As our family has jumped into cultivating a low-tox lifestyle, I thought it would be fun to start a weekly series so I can share the things we have learned and the changes we have experienced. Today I am sharing all about the five benefits of charcoal for healthier skin, but in the coming weeks, I am going to share about the switch we made to cast iron pans, how we are tackling healthier meals, and even the way we have been able to rid our home of unhealthy and toxic products.

So, let’s chat skin. After baby number five, I noticed a shift in mine thanks to the shift in hormones. I would experience awful breakouts during my monthly cycle, I noticed my skin was a touch oilier than I was used to and it was a bit disheartening. I expect the occasional blemish every now and then, but at my age, I didn’t want to feel like I was reliving my teen years all over again, you know? It wasn’t until I had been introduced to charcoal that I really saw a change for the better.

Back in October of last year, after we had started ditching products for clean ones,  I began using a charcoal soap bar for my face wash with no other products. I was also trying to eliminate other health ailments that were lingering and I wanted to make sure that I reduced any and all toxic ingredients in anything and everything that I could. Tossing everything out, it was just this charcoal soap bar that I began using and over the course of a few weeks, I was pleasantly surprised by how much better my skin felt. 

With time, I have added additional serums and DIY hacks to my skincare regimen that are all natural, clean, and healthy, but the charcoal bar by itself was a huge win. Have you ever researched the benefits of charcoal? They are awesome! But first, let’s discuss what “activated charcoal” (you may have heard this term) actually means:

Activated charcoal is also called activated carbon and is created when natural materials such as wood, regular coal, peat, or coconut husks are burned. Burned at a very high temperature, the source material then forms a lightweight mass of carbonaceous charcoal. It is in this process that all the oxygen has been removed from the source material through controlled oxidation and/or steam process.

From this process, the charcoal then expands which creates a porous surface. This new porous surface traps toxins and its natural ability to absorb has gotten a boost. 

I know, I know. That got a little boring so let’s get down to the good stuff.

Five Benefits of Charcoal for Healthier Skin:

1. Acts as an anti-bacterial and an anti-fungal

This means charcoal helps to keep bacteria and fungus in your skin and pores from growing. I know, kind of gross, but this is what goes on beneath the surface. It helps heal acne and it can even help with more extreme skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis.

2. Helps to balance oily skin

Because of its incredible absorption capabilities, charcoal helps to draw oil and impurities from your pores such as oil, dirt, pollutants from the environment, as well as cosmetic build-up. So if you have oily skin, charcoal could change the game for you!

Did you know that in medicine, activated charcoal is used in poisoning cases? A dose will be given to a patient along with other necessary treatments. A lot of the poison will stick to the charcoal instead of absorbing it into the body. Imagine that kind of absorbing power for all of the yuck on and in our skin!

3. Reduces pore size

Our pores grow in size to compensate for all of the impurities that get on and in our skin. Because of the help of activated charcoal and drawing those impurities out, pore size is known to decrease in size. And we all know smaller pores is a big win for the youthful look of our skin!

4. Helps reduce acne and even scarring

Because of its ability to draw things out from our pores, this in turn helps with reducing and healing acne. It is said to even help with scarring from acne which I have seen for myself as well.

Both of our teenagers use the same charcoal bar that I do actually. I remember back in high school I had a few friends who dealt with acne to the point that they were put on some pretty powerful products to help get rid of it. The problem? These products were so intense that they brought their own list of other ailments that my friends dealt with. And I just remember thinking, ‘you traded one problem for another’!

My hope is to keep acne at bay the best we can for our teenagers, but do it with clean and safe products that aren’t going to jeopardize their health.

5. Allows for gentle exfoliation

A big part of healthy skin is not only removing impurities and things that get trapped in our pores, but also getting rid of dead skin. Because of its properties and sometimes slightly gritty texture, activated charcoal helps to not only cleanse your skin and draw out junk from your pores but it also helps to sluff off the dead skin that builds upon the surface. Doing this helps to create a more fresh complexion.

Why Cleaner Skincare Is Important

These five benefits of charcoal for your skin are just the start of it. Using cleaner and safer products will mean more steps in the right direction for our health and overall wellness. Did you know that a woman applies, on average, 60 chemicals to her skin every day before breakfast? This is a big deal because our skin is our largest organ. Everything we apply to it reaches our bloodstream between 20 and 30 seconds. And when we think about the harmful ingredients and chemicals? That’s a lot of buildup in our systems that end up manifesting in other ways. Ahem, chronic illness.

As I mentioned, I have added a few other things to my skincare regimen, but charcoal alone really started to change the game. Not only did it help my skin get healthier, but it allowed me to start ditching unsafe and unhealthy products. 

Top Three Charcoal Soap Bars I Recommend

I wanted to make sure and share with you my top picks for charcoal soap bar options from a few trusted brands I love. One of the best things about using a charcoal soap bar for your skin is how long they last! So it’s an extremely cost-effective way to switch your skincare for a cleaner option that is going to give you results.

01: Clarifying Bar from Primally Pure – $16

02: Charcoal Cleansing Bar from Beauty Counter – $28

03: Bamboo Charcoal Cleansing Bar from Herbivore – $14

04: Charcoal Soap Bar from Young Living – $18.50

Who says clean beauty has to be expensive, am I right?

I hope you found the information on these five benefits of charcoal for healthier skin helpful! And you’ll have to let me know if you try it and the results you see. Can’t wait to hear! For more tips on low-tox living and cleaner options, be sure and dive in right here. And stay tuned for the next installment of Wellness Wednesday!