearing if you will try this recipe and how you have personalized it.

See you soon!

 

Dr. AMBRA CENTRA

Vice National Coordinator of CONELS

and Registered Herbalist with RNEP No. GLT0057S