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If you haven't noticed, charcoal is everywhere right now. It's in deodorant, toothpaste, but most prominently, in skin care products. That’s because activated charcoal has the amazing ability to attract dirt and oil from the skin's surface. The best charcoal soaps for clearer skin extract impurities, chemicals, and micro-particles like a magnate and then washes them away.
But this buzzy ingredient is nothing new. It's been used for years to filter water, clean up industrial spills, and purify air. And for the same reason it's great for filtering, cleaning, and purifying, it's also great for cleansing your skin: it's immense adsorption abilities.
That's right: adsorption, not absorption. That means the toxins, bacteria, and micro-particles that are attracted to the charcoal bond to its porous surface. But what makes this process amazing is that activated charcoal is believed to be able to adsorb 100 times its own weight in toxins. So, it's easy to see why it's being touted by the beauty industry as the biggest thing in skin care since SPF.
Available in both liquid and bar form and often combined with other skin-friendly ingredients, adding activated charcoal soap to your routine will help get you on the path to clearer skin in no time.
1An Organic Charcoal And Dead Sea Mud Soap Bar
aspen kay Naturals, Dead Sea Mineral Mud Soap Bar, $10, Amazon
This hand-crafted bar soap is a best-seller with more than 1,300 Amazon reviews. What makes it so popular? In part because it combines the benefits of charcoal with another skin care holy grail: Dead Sea Mud. The Dead Sea is known for its high concentration of salts and minerals making it particularly rich in magnesium, sodium, potassium and calcium. These power house ingredients work together to draw out impurities, moisturize, and increase blood circulation.
2A Charcoal Soap And Konjac Sponge Set
Charcoal Soap and Konjac Sponge, $10, Amazon
If you're still using a wash cloth to wash your face, it's time to upgrade to a konjac sponge — which conveniently comes with this charcoal soap. Popular in Japan, the konjac sponge is made from a porous root vegetable making it super absorbent and gentle. It's also antibacterial, so you'll only need to replace it every few months.
3A Charcoal Soap Created By A Celebrity Skin Care Guru
Joan Vargas, The Miracle Bar, $22, Amazon
This chic charcoal soap was created by a celebrity facialist and skin care guru Jonna Vargas. On top of all the cleansing benefits that come from the charcoal, this bar — unlike many other bar soaps which can be drying — promises to help control oil and also moisturize your skin. Plus, the company believes so strongly in this products, it comes with a 90-day money back guarantee.
4A Simple 4-Ingredient Exfoliant Featuring Charcoal
Rapid Detox Charcoal Exfoliant, $14, Amazon
This simple, but powerful four-ingredient formula contains bamboo charcoal to whisk away dirt and grime, almond flour to brighten your complexion, and Pacific Ocean and Himalayan pink sea salt powdered to slough away dead skin. Use it alone or — as recommended by many reviewers— mix it with your favorite facial cleanser.
5A Vegan Charcoal Soap With A Unique Scent
Sugar & Oats Lavender Tea Tree Sage Charcoal Soap, $11, Amazon
This vegan charcoal soap is loaded with good-for-you moisturizing agents like avocado, coconut, and olive oil as well as shea butter. It also contains bentonite clay, which is made from volcanic ash, and like charcoal promises to extract impurities from the skin's surface. It's lightly scented with a unique blend of lavender tea tree and sage, and made in the USA.
6Charcoal-Infused Makeup Removing Wipes
Symphony Beauty Makeup Cleansing Wipes, $10, Amazon
Thanks to the addition of charcoal, these cleansing wipes remove more than just makeup. The detoxifying facial wipes are made with activated charcoal and tea tree oil to deep clean skin, remove excess sebum, and prevent blemishes all while removing your makeup. Infused with Arbutin, your skin will be left feeling clean, looking bright, and makeup free.
7A Multi-Use Coconut Charcoal Powder
Coconut Charcoal Powder, $18, Amazon
This activated charcoal powder can be used as a soap and so much more. It's an activated charcoal made from coconut shells that can be dissolved into water to wash your face or massaged into your — you can even mix it with toothpaste to whiten your teeth.
8A Gently Exfoliating Sea Salt And Charcoal Soap
Falls River Soap Company, Pink Himalayan Salt Rose Clay Charcoal Soap, $8, Amazon
This artisanal soap is crafted with rose clay and Himalayan pink salt to gently exfoliate skin while the charcoal lifts dirt and bacteria. It's also loaded with coconut oil, castor oil, and shea butter to moisturize your skin. It's lightly scented with English rose and mandarin essential oils for a relaxing aroma.
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