What Is Activated Charcoal and How Does It Benefit Your Skin?

If we had to pick the skin care ingredient that surpasses all the rest in popularity these days, it’d have to be charcoal. You can’t log onto Instagram without seeing someone you follow with a black mask on—and it turns out there’s good reason to make this ingredient a part of your skin care routine, especially if you have oily skin or acne.

Skin benefits of charcoal

According to research published in the Western Journal of Medicine, charcoal comes from materials that contain carbon, such as wood pulp. The material is treated with chemicals to remove any impurities and turn it into small granules that can then be used in different ways. It becomes "activated charcoal" when high temperatures combine with a gas or activating agent to expand its surface area, making it more porous than regular charcoal. Because of its ability to trap toxins and chemicals in pores, activated charcoal has been used to treat overdoses and poisonings, improve kidney functions, reduce cholesterol levels and even detoxify skin and scalp. It is for this reason that it's now found in skin care products like cleansers, masks and even shampoos.

“Charcoal draws out oil and debris from the skin and also exfoliates, so think of it like a deep detoxifying cleanse,” says Sejal Shal, MD, founder of SmarterSkin Dermatology. “It can help reduce oily skin, improve acne and make pores appear smaller,” she adds. While anyone can try charcoal skin care products, they’re better for people with combination, oily or acne-prone skin because charcoal can be drying, explains Shal.

How to use beauty products with charcoal

“Of the charcoal-containing products, I like charcoal-infused masks the most because adsorption depends on physical contact, so charcoal needs to sit on the skin to be effective,” says Shal. She suggests trying a charcoal mask once or twice a week. “If your skin is extremely oily you may be able to use it more often,” she notes.

Ready for a skin detox? Try these five charcoal-infused products to reap the benefits for your complexion.

1. First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Acne Clearing Charcoal Cleanser With Probiotics (5 oz.)

First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Acne Clearing Charcoal Cleanser With Probiotics (5 oz.)

5 reviews

$24.00

COMING SOON

Pimples don’t stand a chance against this acne facial cleanser. It’s formulated with active charcoal to draw out toxins, salicylic acid to unclog pores, clay to absorb impurities, vitamin E to strengthen skin and yogurt extract to fight breakout-causing bacteria.

3. Eminence Organic Skin Care Balancing Masque Duo 2 fl. Oz

Eminence Organic Skin Care Balancing Masque Duo 2 fl. Oz

7 reviews

$54.00

COMING SOON

If you have combination skin, then you know how tricky it is to care for. How the heck are you supposed to handle the oily and dry parts of your face at the same time? Enter this 2-in-1 face mask. Apply the charcoal mask to your T-zone to control oil production and the pomelo juice and shea butter mask to deeply nourish dry skin.

4. Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant (2 oz.)

Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant (2 oz.)

$31 Gift

59 reviews

$66.00

57G

QUICK BUY

Key to keeping your skin clear is a good exfoliant. Dermalogica's Daily Superfoliant - which contains active charcoal - is gentle yet effective enough to be used every day. This product is formulated with charcoal to draw out impurities, revealing clean and refreshed skin after every use.

5. Peter Thomas Roth Irish Moor Mud (5 fl. oz.)

Peter Thomas Roth Irish Moor Mud (5 fl. oz.)

66 reviews

$60.00

QUICK BUY

This face mask contains Moor mud from Ireland, which combats damage caused by environmental stress and pollution and banishes dirt and excess oil from your skin. Of course, it also features charcoal to draw out toxins and leave your skin with a brighter, cleaner look.