In the last couple of years, activated charcoal has gained popularity in the beauty industry. This is because it has some impressive healing powers for the skin. Regardless of where you live, the daily commute, exposure to the sun and the daily chemicals we come into contact with usually take a toll on our skin. The face is particularly vulnerable to impurities and toxins, which can cause oil imbalances, acne, blemishes, and other ongoing skin conditions. For these reasons (and more), your skin needs a regular detox, and the benefits of activated charcoal will do just that.

Activated charcoal is not so new

While it’s true that activated charcoal has made its beauty industry debut only recently, its properties were discovered a long time ago and it has been used for medicinal and purifying purposes for millennia. The first-ever mention of activated charcoal dates back to 3750 BC in ancient Egypt, where it was discovered that wooden posts charred by charcoal were preserved even if submerged in water (since charcoal and water don’t mix). From there, the Egyptians also discovered its medicinal uses and used activated charcoal as a wound dressing and to aid digestive issues.

Ancient sailors also used the benefits of activated charcoal to preserve water! When stored in charcoal-scorched wooden barrels, it remained safe to drink even over long journeys. This discovery of a completely natural way to preserve water evolved to our modern-day activated charcoal water filters.

So, what gives activated charcoal these almost magical properties?

Activated charcoal is a special type of carbon usually made from coconut husk, bamboo, willow peat, coal, wood, or petroleum pitch. The ‘activated’ part comes from putting the charcoal through extremely high temperatures (from 600°C to 1200°C), which gives it a sponge-like structure, perfect for catching impurities.

It’s also antibacterial and antifungal, which speeds up healing processes and its binding properties catch the daily bacteria and oils we come into contact with, which makes it the perfect addition to any facial scrub.

The benefits of activated charcoal you should know about

Deep pore detoxification

You can get rid of clogged pores and improve your skin complexion thanks to the binding properties of activated charcoal that draw out dirt and impurities from your pores. Even deep-seated blackheads would probably not stand a chance.

Skin oil balancing

By allowing the activated charcoal to remove excess oil from your skin, it helps to naturally bring balance back, making your skin feel refreshed and smooth to touch.

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Gentle exfoliation

The gentle exfoliating is another of the many benefits of activated charcoal. It helps you get rid of dead skin cells, smoothens your skin, and reduces blemishes.

Antibacterial properties

Regular use of a charcoal scrub helps you get rid of acne and pimples, reduces inflammation and redness of the skin, and improves healing by making use of this natural and wonderful ingredient.

With all these benefits of activated charcoal, it should be a must-have ingredient for your skincare routine. One brand you can try out is Himalaya Detoxifying Scrub, which can bring these benefits to your regular skincare routine.