Your Labor Day BBQ’s got nothing on these charcoal-based beauty products. Though cleansing your face, teeth or body with black gunk may seem counterintuitive, these formulas promise to absorb excess oil and impurities from skin thanks to their active ingredient. Charcoal has been a hot ingredient in Asia for some time now, and now like many Eastern beauty innovations, it’s catching on here. We rounded up the most unique products from both the U.S. and overseas to help you detox, whiten your teeth and cleanse — and we promise they won’t leave you looking like a soot-streaked coal miner.
No, those aren't oddly-shaped briquettes, but actually charcoal bar soaps. Charcoal is a savior for oily skin, thanks to its ability to soak up excess sebum and gently exfoliate. Hello, purified pores!
The same purifying principle is behind these targeted treatments, which are like deep cleaning vaccums for your pores. Use them after a sweaty day at an outdoor music festival.
Charcoal may look dirty, but it can get you squeaky clean in the shower. This shampoo features medicated charcoal and bentonite clay to help balance the skin on your scalp. The salt and charcoal body wash is for exfoliating skin that needs a serious scrub down.
Congested skin will be thankful for one of these face washes, which simultaneously purify pores with exfoliating grains and soak up grease with charcoal.
Devotees swear charcoal makes teeth whiter in the long run, so we had to give it a try. We've been fans of Hello products since the indie brand launched. (Like, how cute is this kid's bubblegum toothpaste?) Some may balk at the dark color, but did your childhood Aquafresh turn your teeth green? The coconut oil, mint and charcoal formula polishes tooth and removes plaque without microbeads, sulfates, artificial colors, flavors or parabens.
