I think it’s safe to say we have
all had a time when we have been unhappy with our skin. For me that was 2 years
ago. I started getting breakouts on my legs even though I had never had
problems with my skin before. I almost had acne on the back of my thighs and
bottom of my butt. It was very uncomfortable, I didn’t want to wear shorts, and
it was also painful and itchy.
I had tried multiple attempts to clear
it up when I a friend recommended activated charcoal.
It cleared up my skin amazingly.
Within a couple of uses everything was almost gone. I was shocked at how well it
worked if I am being honest so I started looking into activated charcoal a
little more to figure out just what made it work so well. Here’s what I
discovered:
How It Works
Activated charcoal has been around
for centuries. It was commonly used as a medicine for people with stomach
issues. Some people still use it for that purpose today but more commonly you
see it labelled as a skin care product.
It’s made by heating up charcoal to
increase absorbency. This makes it more pours which in combination with its negative
charge allows it to easily absorb and trap gases and toxins which have a positive
charged.
What does Activated Charcoal Do for your Skin?
Activated
charcoal benefits the skin by;
- · Shrinking pours
- · Clearing up acne
- · Balancing oils in the skin
- · Detoxifying the skin
Basically activated charcoal
absorbs dirt, toxins, and access oil out of the skin. This leaves your pours
smaller. It is also a little granular so it can be used as a gentile exfoliant
which can help clear up certain types of acne. Especially when combined with
its extracting power!
Ways to Use Charcoal On Your Face
There are endless ways to use charcoal.
If you go into any drug store you can find face washes and masks of different
strengths. I have yet to find one at a store for a price I am willing to pay
that I have liked as much as making my own though.
My personal favourite mask to make is
my Black Clay Mask. It is super easy to make and it leaves my skin feeling
amazing.
One thing I would say about
activated charcoal is don’t use it every day! It is extremely powerful and if
you use it too often it can strip your skin of too much oil and leave it
feeling dry! Using a natural moisturizer like coconut oil or almond oil after
is always a good idea when using any face wash or mask!
Now on to the ingredients:
- · 1 tbs activated charcoal ( I used Organika )
- · 1 tbs powdered clay (available at any healthfood store or online. If you can’t find clay replace with more activated charcoal)
- · 1.5 tsp natural honey
- · 1 tsp oil ( I like almond, anything that is a liquid at room temperature so not coconut oil)
- · ¼ teaspoon water
Mix all of your ingredients
together in a bowl and apply to a damp face with a paint brush. If you’re
finding it hard to spread try a few more drops of water or oil.
Once applied let the mask sit for
15 to 20 minutes then wash off! I recommend having a shower as it is a little
messy but it cleans up easy.
I like to finish it off with my favorite
toner (currently Thayers Witch Hazel with Cucumber ). Then I use a moisturizer which
is generally just organic coconut oil.
By the time I am done my face feels
so refreshed! My skin is soft, smooth, and glowing! That why this is one of my
favourite masks. I tend to use it every other week because my skin isn’t overly
oily. If your skin is fairly oily you can probably do once a week!
Let me know in the comments below how the mask worked for
you! I love reading your feedback!
You can stay updated on post by joining the email list or by following my Instagram @barbaralorrainea
That’s all for this post,
Barbara Lorraine
(Post mask -no filter no edit just a good old phone selfie)
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