Recently My friend gave me a gift of charcoal soap from brand Herbivore Botanicals. Although I doubted myself using that charcoal soap because I have dehydrated skin. But now, I am addicted. I have become a total fan of the simple bar of soap. Now I understand why charcoal bar soaps are so popular.
The star ingredient activated charcoal is an odorless, very lightweight black powder. Being a DIY addict myself, I decided to make a bar of soap out of it. This activated powder impressed me with those absorbing properties. Activated charcoal can work wonder if you want to clean and purify oily, blemish-prone, and combination skin.
When I was researching for this DIY, I did not know the difference between activated charcoal and charcoal granules. But let me tell you one thing, activated charcoal is not what you would find in a chimney sweep or on burnt pieces of food. But, this powder is 100% food/cosmetic grade and perfect for bath and body products. Plus, melt and pour soap base is embarrassingly easy to use with the help of a microwave.
You can not mess up with this recipe.
Benefits of Activated Charcoal
Not only beauty and wellness, but even the food industry is also using activated charcoal in a significant way. These days, food bloggers use food-grade activated charcoal internally to detox, in supplements and juices. I also read about activated charcoal lemonade somewhere. Last week, I wrote about Black salt scrub, which has activated charcoal in the form of lava.
But what about hair and skin? So here are the benefits:
Balances oily skin
Oily skin? Access oil in your forehead? Activated charcoal is just the right ingredient for you. Whether you use in a cleanser or mask, activated charcoal can pull the unwanted excess oils from your skin, leaving it smooth. Activated charcoal tends to dry out skin, so make sure you do not use it more.
( I used this soap 1-2 times a week to make sure, my skin do not feel adverse effects)
Cleanse the pores
Are you familiar with free radicals? Free radicals contain those harmful toxins, and throughout the day, those toxins from the environment around us clog our pores. Free radicals are the culprits. If our clogs are not clear, then our skin will not look good. Activated charcoals are a great ingredient to use when you are into deep cleansing. It will pull up all the dirt from the pores.
Treat acne
When you use activated charcoal in the soap form, it is in gritty form. That's why it will provide much-needed exfoliation in a gentle way and counts as a good solution for treating acne. Activated charcoal also can use as a spot treatment. In that way, your skin will not dry out.–just think of it as a mini mask for your blemish.
Remedy scalp conditions
If you have a problem with dandruff, itchy scalp, then activated charcoal can be your go-to solution. Just adding one teaspoon of activated charcoal inside your shampoo or applying activated charcoal hair mask before you shower will cure all the problems.
How to Make Detox Charcoal Soap?
If you are like me, and very busy with your 9 to 5 job, melt and pour base is your best friend. That's the main reason why I love melt and pour soap. Besides, there are a ton of varieties for bases: plain glycerin, olive oil, goat milk, honey, oatmeal, etc. Here, I used an Aloe Vera base for an added dose of significant moisture. I wanted to make sure that my dehydrated and dry skin do not lose moisture.
Along with Aloe Vera soap base, in this recipe, I also use tea tree oil, tamanu oil, and a little bit of almond oil. Tamanu oil and almond oil will help reduce fine lines and adds moisturizing quality. In malt and pour soap, I learned that more fats, you add, less lather it will generate. So for 1 lb of Aloe Vera soap base, I would suggest adding only one teaspoon of oil.
Another tip is: when you melt soap base, make sure to cover the container with plastic wrap. In that way, your soap will not turn out to be drier side. So without further due, here is the recipe:
DIY Detox Charcoal Soap
Equipment you need:
Microwave
Soap mold
Things you need:
1 lb Aloe Vera Soap Base
1/2 Tsp. Tamanu Oil
1/2 Tsp. Almond Oil
1/4 Tsp. Activated Charcoal
4 ml Tea Tree Essential Oil
Rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle
Method:
Cut the melt and pour soap base in small pieces and pour it in a microwave-proof bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and hit the soap base until it melts. Now in another bowl, mix tamanu and almond oil. Very gently pour activated charcoal. Activated charcoal is very lightweight. If you are not careful, it will be all over. Make a nice slurry with oil and charcoal. Add it inside the melt and pour soap. Mix it well. In the end, add tea tree essential oil.
Pour this mixture into soap molds and spray rubbing alcohol on it. By doing this, you are removing all the air bubbles. Let the soap sit for four-six hours.
Then, voila, soap is done.
Shelf life: 6 months.
Use this soap 2-3 times a week in your PM ritual.
Try out this, and let me know what do you feel about this.