Hi my lovelies,
Check out these brilliant Activated Charcoal DIY Peeling Mask and Clarifying Scrubs!
Just to let you know that this post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products of the highest quality from companies using no synthetic ingredients, using only organic and fairly traded herbs, and conducting their business ethically and with social responsibility.
Hope you are keeping well and looking after yourselves. Well I am just going to let you know that I am so happy with my new found skincare product and I can say it has completely changed up my skincare routine. I have heard many a rave review about charcoal and the benefits for your skin. I had been on the lookout for a good natural charcoal scrub when I was recommended this fantastic DIY mask to try. So if you know me, I am a huge DIY skincare diva haha. It’s funny to put it in that context because when you think diva, you often think high maintenance, spending a fortune on the expensive products. Well a diva will only accept the best and in my case the best is the kind with natural ingredients, and one way to know that for sure is to make your own at home. So me being the skincare diva that I am, couldn’t wait to try it out.
I will just point out that activated charcoal is not the same as what you use for the barbecue or making art with. It is a medical grade compound which is used in hospitals as an emergency treatment for poisoning. Chemicals bind to it and it helps to remove them from the body. There is also a food grade kind that people take internally as a detox in supplements and you will have most likely seen the teeth whitening kind as it is a big thing nowadays. I am so keen to try that now that I mention it!
Firstly, I love a good peel-off mask. I love the feel of it and also the satisfaction of pulling away any toxins from the pores. It can be ashore to find a good peel-off mask with no added chemicals and frankly I don’t have time to go scouring the ingredients of the various online selection. Since I do most of my shopping online, unless its available at the supermarché, it is too time consuming and I would much prefer to enjoy doing something more productive, like making a homemade, low-cost and easy-to-make mask of my own.
I was astounded by the effect of charcoal on my skin. I have combination skin that tends to produce a fair bit of oil in summer. Ever since using this mask, I have noticed a nice matt even skin tone and my makeup is going on perfectly. It gives a proper clean and seems to just work magic for me! I am sharing this recipe so that you can hopefully have similar results so if you do try it, please let me know how you are finding it. I noticed a result the first time and every time I use it my skin looks renewed. Charcoal is my new best friend!
Here is the easy-to-make recipe:
- 2 tablespoons activated pure charcoal powder
- 1 ½ tablespoons of gelatin powder
- Water to make a paste
Directions to make the mask:
- Put the gelatin powder in a bowl and add the charcoal powder
- Mix the two together well and add the water to make a paste
- It will be a little sticky, now put in the microwave for 30 seconds
- Apply the mask warm but not hot with a small wooden spatula or your fingers -avoiding the delicate eye area, hairline and brows
- Leave to dry for 30mins
- Remove by peeling it off gently in an upwards direction
- Wash away any remaining mask with warm water and cleanser
- Pat dry with a flannel/muslin cloth
- Apply your usual moisturiser
You have probably seen a lot of the black masks on the market since that became a viral must-watch video with the painful removal of a weird rubber like mask. Don’t worry yourself, it is nothing like that! This is a painless experience so don’t be put off by the colour and peeling consistency. I would have put up a photo but I basically don’t want to embarrass myself lol. The head on me, I looked like the coal man/chimney sweep. I do be praying no one knocks at the door while I have this on, I’m sure they would get the fright of their life. Its not like I can pretend I’m not here either cos with two babies in the house, they would give me away with the racket they make. So bear that in mind that you may want to hide yourself away somewhere for half an hour while the mask works its magic. Or else you could upload the video to Youtube if you’re into that kinda thing. Me, no way I am too much of an introvert for all that business!
Either way, it is so worth doing once a week or so. In case you are interested, I have put together a quick rundown of the benefits of activated charcoal, as I do!
Toxins from your skin bind to the charcoal and thus makes it a brilliant detox and deep-cleanser.
Results in smaller pores and cleaner skin.
Pulls excess oil from the skin – explains why my skin is less oily.
Exfoliates gently enough to be used on acne prone skin as it is not harsh.
Eradicates the need for chemicals to get that deep clean.
In paste form it can be used as an antiseptic since it absorbs poison and infection from cuts, stings and minor infections externally.
Can bring down swelling and soothe irritated skin.
Can be used as a scalp treatment for dandruff, red, itchy or oily skin.
Here is another quick and easy face mask to whip up:
- 5 milligrams of powdered activated charcoal
- 1 Tsp of honey or 5ml of Aloe gel
- Luke warm water
Directions:
- Add the charcoal to a bowl and add a small amount of Luke warm water at a time to form a paste
- Add in the teaspoon of honey or Aloe gel
- Apply in a thin layer, avoiding the delicate eye area, hairline and brows
- Leave on for 10 mins
- Rinse off with warm water and pat dry
- Moisturise as usual
Adding the charcoal powder to your body scrub is a fab way to deep-cleanse your body too. It is really inexpensive with great results so you can afford to lavish yourself in it! Hey, I’m even putting it in my shampoo sometimes. All you need to do is add a teaspoon to the normal amount you use of either and once thats done you can continue with your normal conditioner or body lotion. I am trying to wash my hair only once weekly now since it is curly and I’m trying to lock in the moisture. I use conditioner every day but lately my scalp has been a bit in need of some TLC so this has worked a treat!
Here are a few of the products I recommend from a high quality online shop called Ora’s Amazing Herbal. They use no synthetic ingredients, using only organic and fairly traded herbs, and conduct their business ethically and with social responsibility. They are a family owned and run business.
Importantly they hold sustainability, ethical integrity and
ingredient purity as their top priorities.
Power Cleanse Intensive Charcoal Body Scrub
All of the above are containing the wonderful chemical free charcoal and are really multi-tasking and long-lasting. Anyway, I am completely sold on charcoal and was genuinely surprised how there hasn’t been more hype over charcoal products! So glad I tried it and hope you will be too! Please let me know in the comments below if you try it out or have already tried it and tell me what you think. Is charcoal the magic product for you that is for me??
Hope so,
Chat soon xxx
Ps if you like this you may also be interested in this
Plenty more DIY skincare recipes to follow and do check out the Skincare section for more like this!
6 Comments
I’ve been interested in trying out a charcoal mask/scrub, so this came at the perfect time! 🙂 Thanks for providing these easy to follow instructions, too. Now, I just need to get some activated charcoal.
Glad u like the post. Theres a link there for the activated charcoal too if you’re looking to buy top quality stuff online. Cheers
I’ve got all these ingredients on hand and look forward to whipping these masks up. I love using activated charcoal! It has so many uses. Thanks for the recipes!
Thats great, let me know how you get on with them. It is a wonder mask, I just love charcoal 🙂
I definitely need to try this super soon! I love Charcoal and peels–the two of them together will be absolute perfection!
Same here, its so satisfying peeling away the toxins. Charcoal is perfect for it. Lets know how it goes for u. Cheers