When you think of charcoal you probably think of grilling, right? Well, if you are into beauty, health and wellness at all you’ve probably noticed this odd ingredient popping up everywhere, from charcoal soap to activated charcoal protein bars. What exactly is this all about?
Charcoal is an organic residue that is derived from various sources like wood, coal, coconut shells, or even bamboo (okay, still seems weird to be putting it on your face). When it comes to beauty you’ll see activated charcoal a lot. Activated charcoal is simply common charcoal that has been heated in a way that it develops a lot of small spaces or ‘pores’ in it which trap chemicals. Okay, now you know what it is, but let’s get to the good stuff, the benefits.
PHOTO: The AesthetPHOTO: Pinterest
The beauty benefits of this activated charcoal include:
- Treats Acne – It sucks out nasty impurities and fights off acne-causing germs.
- It can act as a gentle exfoliant for the skin.
- It helps detoxify your skin.
- Fights off pesky blackheads.
- Whitens Teeth.
- Soothes bug bites and irritated skin.
- Helps to repair acne scars and blemishes.
- You can even make your own natural eyeliner or mascara with it.
We’ve been seeing this magical black soap everywhere lately, and rather than buy it we decided to get resourceful and try out making it for ourselves and of course we had to pass along the recipe to you.
How to Make Charcoal Soap:
Here’s What You’ll Need:
- 2 lb Soap Base (We prefer this all-natural goat’s milk one, it makes your skin so soft)
- 2 TB Activated Charcoal (You can always crush up capsules if you cannot find the loose powder)
- 15 drops Tea Tree Oil (If you haven’t caught on yet we are really, really into our essential oils.)
- 15 drops Peppermint Oil
- A mold (A muffin or loaf dish works great!)
- Microwavable Container
PHOTO: Burkatron
How To:
Step One: Cut your soap base up into little blocks and place it into a microwavable container.
Step Two: Microwave the soap base for 30 seconds.
Step Three: Stir and repeat this process until the base has completely liquified.
Step Four: Once fully liquified, simply mix in your essential oils and charcoals. (Warning: charcoal is very dark and it can be scary when it gets on something, but don’t worry it easily washes out.)
Step Five: Pour mixture into the mold and let it solidify overnight.
Step Six: Start using and enjoying your charcoal soap, possibly gift some to our friends!