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There are black masks, cleansers, body bars, and scrubs with activated charcoal as the star.
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Beauty companies praise it as a game changer for oily and acne-prone skin.
This way I could really see if it works like magic.
From the moment I opened the pouch of powder, I knew this experiment was going to be messy.
Courtesy of Emily Rekstis
How could something so dirty clean my face or whiten my teeth?
I thought this experiment would be a total bust.
But I have been wrong before.
Courtesy of Emily Rekstis
Before we get in to my DIY charcoal tests, I want to cover some basics.
First, I should stress that there is a certain pop in of charcoal you better use.
DO NOT, hey do not, use the charcoal that you would grill with.
Courtesy of Emily Rekstis
You need food-grade, activated charcoal powder.
I used Rocky Mountain Hardwood Activated Charcoal Powder ($11,amazon.com).
And yes, that is spelled correctlyadsorptive, not to be confused with absorptive.
Courtesy of Emily Rekstis
RealSelf contributor and dermatologistSejal Shah, M.D.goes even further to says.
“It’s an electrical attraction that causes substances to stick together,” she explains.
“So basically it acts like a magnet for dirt, oil, and other impurities.”
Schlessinger explains that this process is incredibly beneficial in medicine to help treat drug overdoses and alcohol poisoning.
But it works on a much smaller scale when it comes to skinif at all.
There is little-to-no science behind charcoal’s skincare benefits.
With that being said, I still wanted to check out this trendy ingredient for myself.
I figured it’s taking over the beauty aisle for a reason!
So, see how the charcoal worked on everything from skin to hair ahead.
I ended up trying to overcompensate for its runny texture.
The sea salt felt really gentle, not scratching my skin at all.
Afterwards, my skin felt clean just like when I do my regular cleansing routine before bed.
The Verdict:I was surprised how much I actually loved this scrub.
My face felt soft to the touch afterwards.
This DIY was really easy to rinse off and clean up since it was so thin and light.
“It draws out impurities from deep within the pores,” explainsSchlessinger.
So, I knew I could really use this mask to unclog my city-life pores.
My Experience:I love masks.
There’s nothing like winding down after a long day with a sheet or clay mask.
This DIY one was really easy to apply.
It slipped right into place and stayed where I put it.
I loved that I could leave it on as I moved around the apartment.
After minute five, the mask began to harden, and I could feel my face tightening.
When I tried, the mask started to shatter.
After leaving it on for 15 minutes or so, it was time to rinse.
I started by splashing water all over my face to loosen up the clay.
Then, I cleaned my face section by section.
First, I focused on my cheeks.
Then, I washed my chin and finished with the nose area.
There were one or two blackheads left, but I couldn’t believe all the results after one use.
Bentonite clay has similar benefits as charcoal, meaning it supposedly unclogs and shrinks your pores.
The results were too clear to ignore.
Purpose:Sounds crazy weird right?
Everyone I talked to about my charcoal experiment grimaced at the thought of putting black powder in their mouth.
But I was really curious, especially after reading rave reviews and hearing how it actually works.
However, he notes that it stops whitening at surface stains.
So if your teeth are naturally darker or yellow, you’ll need something that contains bleach.
My Experience:First, I poured a bit of the charcoal out on a paper towel.
Then, I dipped my toothbrush, which was already loaded with toothpaste.
“Are you sure?”
he asked as the toothbrush started moving closer to my eager mouth.
Once I started scrubbing away, it felt like nothing!
Otherwise it felt just like I was brushing with normal toothpaste.
Since I have so much left over charcoal powder, I might even make this a habit.
Purpose:Charcoal works in hair the same way it does with the skinit pulls out dirt and buildup.
It’s also great for the scalp.
The charcoal can help relieve dandruff, redness, and itchiness.
Since I have blonde hair, I didn’t want the black to stain my color.
The lather felt a bit gritty rather than silky.
And there was a pool of grey water at my feet.
Luckily, it all rinsed out easily.
I was hoping to see more volume.
But since my hair falls flat naturallynot because of product buildupI didn’t see any major results.
So, I’ll be sticking to myreverse shampooroutine to get extra volume.
Purpose:Honestly, I had a lot of leftover activated charcoal powder.
So, I figured I’d give this a try.
And since all it took was water and an eyeliner brush, I figured what the heck!
One more thing to add to the things I’ve tested.
It was either too wet or really powderyeither way it was tough to get a clear line.
And aren’t hacks supposed to make your life easier?
All in all, I really loved the results I saw using charcoal for my skin and teeth.
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