Charcoal Peel-Off Masks are the most entertaining skincare product currently on offer. Beauty Bloggers and YouTubers all over the world are sharing their painful tales of woe reviews about the skin-clearing masks but before you try it yourself you may want to brush up on some important facts. HINT: These masks aren’t for everyone!
I asked skincare expert, Sarah Wilkinson of Skin Matrix, to give us the lowdown on these trendy face masks before we slather our skin with the ingredient that gives barbequed food that smoky flavor, let’s get some facts straight.
Activated Charcoal is the star ingredient
Activated charcoal differs from regular charcoal, as the former is purposed solely for medicinal and beauty use. When applied to the skin, active charcoal chemically binds other substances to its incredibly large surface and absorbs thousands of times its weight. This is why charcoal masks remove out stubborn blackheads, toxins, oil and other skin impurities.
Are charcoal peel-off masks painful?
On social media, you might have noticed an influx of videos and blogs saying that peeling a charcoal mask is painful. Well, it’s true! When you remove the mask, it not only pulls out the dirt and oil lying on the outermost skin layer but also pulls out small hairs that would cause pain like waxing the face.
But don’t forget there are no gains without pain. You may want to think about the end results to distract your mind from the pain.
Are charcoal peel-off masks safe?
Activated charcoal alone is good for every skin type. But store-bought masks contain other ingredients and chemicals that may cause allergy and irritation on certain skin types. So don’t forget to check the ingredients before putting the mask on your face.
Always follow the peeling off with a gentle face wash and apply a non-comedogenic moisturizer to protect and moisturize the skin.
How do these masks benefit your skin?
Activated charcoal is an all-natural ingredient packed with anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties making it a great skincare substance.
Throughout the day, toxins and dirt from the world clog our skin pores. Clogged pores mean poor complexion, acne and blackheads. Activated charcoal masks pull off all skin impurities, thus unclogging the pores and leaving your skin with a fresh feel.
Applying charcoal masks twice a week helps maintain oil-free, smooth skin by stripping the excess oil off the skin. You can use it as a spot treatment by applying only on the areas where acne, blackheads, or whiteheads pop out. Its antimicrobial properties help prevent various skin infections.
You can DIY your own charcoal peel-off masks
Activated Charcoal is available in the market in the form of capsules and powder packing. So, if you can’t afford store-bought charcoal peel-off masks or the additional chemicals are not skin-friendly for you, it’s good to prepare it yourself at home.
Here are two easy methods of preparing these black masks at home for every skin type.
- Method 1: You need 1/2 tablespoon activated charcoal powder, 1 teaspoon bentonite clay, 1 tablespoon rose water, 2 teaspoons raw honey and 1 teaspoon sea salt.
Bentonite clay is one of the most-used ingredients in store-bought charcoal masks. It boosts the impurity-removal ability of activated charcoal. Mix all ingredients well until all lumps are done. Apply the mask to your face. Leave it for 20 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water.
- Method 2: Tear and mix 6-7 activated charcoal capsules in a bowl with tea tree oil and aloe Vera gel. Apply the mask on your face for 15-20 minutes and then remove it using a gentle cleanser.
In a nutshell, charcoal peel-off masks do magic for acne-prone and oily skin. Depending on your skin type, you can either buy a ready-made mask or execute a DIY charcoal mask recipe at home.
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