In the grand scheme of skin-care trends, it takes a pretty remarkable ingredient to stay in the limelight for long. Take charcoal, for example: We've already gone through the best products on the market and explained why this is an ingredient that truly deserves a place in your medicine cabinet. But, as it turns out, the inky stuff is far from a passing phase. The powerhouse detoxifier is still making its way into new skin-care products — including masks, face wipes, and even toothpaste — every day.Ahead, we've rounded up the best new products laced with charcoal, plus a few that you might not have heard of before. From a mask that rids skin of oil (without the mess) to a toothbrush that naturally deodorizes, these aren't your average products. Click through our slideshow for nine reasons to jump on the charcoal bandwagon.
There's a lot to love about this brand-new mask: It's free of common skin irritants like SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate), parabens, and silicone, plus it's cruelty-free. But the real allure lies in what it does have: charcoal and mud to absorb oil, salicylic acid to exfoliate, and aloe and chamomile for their soothing properties.
Yes To Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Mud Mask, $15.99, available at Yes To.
Love Origins' best-selling Active Charcoal Mask? Now you can bring its detoxifying benefits to your body — especially areas that are prone to oil and clogged pores, like the chest, shoulders, and back. A mix of sea salt and sugar exfoliate, while bamboo charcoal draws out oil and congestion from pores.
Boscia already has a few charcoal-packed products in its skin-care range, and now it's added a new one that's mess-free. Its detoxifying cleansing cloths have charcoal powder, black tea, and glycolic acid to clean pores, tone skin, and lightly exfoliate. Use them just like you would a regular face wipe. (And, yes, they're pitch-black in color.)
Already a massive trend in Asia (Colgate even has a version for sale overseas) charcoal toothpaste is slowly becoming more popular stateside. Why would you want to use charcoal toothpaste, you ask? It naturally kills bad breath and removes stains — in the same way that it pulls impurities from your pores.
You can already find charcoal-based toothpastes in most health food stores, but more and more brands are launching their own formulas. We especially like Carbon6Lab, which just launched a pre-sale for its fancy-looking pastes this past weekend.
Not sure you're ready for a mouth full of jet-black toothpaste? Ease in with a charcoal-bristle brush. Another Asian import, these work by naturally deodorizing, thanks to bristles that are created with a mix of binchotan charcoal, which is sourced in Japan, and plastic. (Oh, and they're really cute, too.)
Fun fact: Not all charcoal-packed products come in that signature black color. If you've been avoiding the mess that many masks can create in your bathroom sink, Tony Moly's new Blackhead Steam Balm is for you. The mask has charcoal powder to clear pores, plus a mix of sea salt and eggshell powder to buff off dead skin. Plus, it self-heats for a steam-like effect, without the drying typical of at-home steaming.
If you're looking for a gentle way to exfoliate, a konjac sponge laced with charcoal is for you. Made from the root of the konnyaku plant, the natural sponge is gentle enough to use daily — just apply a pump of your cleanser to the sponge and massage it over your face for soft skin without irritation. These don't contain active charcoal, though, so reach for a purifying mask if you want a deeper cleanse.
It's no secret that charcoal-based masks can be difficult to remove. If you're looking for a formula that rinses easily, try Dermalogica's brand-new mask. A mix of activated binchotan charcoal, sulfur, volcanic ash, and alpha hydroxy acids works to clean pores and exfoliate. The best part is that even after it dries, it washes right off — with no aggressive rubbing (even we were surprised).
Don't fret: New charcoal offerings are still popping up in the drugstore aisle, too. This one comes with a stellar recommendation. Celeb makeup artist Carissa Ferreri swears by these pore strips; they work just like the brand's classic version, but are enriched with charcoal to help draw out even more oil.
Think of this exfoliating body sponge as the happy medium between a body scrub and a facial konjac sponge. It has all the buffing powers of a sponge designed for the face — but with bamboo charcoal to draw out oil and impurities, and a texture that helps loosen dead skin. Unlike the konjac sponge, however, only use this once a week on your body, to avoid irritation.
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