Activated Charcoal: Amazing Uses Apart from Cooking (1) Body care

When you hear the word “Charcoal”, the average Nigerian probably thinks about party Jollof and cooking in the open and stuff. Now imagine taking a trip down the body care aisle and seeing a lot of charcoal popping up on the shelves. The use of activated charcoal has come to stay.  Let’s talk about the use of charcoal for our body care.

Now don’t get it wrong, you don’t just go pick up a lump of coal from the coal sack and rub it all over your body. Specially prepared charcoal, called activated charcoal are the major product in the beauty products. The products are available online, in pharmacies and supermarkets.

What Exactly is Activated Charcoal?

Well, there’s charcoal and there is activated charcoal. ACTIVATED CHARCOAL is a piece of charcoal that has been oxidized to have tiny pores/holes on its surface. These characteristics take an ordinary piece of coal and increase the surface area.

The pore spaces are capable of absorbing chemicals and toxins from the human body. Activated charcoal is made from the specialized heating of naturally occurring coal. It is also from man-made coal.

Man-made charcoal is produced by heating wood, sawdust or other carbon-rich material at very high temperatures without oxygen. To activate it, steam or intensely hot air is used to erode the internal surfaces and increase the absorptive surface area.

Uses of Activated Charcoal for Skin/Body Care

Due to its elevated absorption, AC is used to rid various regions of the body of toxins. It is particularly useful for hair and skin care. In recent times, there has been a buzz in the beauty industry incorporating activated charcoal products.

A note of caution though, a little goes a long way for activated coal, because of its high absorptive powers. Overuse might result in irritation of the skin as this compound absorbs up to 1000 times its weight.

Here are some amazing benefits and usages of activated coal.

1. Acne: 

   

   AC absorbs impurities from the skin, reduces inflammation, and unclogs pores to reduce the formation of blackheads. Activated coal scrubs and masks will work in clearing your pores up. Mix some aloe vera gel with half a capsule of activated coal and tea-tree oil to make a DIY scrub. Use a teaspoon of aloe vera gel with the ingredients, mix and apply with clean fingers. Apply on the face avoiding eyes and mouth and rinse with warm water after 5 minutes. Try this method twice a week.

2. Skin Purification

   

    AC can also be used to suck up toxins from the skin, just like it is used for acne. It removes impurities and heavy metals from the skin. Simply mix with a little water and apply the paste on your skin. Also great for removing excess oils and giving you a healthy balanced skin. For use as an astringent mix with rose water.

3. DIY Makeup

   Mix up some AC and water to form a paste and use as your eyeliner. Simply mix and apply with a liner brush. You can also put your brush in Activated Coal and wet the brush lightly. A setting spray would also be a good finish for a sweaty day. You can easily clean this liner off with water

4. Teeth Whitener

   

   Activated charcoal is amazing for removing plaque and also whitening the teeth. By absorbing organic food chemicals from the teeth it removes stains left on the teeth by wine, nicotine or coffee. The abrasiveness removes hard plaque and tartar. There are now toothcare products containing activated charcoal. Activated charcoal can also be used directly by putting a brush with paste on it in some AC.

   ALSO READ: 3 NATURAL WAYS TO GET SPARKLING WHITE TEETH

What amazing new ways do you think you can make use of charcoal aside from barbecuing? And no, we do not think cooking party jollof counts in this instance. Share your thoughts with us on this new trend and enjoy more on the uses of charcoal on the body.