This article is all about one of those beauty regimens we use every day—soaps. Particularly, Charcoal Soaps. What are Charcoal Soaps and how does it work? We will talk about the Charcoal Soap Benefits and some questions that are often asked about it.
What first comes to mind when you hear the word charcoal? If you are born in an average Filipino household, you might be well familiar with what we call “Kalan de uling” or charcoal stove. This is the type of cooking where we use charcoal to fuel it and cook our meals. And of course, who would not think of family outings and barbeques cooked on grills fueled with charcoals?
The word charcoal is not very new to our vocabulary. What came as a surprise some few years back was to hear charcoal associated with our skincare. Who would have thought that what you usually see in an average Filipino kitchen would now become a must-have beauty regimen?
How Does Charcoal Soap Work?
Ever saw a bowl of charcoal in a refrigerator? It’s not for aesthetic display—its role is actually to suck unwanted bacteria and purify the air inside. The effect of activated charcoal used for the soap is similar. It will absorb bacteria and all kinds of impurities our bodies obtain from pollution or other beauty products such as make-up. Once the soap contacts dirt and oil in your body, it will stick to the activated charcoal and washes away when you rinse.
Skin Benefits of Charcoal Soap
Studies show that the majority of Filipinos have sensitive skin. It is only fitting that we be careful to choose the skincare products we use and trust. You might be asking, is charcoal soap the best product for me? Here are some charcoal soap benefits that you may consider:
- Ideal for all skin type
- You’ll have acne-free face
- Charcoal soap can make your pores smaller in size
- It helps remove blemishes
- Using charcoal soap gently exfoliates the skin
- It makes your skin tighter and firmer
- Prevents and treats oily skin
- Helps ease Psoriasis (a skin disease marked by red, itchy, scaly patches)
- Treats Dandruff
These are just some of the good things charcoal soap can do for your skin. It’s a great addition to your skin care routine.
Does Charcoal Soap Lighten Skin?
Some believe that Charcoal soaps have a whitening factor. To be clear, using charcoal soap does not result in whiter skin. What it does, though, is to remove dead skin cells. While it is perfectly normal to have dead skin cells as our cells always renew, they can eventually build up and could darken our skin tone.
Fortunately, charcoal soaps can whisk away dead skin cells. And as previously listed in one of the charcoal soap benefits, it could also remove blemishes and all kinds of skin impurities. As a result, it makes your skin cleaner, fresher, and naturally lighter.
Does Charcoal Soap Kill Bacteria?
For a tropical country like ours where one could easily give off sweat because of the climate, it is a top priority to choose products that eliminate bacteria. The good news is that Charcoal soap acts like a magnet to bacteria. It attracts bacteria and toxins as it contacts the body and washes away once you rinse.
Can Charcoal Soap Be Used Everyday?
Charcoal soaps can be used once daily. One of the charcoal soap benefits is that it can gently exfoliate the skin—removing toxins and bacteria. Thus, it is much recommended especially to people who live in cities or places where they are always exposed to pollution. But it is important to note that if you have very dry skin, it would be more appropriate to lessen the frequency of use.