Everyone who’s been on Facebook in the last few months, or even the Internet for that matter, has seen the hilarious charcoal facial mask videos. Basically, the video consists of a live review of a customer trying the mask for the first time and in every video, they apply the mask, wait for it to dry, and then scream in agony when they try to peel it off because it won’t come off.
Now as entertaining as some of these videos are, they have been giving charcoal a bad name. After all, who wants to use a product that could potentially peel their face off?!
But activated charcoal has a ton of great uses above and beyond these poorly-made products and it’s benefits are amazing! Trust me, it’s worth giving it another shot.
What is Activated Charcoal?
Activated charcoal is exactly what you think it is….it’s charcoal! Like the charcoal you use to cook your backyard burgers, yep, that’s the one. It’s in a different form, of course, but you already know what it is. Charcoal becomes “activated” when it is exposed to high temperatures and a gas or activating agent that expands it’s surface area.
What Can You Use It For?
Activated charcoal can be used for many things. Honestly, I was introduced to it by my husband, back in college when we were dating. However, he used to use it on his hunting clothes…yes, you read that correctly. See, one property of activated charcoal helps it cling to substances and get rid of them. My husband did not want animals to smell him or his hunting clothes so he would mix activated charcoal and water in a spray bottle and spray his hunting clothes with it and it absorbed any smell or detergents on his clothes.
I started researching it and learned that it actually has a lot of benefits in the health and beauty realm.
Detoxing
Activated charcoal is great for detoxing. Many substance abuse organizations or emergency responders use it save lives when someone overdoses on drugs because when it’s ingested, it clings to whatever the substance is, and flushes it out of your body. If it’s used for illegal drugs, you can imagine how effective it would be as a body detox. It is actually included in a lot of detoxing products you can buy at stores.
I used to do this as well and you simply take 1 Tbs. or so of activated charcoal and mix it into a 16 oz. glass of water and drink it.
You do have to be careful how you use it for detoxing, though, because it can’t differentiate between illegal drugs and prescription drugs, so if you’re taking any kind of medication that you should be taking, then you shouldn’t use activated charcoal.
It also may make your mouth or teeth slightly black as you’re drinking it, but don’t worry, it goes away immediately after and works toward another one of it’s amazing uses.
Teeth Whitening
Activated charcoal is great for whitening your teeth. Just like it clings to substances to detox your body, it also clings to stains on your pearly whites and makes them white again. Just take your toothbrush, wet it, dip it into some activated charcoal powder, and brush your teeth with it for a minute or two. Then rinse your mouth out until the water is clear. Obviously it doesn’t happen overnight, but if you brush your teeth with it consistently (2-3 times per week), you could see improvement in just a week.
Be careful when using it though. Ironically, as efficient as it is at removing stains from your teeth, it can also cause stains on crowns, caps, and porcelain veneers, as well as countertops, tile and grout. Like many teeth whiteners, it can also cause your teeth to become sensitive if you use it too often.
Alleviate Gas and Bloating
No one likes to feel gassy or bloated after a meal and activated charcoal can help with that. It works best when you mix a spoonful with a glass of water and drink it before a meal, followed by another glass of water or two to help it get into your system.
There are actually a lot of products you can buy that offer activated charcoal tablets designed specifically for this purpose, that may make the process more convenient if you decide to use it that way.
Clear Up Your Skin and Prevent Breakouts
The reason that so many people are trying these crazy charcoal masks is because they are effective at removing toxins from your skin that can cause irritation and breakouts. But there are better ways to go about it…
A better way to make a mask is to mix the contents of 1 activated charcoal tablet with 2 tsp. aloe vera and spread it on your face. It will cling to the toxins and remove them along with any other environmental gunk that gets trapped in your pores and causes irritation. You can also use this mask anywhere you get breakouts, whether it’s your face, your back, or your chest. It is just as effective, no matter the placement.
For an easier body acne solution, mix it into your body wash and use a lufa sponge to scrub your skin from head to toe. You will likely see a difference in a few weeks.
Natural Deodorant
Just like my husband used to use it, activated charcoal is effective at removing odors, including body odors. For those of you that are into creating your own beauty products, try natural deodorant. There are tons of easy recipes out there that you can use and you can make it even more effective by adding activated charcoal to the mix.
Bug Bite and Bee Sting Remedy
This one is actually pretty cool because other than the old baking soda paste trick my mom used when I was a kid, I haven’t come across many natural remedies for bug bites or bee stings. Just mix 1 activated charcoal tablet with 1/2 Tbs. coconut oil and dab it on your bites or stings. It’s best to then cover it with a bandaid or cloth bandage because again, the activated charcoal will stain whatever it touches. It’s very effective at removing the sting or itch quickly.
Homemade Make-Up
Another great use for activated charcoal is for homemade make-up. Now this one doesn’t really reflect how activated charcoal works, or in other words, you’re not really detoxing anything from your body with this use. However, you are preventing your body from being exposed to more chemicals found in many store-bought make-ups.
This use also takes advantage of the fact that activated charcoal stains because black is a very popular color when it come to eye make-up. Make your own mascara, or eye liner by mixing it with coconut oil, or check out these other great make-up recipes.
What Activated Charcoal Is Best and Where Can I Get It?
Because activated charcoal is a man-made substance, there are a few things to look for when you’re purchasing it to make sure you’re buying the most natural option available.
You want to figure out how the charcoal is made and what means is used to “activate” it. In other words, you want to find charcoal that is sourced from identified wood species that are known to have super-fine grains, or charcoal that is made from coconut shells, which is best.
Also, be careful to read the other ingredients. Just because you’re buying activated charcoal tablets, doesn’t always mean that is all they contain. In fact, a lot of charcoal tablets also contain artificial sweeteners to make them taste better, which are just as toxic as what you’re trying to take out of your body! Simpler is better when it comes to this stuff, and surprise surprise, for a substance that removes smells and toxins from everything, activated charcoal by itself really doesn’t taste like anything.
For those of you who want to try it for a myriad of uses, I would recommend the activated charcoal tablets. They are easy to ingest and easy to split open and use in pre-measured amounts for your skin and beauty products.
Where Can I Get it?
Your local natural foods store is a great place to get it. But if you’re like me, you live in a small town and may not have access to one of those, so you can also get it online. I recommend Amazon because they have a great variety of options.
Try your favorite activated charcoal recipes and let me know how you like them! I’m always looking to try something new, so if you find a mix you love for whatever use, I want to hear about it! Just comment below and I’ll be happy to try it myself!