Ingredient Spotlight: Activated Charcoal

Raise your hand if you've been seeing charcoal everywhere but aren't totally clear on what makes this super ingredient so awesome. You're not alone! Let your pals at Soapwalla demystify one of our favorite product components.

Cheer for Charcoal

It's pretty simple: stellar ingredients = stellar skin. We pride ourselves on our pickiness, and we are committed to using only natural, vegan, organic, food-grade ingredients that are sustainably grown, minimally processed and rigorously sourced. In short, Soapwalla is only using the good stuff. We do all of the research for you, so when you take home one of our goodies, you know you're getting the best of what nature has to offer. When you see our signature blue logo, you can also rest assured that the ingredients come from farmers who employ fair wage and safe employment practices.

Our charcoal is no exception. Sustainability is one of the pillars of our company, and our activated bamboo charcoal comes from new growth forests. This grey/black fine powder is a special form of carbon that has been "activated" - heated to a super high temperature - so it easily binds other substances (such as bacteria and dirt) to its surface. This property makes it excellent for skincare, especially as an acne and blemish fighter. Charcoal can do some deep cleaning for your pores without leaving skin stripped. While it may be tempting to take a bar and go to town with an exfoliating scrubber on your face, resist the urge! The charcoal is a natural gentle exfoliant, so let it work its magic. The result? Clean, balanced, and soft skin.

Which Products Contain Charcoal?

We're so glad you asked! Our most popular charcoal product is our Activated Charcoal & Petitgrain Cleansing Bar. It's been our best-selling soap for 11 years and counting. Together with petitgrain, geranium, and tea tree essential oils, this bar helps cleanse and nourish all skin types, especially sensitized, blemish-prone, and combination skin. Like the rest of our line, this wonderful soap is unisex and for all humans.

You can also find this super ingredient in both of our sensitive skin deodorant creams. A few years ago, we received some notes from clients saying that they weren't able to enjoy our original formula because they are sensitive/allergic to baking soda. Our chef + CEO Rachel cooked up the perfect baking soda-free recipe and released both the Sensitive Lavender Mint and Sensitive Citrus scents in fall of 2017. In both of these creams, the baking soda has been replaced with the activated charcoal and club moss, giving them a cool grey color. These two ingredients are also natural deodorizers that help you stay smelling good all day long.

Does Charcoal Stain?

It shouldn't! We get quite a few emails a month from customers who are wary of the dark color, and we promise it's nothing to worry about! One of the joys of using all natural ingredients is that you can actually see what's in your products. Charcoal is dark grey/black, so our products with charcoal will also have that color. Our charcoal soap will create some awesome looking grey bubbles, and your washcloth will look good as new after a cycle in the washing machine. As for all of our deodorants, we highly recommend stirring the product when you first open a jar. This stirring helps incorporate all of the lovely ingredients, and it is especially necessary to ensure the charcoal doesn't transfer to your gorgeous clothing. Stir, apply, and go about your day feeling fresh!

 

So, what are you waiting for? Go out there and get some charcoal goodies today. Your skin and your friends at Soapwalla will thank you.