Activated Charcoal

Product Benefits

• 100% natural, from coconut shells
  
  
• Ultra purifying and detoxifying
  
  
• For oily skin and hair
  
  
• Reduces redness
  
  
• For eczema and psoriasis-prone skin
  
  
• Soothes skin

• Calms complexion
  
  
• Vegan and cruelty-free
  
  
• No synthetic additives or chemicals
  
  
• Excellent adsorption to remove surface impurities
  
  
• An effective odour absorber in personal care and household products
  
  
• Sometimes used in teeth whitening products, but should be used with caution due to its abrasive nature

Product Description

Our Activated Charcoal Powder is a high-quality natural ingredient from sustainably sourced coconut shells. After the coconut shells are carbonised, they are activated using superheated steam - a chemical-free process that creates an incredibly porous texture, enhancing the charcoal’s natural ability to adsorb toxins, excess oils, and other surface impurities. Activated charcoal works by adsorbing toxins, gases, and unwanted substances through its porous structure, making it effective for a variety of purification and detoxification purposes. This activating process involves heating carbon-rich materials to create a porous substance, significantly increasing its surface area. Activated charcoal can also be derived from other carbon-rich materials such as wood and coal. Activated charcoal is commonly used in a variety of applications, including water and air filtration, personal care, and household products.

The resulting fine black powder has no odour and is very smooth, making it perfect for a wide range of cosmetic and personal care products, including face masks, cleansing bars, detoxifying body scrubs, and scalp treatments. It is also commonly used as an odour absorber in personal care and household products. Additionally, it is used in toothpaste to whiten teeth, though its abrasive nature means it should be used with caution.

With its huge surface area - up to 1,000 m² per gram - this Activated Charcoal Powder has better adsorption than standard charcoal powders. It can draw out impurities and pollutants from the skin and scalp, helping to support a clean, calm, and clarified complexion. The effectiveness of activated charcoal depends on the presence of impurities or toxins, including gases, in the environment it is used.

Its fine particle size ensures a uniform texture in your formulations and can be blended into both water-based and oil-based systems. The powder is typically mixed with other ingredients to create effective formulations.

Ethical and Natural

Our coconut shells are harvested without animal labour. This means an ethical harvesting process that is cruelty-free and vegan.

Versatile Application

Activated Charcoal is used in formulations for oily and combination skin types. It’s also good for blemish-prone or congested skin. Beyond skincare, it’s a great ingredient for hair care, especially for oily or irritated scalps. Activated charcoal is also valued as an odour absorber in deodorising products for both personal and household use. It is sometimes included in teeth whitening products, though its effectiveness and safety for this use are debated. Additionally, activated charcoal can adsorb gases and impurities, making it useful in products designed to purify air or water.

Mechanism of Action

The mechanism of action of activated carbon is through its adsorption properties. When toxins and chemicals come into contact with the surface of activated carbon, they are attracted and held onto its porous structure through adsorption. This process helps to reduce the absorption of harmful substances into the body. The use of activated charcoal varies depending on the situation and should be approached with caution, especially when used without medical supervision.

Careful consideration should be given to the risks and benefits before using activated charcoal, particularly in non-cosmetic applications. The effectiveness of activated charcoal depends on the presence of toxins or impurities at the time of application.

How to Use

Skin Care

Excellent for cleansing the pores of accumulated sebum, grease, environmental pollutants, chemical residues from makeup, and toxins excreted by the skin due to its amazing adsorption properties (it acts like a magnet for the “dirt” in your pores).

Activated charcoal is also valued as an odour absorber in deodorizing skin care products. It can absorb gases and impurities from the skin surface, helping to purify and refresh the skin.

Ideal to use in cleansing masks for acne-prone skin, teenage skin, and as a weekly facial cleanse for all skin types.

When preparing a mask, ensure the activated charcoal powder is thoroughly mixed with other ingredients to guarantee even distribution and effectiveness.

It will balance oily skin and hair by removing excess sebum. Excellent when followed by creams, lotions, or serums containing Geranium Essential Oil, which also has a balancing effect.

It can improve the appearance of a smoker’s skin by making it look brighter and fresher, gently exfoliating the top layer of dead and discoloured skin cells.

Although it is fabulous for the skin it may be best not to use an Activated Charcoal product too often as it may also draw out the good things like minerals and vitamins or make your skin dry so when including it in your recipes remember to add other nourishing ingredients for your skin type and only use your Activated Charcoal product 1-3 times a week.

Hair Care

Use in shampoo bars for a detoxifying scalp clarifying shampoo.

Regular use of a detoxifying shampoo bar with Activated Charcoal unclogs the hair follicles and enables them to absorb more of the nourishing ingredients in your hair care products. For best results, try alternating this with a bar that does not contain Activated Charcoal (see our sample formula with Activated Charcoal under the recipes tab).

Other

Use 1% to 75%.

Use 0.1% to 5% in gels, creams, masks, and shampoo bars.

Insoluble in water and oil. It can be dispersed in small amounts in creams, lotions, masks, and water-based gels that will hold it in suspension.

Heat-stable, but it is best added in Stage 3 (the cool-down stage) so that you can gauge how much the colour changes.

It can also be used in toothpastes as a gentle abrasive and to freshen the breath. Activated charcoal is sometimes used for teeth whitening, but should be used with caution due to its abrasive nature. It can help whiten teeth by adsorbing surface stains, though evidence for long-term teeth whitening effectiveness is limited. The powder should be thoroughly mixed with other ingredients in toothpaste formulations. Activated charcoal is also valued as an odour absorber for freshening breath, and it can adsorb gases and impurities, making it useful in deodorising products.