What is activated charcoal and can charcoal soap really get rid of blackheads?

SUCCESS! A nose-strip 2 weeks after using Starry Night

What is activated charcoal?

Charcoal is actually carbon, which is created when wood is heated at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen. Activated charcoal is simply charcoal that has been treated with oxygen to open up all the millions of tiny pores between the carbon atoms. This is important because these pores enable liquids or gases to pass through the charcoal to interact with the exposed carbon. The carbon then absorbs impurities and contaminants.

How does activated charcoal help with blackheads?

Think of activated charcoal as a magnet to draw dirt out of pores. There are a ton of products that you can use that include activated charcoal. These include bar soaps to face scrubs to face masks. They all perform the same function to a certain degree. 

 Is activated charcoal safe to use on my face?

The simple answer is yes. Beauty enthusiasts include activated charcoal in their daily regimen to whiten teeth, treat acne, and reduce blackheads. Free People Blog has an excellent post on two ways to use activated charcoal in your beauty routine.

What type of skin is best suited for activated charcoal?

Oily skin! This is because charcoal absorbs any excess oil in addition to the dirt from your skin. It's said to therefore help "balance" oily skin.

Can activated charcoals shrink my pore size?

Unfortunately no- nothing can shrink pore size. But the good news is that you can make your pores appear smaller. That's because the size of your pores are amplified when there's dirt and gunk. That #1 thing you can do is keep your pores clean. Thoroughly wash your face everyday and exfoliate frequently! Activated charcoal soap just does a more efficient job at it (and naturally too). 

So, what exactly are blackheads?

Blackheads are pores that get clogged, typically due to the overproduction of oil. Medically speaking, they’re actually the first stage of acne, and some of you may have had experience with a blackhead developing into a pimple. The use of topical oils and makeup can make blackheads worse.

Is it true that I have blackheads due to poor hygiene?

No! This is actually a myth. In fact, the National Health Service in the UK explains that most biological reactions that trigger acne actually occur beneath the surface of the skin.

What else can you use activated charcoal for?

You’d be surprised, but activated charcoal can be used for many, many purposes. While you may recognize activated charcoal as an ingredient in water filters, it's also commonly used in hospitals to treat poisonings, reduce intestinal gas, lower cholesterol levels, and even prevent hangovers!

What are recommended products?

From day one, Starry Night has been our best seller. We were selling activated charcoal soap in late 2012 before activated charcoal became a trend.

Our Starry Night is made with a premium blend of oils and scented with eucalyptus essential oil. Of course, the main ingredient is activated charcoal. More importantly though, it's made through the traditional cold process method which means that the soap retains its naturally produced glycerin. This means that this bar is much less likely to dry out your face, which is why most people who buy this bar use it as a facial bar. 

One customer used Starry Night for just two weeks before raving about it. By lightly rubbing the Starry Night soap into her nose with a scrublet, she was able to drastically reduce the accumulation of blackheads!

Why should I choose bare soaps and not an established brand that has been making facial products for decades?

With so many beauty products to choose from, it can get a bit overwhelming. For those of you who are looking for all natural products, we encourage you to read the ingredient list, even if the established brand is claiming to be “all natural”. Because let’s face it, many corporations are driven by their bottom line to please shareholders, which means they're willing to sacrifice quality by using synthetics to drive down the cost of their product.

While such brands may tout the use of activated charcoal, this doesn't mean that the rest of their ingredients are all natural. Specifically, pay attention to how the product is scented. You’ll want to steer clear of any perfume oils, which are synthetically created, and instead look for essential oils. And here’s another tip- soap in a solid form has a longer shelf life than in liquid form, which means that it’s less likely to have preservatives.

What is the impact of my choice to purchase a bare soap bar over another alternative?

Beyond the all natural aspect, switching to a bar soap alternative over facial liquid wash makes a significant impact on the eco-system. Think about all the plastic that we consume through the countless facial/body washes, makeup containers, and just about anything else that holds liquid. Some of these products are unavoidable, but by switching to a bar soap, you can take an additional step in going eco-friendly. Bare soaps goes one step further by wrapping its bars in plantable packaging! This means you can either plant our packaging to grow a beautiful wildflower or rest assured that the sleeve you throw away will quickly decompose in a landfill.