You may already be familiar with activated charcoal powder in capsule form or as an active ingredient in many skincare products. I remember always seeing a stale bottle of activated charcoal pills in the medicine cabinet in the house where I grew up, never really paying it any mind since, to me, they were just some kind of mom-and-dad supplement.
After noticing it show up in a handful of skincare products, however, I had a little look-see into what this stuff actually is and what it does.
Face Pack
The charcoal works best for drawing out impurities from your pores, so it wouldn't hurt to steam up beforehand just saying. Get those exits nice and open.
If you want a cheap alternative to buying single-purpose items like a zit-mask for instance, try this cocktail on for size:
Activated charcoal powder
Rosewater or plain water if you aren’t into roses (come on, really?)
Aloe vera gel
A couple drops of tea tree oil (optional)
Mix everything together in equal measure, except for the tea tree oil, which should be used very sparingly.
Teeth Cleanser
You just dab your toothbrush into some powder and brush as normal. The foam will be gray so don’t be alarmed. Also, if you swallow some, nothing bad will happen to you. You’re meant to ingest this stuff, remember? It doesn’t have a taste, and toothpaste is usually pretty damn minty-flavored anyway, so the chance of you noticing any charcoal-y taste is near impossible.
Eyeliner
You can pretty much apply this as you would convert black eye shadow into liquid or gel liner. Is it safe for eyes? Jury’s out, but this isn’t an uncommon use for activated charcoal powder amongst the DIY crowds.