10 Ways to Add Activated Charcoal to Your Beauty Routine

By Erin Lukas
Updated Dec 07, 2016 @ 3:45 pm
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
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Coal usually makes you think of summer cookouts, Santa’s naughty list, or fireplaces, but the rock has made its way into the beauty world in the form of activated charcoal. From cleansers to toothpaste, now more than ever there’s a charcoal-infused option out there that you can integrate into your mainstay routine. So exactly what beauty benefits does activated charcoal boast? When added into skincare, makeup and grooming products, it can act as a powerful detoxifying ingredient that absorbs toxins and pollution. Convinced enough to make activated charcoal a part of your beauty routine? We’ve rounded up our favorite products for you to try.

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Babe Charcoal Hand Wash

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From handling a $5 bill to pay for your coffee to hanging onto the subway pole, when you really stop and think about it, the amount of grime our hands come in contact with throughout the day is truly nauseating. This hand wash is powered by active charcoal which draws out impurities from the skin so that your hands are soft, smooth, and most importantly: clean.

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IT cosmetics Bye Bye Pores Primer Oil-Free Poreless Skin-Perfecting Serum Primer

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$38
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It’s true: Charcoal can help minimize large pores, too. This quick-absorbing serum has a blurring effect that rivals your favorite Instagram filter.

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First Aid Beauty Cleansing Body Polish With Activated Charcoal

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$28
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Don’t be fooled by the gentleness of this scrub. Its charcoal base gives it prowess for sloughing away dry, flaky skin.

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Boscia Charcoal MakeUp Melter Cleansing Oil Balm

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$32
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Applying your makeup may be painless, but taking it off is a whole other story. No matter how hard you rub some makeup removers will not get your waterproof mascara to budge and all you’re left with is red, smudged eyes. This oil-balm powered by activated bamboo charcoal and sunflower oil softly melts makeup away as it hydrates and clears up pores.

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Yes To Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Wipes

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$6
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Not only with these convenient wipes cleanse your skin of the day’s makeup, they’ll also suck up the dirt and oil from your pores, too.

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Nails Inc Nail Polish Fueled By Charcoal In Nobel Street

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$15
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A polish infused with charcoal will strengthen nails and protect them from environmental toxins and pollutants.

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Root Science Reborn Youth Enhancing Face Mask

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$60
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Activated charcoal, turmeric root, and rhassoul clay work to make masking with this formula your most cleansing session yet.

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Sephora Collection Deluxe Charcoal Antibacterial Brush Set

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$62
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Regularly cleaning your makeup brushes is like doing your laundry: You neglect doing it for as long as possible. However, waiting too long will turn your tools into a breeding ground for bacteria. Luckily, there’s this set of brushes with bristles infused with charcoal powder which acts as a self-cleaner to keep brushes fresher longer.

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Lindsay Modeling Rubber Charcoal Mask

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$6
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If you struggle to get your sheet mask to fit and stick on your face, one of the rubber variety is the solution.

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Curaprox Black Is White Toothpaste

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$30
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We’d be rich if we had a dollar for every time we tried a teeth whitening product that promised results, but fell short on delivery. Curaprox’s charcoal-based toothpaste removes buildup and discoloration—no bleaching necessary.

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By Erin Lukas