It’s the beauty industry’s dirtiest little secret: charcoal is the hottest new way to cleanse your skin, teeth and whole body! Charcoal exploded onto the beauty scene in 2017 and caused quite a sensation. Beauty bloggers trying out charcoal products went viral all over the internet because charcoal’s shocking black colour and tar-like appearance is not something you usually see in the clean white purified world of cosmetics, especially for applications like tooth whitening.
What it is and where it’s used
Most recently active charcoal has started to be used in all places and equipment which purpose is to cleanse something. Because of its lauded ability to absorb toxins and pollutants charcoal has been used in air filtration systems, to purify water and even in hospitals as a treatment for poisoning, as well as drug or alcohol overdoses. The idea is simple enough, charcoal contains many tiny particles, which added together have an incredible amount of surface area that’s ready to suck up toxins. In fact, just one teaspoon of activated charcoal equates to 10,000 square foot in the surface area. Activated charcoal is made by treating charcoal made from coconut shells, or more sustainable ingredients like bamboo, with acid or steam. The steam or acid breaks down all the volatile organic compounds, which leaves behind large holes on the surface of the activated charcoal particles. These pores are big enough to entrap toxins, oils, dirt and pollutants.
When used cosmetically or medically, activated charcoal’s porous surface has no problem binding to chemicals and carcinogens, in order to remove them from the body.
In face masks or soaps, charcoal works to draw bacteria, toxins, chemicals, dirt and other impurities to the surface of the skin to help you reach a perfect complexion free of acne or blemishes. Charcoal is not metabolized or absorbed by the body, so it traps and rids your body of impurities. Charcoal is a featured ingredient in pore strips, sheet masks, cleansers and toners for that very reason! Additionally, activated charcoal can be used internally as a cleansing agent. Take it as a pill or a powder. It will get to work, binding itself to toxins and ridding your body of impurities. Charcoal is also a valuable addition to tooth whitening treatments for the same reasons. This non-toxic, all natural substance traps yellowing agents and leaves teeth sparkling white and clean.
When it went viral
Active charcoal became such a huge thing, so the result of that was between 2016 and 2017, there was a 428.13% increase in internet searches looking for charcoal treatments, and a 1023% increase in the sales of activated charcoal products.
On social media, no one was talking about charcoal in 2015, but then by 2017, there were over 110,000 mentions. The charcoal trend is huge, and many beauty therapists have realized the potential of adding it to their cosmetic repertoire, for example by offering charcoal facials.
If you’re not sure where to start, then events like the Taiwan Beauty International Show which will occur from the 13th until the 15th of September in Taipei, Taiwan and the largest companies from the globe will be exhibiting and showcasing the best products in the business.
In 2017 the event attracted 1,129 professionals from 32 countries. The top five countries comprising the largest number of buyers were Mainland China, Japan, USA, Singapore and Malaysia. At this year’s event among the excellent exhibitors, ÂGE D'OR which just won Monde Selection awards 2018 will exhibit to seek more overseas business, while EyRA, an Italian startup and Cosmoprof Trends Winner, is going to explore Taiwan and Asia market via the show and they will discuss about The Global Cosmetics Market and Consumer Trends, such as the new applications for charcoal and it’s spot in the cosmetics industry.
Because of its popularity, new companies started to appear on the market, whose business is based on charcoal. But charcoal had the biggest impact on the beauty industry.
Many companies in the beauty industry started to promote their charcoal products, hoping to catch the charcoal express towards success. On the market, there were products such as: face masks, toothpaste, gels, shampoos and many more.
With this, we can conclude that active charcoal made a great impact on our lives in general because, it’s a healthy, new, affordable and efficient way to improve your health and your look and also it helped us purify the one thing that is essential to us – air.