This post contains affiliate links. Click here to read my affiliate policy.
Last Updated on April 12, 2021
Activated charcoal has been used in Ayurvedic medicine and Chinese medicine for almost 10,000 years to absorb poisons and to improve intestinal health.
Activated charcoal is an odorless, tasteless and non-toxic and finely powdered charcoal that is treated to increase its absorbency. Activated charcoal absorbs a wide variety of organic toxins, chemicals and drugs through a process known as adsorption. Basically the poisonous substances attach themselves to the charcoal.
Because of its absorbency property, activated charcoal is widely used in hospitals to absorb poisons in the stomach in cases of alcohol poisoning or drug overdose or children who swallow poisons. It is a good thing to have in the first aid kit in case someone swallows a poison, or is bitten by a spider or for food poisoning. It also used in water filters to absorb poisons and other impurities.
Because of its ability to absorb toxins and pollutants, activated charcoal is now used for detoxification of the digestive system. In cosmetics it is added to cleansers, soaps, face masks, toothpastes and even juices. It attracts and absorbs dirt and oil from the skin which the user then washes away afterwards. If you want to use activated charcoal for ingestion or on the body, it’s important to select the type made from coconut shells or other natural sources.
Following are 8 homemade recipes that use this amazing ingredient:
Eye liner: Use activated charcoal as an eye liner if you want to go natural. You can basically mix it on the back of your hand with water using an angular brush and then apply it.
Cleanser: When activated charcoal is included in an oil cleanser, the product melts into the skin, absorbing stubborn smudges of cosmetics, for example waterproof mascara. It leaves behind a clear even-toned complexion.
Activated Charcoal Exfoliating Scrub
Tooth whitening: Activated charcoal is also good for teeth whitening. It removes all the plaque as you brush and within a few days you can notice the difference.
Homemade Deodorant with Charcoal
Mask: When used in a mask, activated charcoal attracts impurities from the pores. You can peel away the mask once it hardens to find that your blackheads have been uprooted. If you have oily skin, then the mask will absorb excess oil and impurities. So it is a good product to have if you suffer from acne.
DIY all-natural blackhead busting blackout mask
Anti-aging: Activated charcoal soap is now used in anti-aging products since it tightens pores and leaves the skin smooth and reduces inflammation.
Treat scalp conditions: You can use activated charcoal on your scalp before shampoo or you can mix it with your shampoo to relieve dandruff, redness, oily scalp or itchy scalp or better yet, buy a solid shampoo with it already included.
