Activated Charcoal has acquired the status of a super-ingredient in grooming products over time, but it has a long history of use for a variety of things ranging from cave drawings of the past, to industrial grade applications in the present. That said, there is a lot of confusion about what activated charcoal is and what it does that makes it so versatile.

So, we thought we’d write an article clearing it all up for you. Spruce did a lot of digging and found out exactly what Indian men looked up when they searched for activated charcoal on the internet. Let’s get into it; here are the answers to the most popular questions about activated charcoal asked by Indian men: 

What is the difference between activated charcoal and normal charcoal?Charcoal is the residue which remains when you heat high carbon content materials like coconut shells and wood. Activated charcoal is made when charcoal is burned at even higher temperatures. This causes deep pores to be formed which are so essential to charcoal’s application as a cleansing and detoxifying agent. Activated Charcoal's porosity contributes to its tremendous surface area, and this in turn increases the amount of pollutants, toxins, excess oils and dead cells that it can adsorb.

Is activated charcoal good for your skin?
Yes, activated charcoal is great for your skin! Here is every reason why:

1. Activated charcoal has antiseptic and antifungal properties that are detoxifying;
2. Activated charcoal is an adsorbent – and this quality makes it a very good oil control agent.
3. Activated charcoal’s adsorbent quality are also the reason why they’re included in peel off masks, it’s great for cleansing pores. In fact, activated charcoal is known for deep cleansing.
4. Activated charcoal is porous and coarse, its structure makes it a great exfoliant, because it can scrub off dead cells and dirt while also using its qualities as an adsorbent to trap them inside its deeply porous structure.

Is activated charcoal safe for your face?
Activated charcoal’s adsorbing properties are strong enough to draw dirt, oil and bacteria out of the top layers of your skin but is not a harsh chemical which will leech your skin of its nutrients like other unnatural chemical ingredients might. Spruce’s Activated Charcoal range is enriched with pure essential oils which will restore your skin to its best conditions.   

Can charcoal remove blackheads?
Yes. Activated Charcoal works in different ways to both remove blackheads and prevent blackhead formation. The main reason you get blackheads is because your body has produced excess oils (sebum) that have clogged pores in your skin. This excess oil usually mixes with bacteria and dirt, and this mixture oxidizes and turns into black. Sebum is a natural oil produced by your sebaceous glands. These glands are affected by a variety of reasons including pollution levels, hormones, stress, diet, dryness, and general cleanliness amongst other things. If you have oily skin, it is likely that you will get blackheads. Prevent excess oil from collecting on your face, and you remove the primary cause of blackheads. Charcoal adsorbs excess oils, and a light daily charcoal face wash, like Spruce’s Activated Charcoal Face Wash will ensure your skin is clear by removing oil, toxins, dirt and any other causes of blackheads.

Further, activated charcoal peel off masks work by combining the adsorbent quality of activated charcoal with the strength of peel offs to reach deep into your pores to draw out blackheads themselves. In fact, after peeling off Spruce’s Activated Charcoal Peel Off Mask from your face, check out the peel and you’ll find blackheads stuck to your peel.

If you’re suffering from acne, excess oil, blackheads and breakouts, drop everything right now and check out Spruce’s Activated Charcoal Facial Kit! It’s a comprehensive package which will take care of your daily skincare and oil control needs!