DIY Activated Charcoal Face Mask For Super Clear, Clean Skin

While I always thought of activated charcoal as what my ex husband took whenever he was barfing off the balcony, it also makes an awesome face mask! Charcoal is included in a lot of konjac sponges because it draws impurities out of the skin (just like it draws toxins out of the body.)

I’ve dubbed this mask the “blackhead busting blackout” mask since 1) its ingredients clarify the skin by pulling dirt from pores and thereby helping to eliminate blackheads, and 2) it’s as black as the night sky.

Or should I just say that it’s as black as charcoal (activated charcoal, to be specific), one of its main ingredients? I suppose that would make more sense.

Activated charcoal is similar to common charcoal, but is made specifically for medicinal use. To make activated charcoal, manufacturers heat common charcoal in the presence of a gas that causes the charcoal to become very porous. These pores allow activated charcoal to trap chemicals. Activated charcoal is used to treat poisonings, intestinal gas, nausea, and bile flow issues (cholestasis) during pregnancy. Activated charcoal also works wonders for the skin when applied topically: it keeps skin clear by acting as a magnet to draw dirt out of pores. It not only clears pores but also improves skin-tone by removing dry patches.

Bentonite clay also acts as a magnet to draw dirt from the pores. High-quality bentonite clay can be ingested to pull toxins from the body. When applied topically, it absorbs toxins, draws out blackheads, and kills acne-causing bacteria. 

So let’s get to it!

DIY all-natural blackhead busting blackout mask:

Ingredients

• 2 capsules of activated charcoal (approximately 0.2 grams) opened and emptied. To open gelatin capsules, simply twist the two halves and gently pull them apart as in the picture below.
• 1/2 teaspoon of bentonite clay
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of water

Directions:

Mix* all of the ingredients together into a smooth paste, and spot test the mask on your cheek or underside of your wrist to make sure that you do not have any adverse reactions. Wash face with a mild cleanser and pat partially dry (so that it is not dripping wet, yet moist). Apply the mask evenly avoiding the delicate skin around your eyes and lips, and let sit until dry, about 7-10 minutes. As the mask dries, it feels tight on the skin, which can sometimes feel a little itchy (if you start to feel uncomfortable, wash the mask off).  After the mask dries, wash it off, pat face gently with a clean towel, and let the skin breath or apply a mild all-natural moisturizer (I usually just apply jojoba oil to any areas that are prone to dryness).

That’s it! Easy-peasy as always.

*Be sure to stir this mixture with a plastic or wooden spoon, as both charcoal and clay pull toxins from metals. Also be sure to store your clay in a non-metal container.