Every so often we see a new trendy ingredient making its way into commercial healthy and beauty products. Recently that ingredient has been activated charcoal, and with good reason! Charcoal is highly absorbent, and helps trap and remove impurities. But while commercial health and beauty products that contain charcoal can be quite expensive, activated charcoal is actually quite inexpensive. So it just makes good sense to make your own charcoal products and treatments at home!
One important thing I should mention about activated charcoal is that it is, as you would expect, black in color. That means that every thing you make with it will be black or some shade of gray. When using activated charcoal, try not to let it drip onto your floors or countertops, to avoid any potential stains. Some people opt to do their charcoal treatments in the shower, so that the mess can be rinsed easily down the drain. But what’s life without a little mess, really? 😉
Here are 7 simple DIY charcoal beauty treatments you can make at home for beautiful skin and hair:
7 Easy and Affordable Charcoal Beauty Treatments
1. Teeth Whitener
Sprinkle a pinch of activated charcoal (the contents of one activated charcoal capsule should be perfect) on a wet toothbrush and brush your teeth. Be sure to rinse well afterwards! Do this a couple of times a week to brush away plaque and discoloration, and to keep your breath fresh!
Check with your dentist before using charcoal-based treatments on crowns, caps, or porcelain veneers.
2. Irritated Skin (Bites, stings, rashes, acne, etc.)
Treat a variety of skin irritations by mixing up a paste of activated charcoal and aloe vera. Dab the mixture on insect bites and stings to relieve pain and itchiness. You can also use as a spot treatment for acne. Let dry, and then gently rinse off with warm water. You can even add a drop of lavender essential oil to the gel to help calm redness.
3. Clarifying Face Mask
Whip up a simple face mask with activated charcoal and aloe vera gel. Spread the mixture on your face and allow it to dry, then rinse it off. The activated charcoal absorbs impurities from your skin, while the aloe vera gel will help keep your skin from being dried out.
4. Eyeliner
Use a thin brush to apply activated charcoal as a quick and easy eyeliner. It lasts all day and washes off easily with soap and water, or a cotton ball dipped in coconut oil.
5. Foaming Facial Soap
Activated charcoal and clay have similar cleansing and absorbing properties, so you can often use them interchangeably. If you have activated charcoal on hand, use it in place of the bentonite clay in my foaming clay soap recipe to create your own foaming charcoal soap!
6. Mascara
Add 1/2 teaspoon activated charcoal to 1 teaspoon coconut oil, 4 teaspoons aloe vera and 1 1/2 teaspoons melted beeswax wax for a volumizing homemade mascara. Apply the mixture to your lashes with a clean, single use mascara brush.
7. Beating Bloat
Mix 1/2 teaspoon of activated charcoal with water, and drink up! Activated charcoal has been used for years in the ER to absorb medications after accidental overdoses. The treatment also helps digestive conditions, especially those that cause gas and bloating.
Have you ever used charcoal in a homemade health or beauty treatment?
