Throughout the day, our skin is constantly subjected to pollution, dust, sweat, oil and excessive sun exposure and researches have proved that these all factors lead to uneven skin, dullness and rough texture. Over time, this also leads to fine lines and wrinkles.
That’s why people look for acne face wash for this concern. Activated charcoal is one such popular ingredient that helps in pulling out the excess oil and impurities from the pores.
But the main question is does charcoal face wash really detox your skin? It is not necessary, as it only helps in removing the impurities from the skin pores while for internal detoxification kidneys and liver are responsible.
Therefore in this blog we will get to know about activated charcoal and how it works. Can it really treat acne and mistakes one should avoid will help clear your doubts regarding charcoal face wash and aid you to use the charcoal cleanser effectively.
What is Activated Charcoal?
An activated charcoal is a form of carbon which is fully processed to make it highly porous. The tiny pores provide a larger surface area which allows it to adsorb certain materials to its surface. For this reason, activated charcoal is extensively used in the cleansers and soaps particularly to those people who are having oily or acne prone skin.
However the word ‘detox’ can be misleading. An activated charcoal is not capable of removing toxins from the bloodstream or pulling the toxins out deep from the skin, for that concern kidneys and liver are responsible. A charcoal face wash’s main purpose is to cleanse the skin.
How Does Charcoal Work?
If you introduce charcoal face wash in your routine, it will help in pulling out sweat, excess oil, pollution and other environmental impurities from your skin and providing a clean and refreshing look on the face.
In addition, charcoal face wash generally works best for people having oily or acne prone skin as it helps in reducing the excess oil from the skin while also reducing the greasy or oily appearance from the face.
Can Charcoal Really Treat Acne?
Now, this is the most asked question and the simple answer to this is that charcoal alone is not proven an acne treatment as the other ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are. As it helps in only removing the excess oil, dust, sweat and other irritants from the skin pores but is not effective to clear the root cause of the acne.
It can help with minimizing the shiny appearance from the face but if your concern is clogged pores, blackheads then using a salicylic acid or benzoyl face cleansers can be a more effective option if used correctly.
A charcoal face wash is a great option for dragging out excess oil and other irritants from the skin, however using a face wash which is gentle is also important, face wash can contain artificial perfumes or colorants which can cause skin irritation which is why it is essential to check the ingredients list before picking a cleanser.
A Simple Skincare Regimen
Skincare products only provide maximum benefits if they are used in a certain manner and used consistently. That’s why following a skincare routine is crucial and you can consider the following regimen:
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Morning Routine
- Start your day with a gentle charcoal cleanser which helps in removing the sweat, dust and oil from the skin and gears up your face for other skin care steps.
- Use a gentle and oil free moisturizer on the cleansed face.
- Apply a sunscreen of spf 30 or higher having a broad spectrum before going outside as it protects your skin against UV rays.
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Night Routine
- During the day, our skin accumulates the environmental impurities which is why washing with charcoal cleanser helps in dragging out these impurities from the skin and gives a clean and refreshing look.
- You can apply the anti-acne treatment cream if you have been experiencing constant skin breakouts.
- Layer it with hydrating moisturizer to avoid any dry or flaky skin.
How to Use Face Wash Safely?
Using the face wash in the right way is important to avoid any side effects while also getting the best results from it. Safe using steps while face wash:
- Wash the hands first to remove dust and germs.
- Rinse the face properly with water, make sure the water is not hot.
- Put enough cleanser on the hands and rub it softly on the face in the upward circles for roughly around 60-90 seconds and then wash it off with water.
- Dry the face with a clean towel by dabbing.
- Always apply gentle and oil free moisturizer after washing the face even if you are having oily skin.
Mistakes To Avoid
Even the best face wash can cause skin related problems if you are making the following mistakes.
- Over cleansing the face will not give better results instead it will even pull out the skin’s natural oil.
- Rubbing the face forcefully can totally cause micro skin tears which fully damages the skin barrier.
- Using hot water instead of lukewarm water during cleansing can leave the skin more dry.
- Ignoring moisturizer after washing the face can totally make the skin more rough or flaky.
- Using the face wash not as per your skin type can entirely cause several skin related issues.
Final Thoughts
Many people often opt for an acne face wash to prevent skin breakouts or acne. Charcoal face wash is popular in dragging out the excess oil and other impurities from the skin. However the word ‘detox’ comes very often when we talk about charcoal. But this is so wrong, charcoal doesn’t contain any ability to pull out toxins from your bloodstream.
Kidneys and livers are responsible for removing toxins from the skin and help with detoxifying the skin. That’s why having an understanding of activated charcoal, how charcoal works on the skin and tips to use the face wash safely help in clearing your doubts regarding the charcoal face wash and you can use it more effectively and safely.