How To Create A Peel-Off Charcoal Face Mask

From teeth whitening to adding volume to hair, it’s no secret that charcoal is packed with beauty benefits. Personally, my favorite way to use it is to make a peel-off charcoal face mask. That’s why I’ve been binging YouTube tutorials: The holy grail for learning how I can make my own.

Charcoal is great for those of us with oily or acne-prone skin. The ingredient helps draw out dirt and excess oils on the surface of the skin, making your pores feel cleaner and look smaller. But it doesn't come cheap. The store-bought charcoal mask I typically use retails at just under $30. Though it might not sound a lot, it’s easy to get through when used twice a week.

Thankfully, the scrimp and save gurus of YouTube have come up with a solution. Taking Beauty By Josie K and Nicole Sykes’ YouTube videos as inspiration, I was able to create a money-saving DIY mask that costs next to nothing. It’s also incredibly simple to make and, best of all, only consists of two cheap and accessible ingredients: Charcoal tablets and PVA glue.

So whether you're looking to get rid of summer acne or achieve smaller-looking pores, here’s how you can make an easy charcoal face mask that will help your visage.

What You’ll Need

For this DIY project, you'll need the following ingredients:

• Charcoal Tablets
• PVA Glue
• Mixing Bowl
• Spoon

1. Pour PVA Glue Into A Bowl

PH Neutra PVA Adhesive, $7, Amazon

Start by squeezing PVA glue into a bowl. I know it sounds a little strange, but as long as you use a a non-toxic brand (read the label to make sure), it should be completely safe and won’t damage your skin.

Just think of all the times you smeared it on your hands just so you could peel it off at pre-school. That’s exactly what you'll be doing here.

2. Split/Crush Charcoal Tablets

Charcoal Tablets, $7, Amazon

The next step will depend on what type of charcoal tablets you're using. For those who are using capsules like me, simply split them apart and pour the powder into the glue.

If you’re using charcoal pills, then pour a small amount into a separate bowl and crush them with a fork before adding them to the mixture.

3. Add More Tablets

Continue adding more tablets until the mask begins to resemble a pure black color like the one in the above GIF.

4. Apply The Mixture

It’s as easy as that! Once you’re happy with the color of your mask, apply it to your face. You can do this using a makeup brush or, if you’re lazy like me and don’t fancy cleaning it afterwards, you can also use your fingers.

The time you leave the mask on for will depend on how thick it is and how much you’ve applied. Typically, I wait around 20 to 30 minutes.

5. Wait And Remove

When it’s bone-dry, you can slowly begin to peel it off. This might hurt slightly if you have any facial hair. But try to pull off as much as you can of the mask, as that’s what’s getting rid of all the dirt and grime that are hidden in your pores.

If you have any discomfort, or you find that sections of your mask have cracked or crumbled, simply use a warm wash cloth in a circular motion to rinse it off.

Equally, if you don’t fancy applying the mask to the whole of your face, you can also use it on a specific area. My personal favorite is my nose, as it doubles up as a blackhead strip. You'll even be able to see all the grime the mask has removed after you peel it off. Yuck.

And there you have it. Once it’s all removed, you’ll be left with clean, fresh-looking pores that are not only smaller but look incredible. Coating yourself in PVA glue never felt so good.

Images: Emma Matthews