Charcoal powder in cosmetics

How black coal makes skin snow-white

The new protagonist of beauty products is not so new. But just as effective as it was five hundred years ago. ELLE takes a fresh look at the timeless benefits of charcoal.

Coal doesn't just come in huge BBQ bags. And not only in pills that save you from the sad consequences of a fun party. Now charcoal is the main component of beauty products. It is added to face masks, soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, that is, any products for cleansing skin and hair. This is all thanks to its impressive ability to absorb impurities and toxins. In India, Egypt and Japan, its benefits have been enjoyed for five centuries. And in Ancient China they called it “black diamond”.

Outside

Charcoal is the purest form of carbon available to humans. Our body contains about 18% carbon. Its atoms are the most flexible of all existing on Earth. One carbon atom attracts thousands of atoms of other substances. The high absorption capacity of coal extends to removing contaminants, toxins and unpleasant odors from air, water and the human body. Coal, like a magnet, attracts microparticles of dirt, sebum, and bacteria from the surface of the skin and from the pores. No type of clay has this ability.

Therefore, beauty products with charcoal are indispensable for caring for oily and combination skin, skin with enlarged pores, inflammation and acne. They will also be a salvation for all women living in big cities, everyone who sometimes falls asleep without having time to remove their makeup, and everyone who cannot boast of a healthy lifestyle. Dull complexion will disappear along with toxins.

Inside

Activated carbon is the new superfood. Nutritionists value it for its ability to solve problems with the gastrointestinal tract and remove toxins accumulated as a result of poor nutrition. Charcoal is added to protein shakes, green smoothies, fresh juices, coconut water and even lattes. I want to try everything. However, it is important not to overdo it. In large doses, charcoal can cause dehydration and constipation, as well as neutralize the benefits of medications when taken simultaneously. A preliminary consultation with a doctor definitely won’t hurt. And you can apply the black mask right now.

ELLE's pick: 5 beauty products with charcoal

Erborian Black Cleansing Oil

Butter with charcoal is something new. The advantages are obvious: while the black powder cleanses, the oil moisturizes. The product should be applied to dry skin. When contacted with warm water, sesame oil transforms into a light foam, removing everything from waterproof makeup to blackheads on the nose.

Primer for tightening pores Bye Bye Pores Primer from It Cosmetics

The composition of the It Cosmetics primer is so useful that it can easily be compared to a salon facial procedure. And it’s not surprising, because it was invented by plastic surgeons. Collagen, hyaluronic acid, fruit acids, charcoal and patented Bye Bye Pores Optical Blurring Technology take the optional layer between moisturizer and foundation to a must-have level.

Apotheke Sulfate Free Charcoal Shampoo and Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner

This paraben-free charcoal formula is created in our Brooklyn factory to cleanse hair and scalp. The shampoo leaves a genuine feeling of cleanliness and a citrus aroma. Afterwards, Apotheke creator Chrissy Fittle recommends using an argan oil conditioner. Additional hydration will come in handy.

Kishu Binchotan Water Purification Coal Sticks from Sort Of Coal

The Sort Of Coal brand uses only the healthiest and highest quality white coal. The raw materials for it were oaks and pines from the mountain forests of Japan and Korea. The component received its name due to the last stage of a complex technological process. After the wood is “baked” in clay ovens at a temperature of 1200 °C, the coal is buried in white ash. White Kishu Binchotan not only absorbs harmful components from water, but also saturates it with its minerals (potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus). This is how tap water turns into pure mineral water. By the way, it is Sort Of Coal charcoal that is used in the dishes of the Noma restaurant in Copenhagen, one of the most famous and respected restaurants in the world.

Soap for sponges Blendercleanser Solid Pro from Beautyblender

Washing your brushes and sponges every day is top-notch. The argument in favor will be a detox soap specially designed for these purposes. It removes cosmetic product residues without leaving any residue. Despite the color, it smells like lavender.

Hirst Shkulev Publishing

Moscow, st. Shabolovka, building 31b, 6th entrance (entrance from Konny Lane)

Suddenly, charcoal has become the most fashionable cosmetic component: the usual charcoal masks have been replaced by oils, foams, scrubs and even decorative cosmetics with charcoal, which is credited with detox properties. It turns out that the component is very cheap, but its effectiveness is questionable.

It’s hard not to notice the fashion for a new, but long-known ingredient: coal. If five to ten years ago it was relatively rare in mass cosmetics and was talked about more often in the context of DIY recipes, then recently there has been an increase in charcoal-based products: masks, cleansers, even decorative cosmetics. The popularity is clear: for the manufacturer it is cheap, but for the buyer it is interesting: black cosmetics are still unusual. Just remember the mass hysteria around black masks, which were sold in every Instagram store six months ago.

Charcoal is credited with many different properties - from cleansing and detoxing to fighting acne. But this, as often happens in the beauty industry, is an exaggeration. “It’s not that charcoal is useless in cosmetics, but in my opinion its benefits are far-fetched,” writes cosmetic chemist Colin Sanders. To date, there are no studies proving the effectiveness of charcoal in cosmetics.

An important property of coal is its ability to absorb substances. In case of poisoning, it absorbs the contents of the intestines in the form of tablets. When there is an oil or chemical spill, it is used to combat environmental pollution. In cosmetics it is positioned in the same way: as a cleansing component. Coal is credited with detox properties, but in this case, it is not so much the effectiveness of coal itself that is exaggerated, but the need for detox. The human body copes well with harmful substances that enter it, and the skin plays not the main role in this process. And in order to cleanse the skin of substances that settle on it during the day, just take a shower.

Charcoal is a neutral product that absorbs excess oil and dirt, which is almost always important for those with oily skin. Nowadays you can find many different masks with charcoal in stores, but, as a rule, other components perform the main cleansing function in them. For example, in the GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment and Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Charcoal Mask masks, clay cleanses, and in GlamGlow, a mixture of acids also additionally exfoliates. The Erborian company makes an exfoliating and cleansing product called Black Scrub - despite the name, it is not a scrub, but a soft peeling roller that does not injure the skin. And here acrylates and cellulose are responsible for exfoliation, which roll off when applied to the skin.

Erborian black face scrub, 2550 rub.

Foam oil The Yeon Lotus Flower Charcoal Transform Cleanser, 1550 rub.

Northern detox soap based on activated carbon Natura Siberica, 520 rub.

Clinique Pore Refining Solutions mask, 2500 rub.

Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment mask, RUR 3,299

Lush “Angels of the Night” cleanser, RUR 470.

Charcoal is found less frequently in cleansers than in masks, and this is understandable: to cleanse, it must remain on the skin for a relatively long time, and washing is a quick process. The cleansing functions in such products are also performed by surfactants, not coal. The contrast of color and purpose plays into the hands of the manufacturer: white color is associated with purity, so black oil for washing at least attracts attention. Many Korean brands produce such oils, among them The Yeon Lotus Flower Charcoal Transform Cleanser - an oil that turns into foam upon contact with water. Naturalistic brand Lush produces their Angels of the Night cleanser in powder form that you mix with water. Here, coal acts as a soft abrasive. People with oily skin will like the product; it cleanses well, gently exfoliates and does not dry out, although it is not very convenient to use. The Russian Natura Siberica also offers “Northern detox soap with charcoal.” It is sold with a special black sponge that turns use into a ritual.

Coal is added to a lot of other products - from toothpastes to decorative cosmetics. But it is important to understand that in all these cases, coal performs a decorative function, and less exotic clay or silicones are responsible for the main properties. There is no point in discarding charcoal as a skin care ingredient - its beneficial properties will probably be discovered in the future, but right now its effectiveness is a big question.

Why did he appear?

Where does he work?

Coal is a very porous material. Its main advantage is its high sorption capacity, which is quite non-selective. This means that charcoal actively collects excess fat, settled dirt and moisture from the surface of the skin. And at the same time, part of the skin microflora, both beneficial and harmful. Is it good? Yes, as part of cleansing products - in special masks, soap - this is completely justified and useful. Especially if you have oily skin, which requires constant attention and especially high-quality cleansing. Well-ground charcoal perfectly cleanses the skin. Charcoal successfully acts as a sorbent and scrub.

In my opinion, some of the most successful products with charcoal are Japanese and Korean masks, paper and fabric. High-quality masks really provide effective cleansing.

Nowadays, black toothpastes with charcoal are also in fashion. Although a black product is psychologically poorly compatible with the cleansing theme, such abrasive toothpastes are indeed very popular among consumers, especially in Asia. By the way, the Russian company Splat was one of the first in the world to launch such a paste on the market. And this happened several years ago, long before the “coal boom”.

Another good idea is charcoal shampoos for oily hair and oily scalp. These products can really bring the expected effect with a well-formulated recipe.