Things always seem to come in waves… all of a sudden, out of nowhere, something will become popular and then everyone will want to use it. Or eat it. Or claim that it’s the next superfood. Do you remember when kale was all the rage? It seemed as if every restaurant was serving nothing but kale! Now everyone is obsessed with activated charcoal. But, I have to admit, it’s for a good reason. Activated charcoal, or active carbon, is carbon with high microporosity. If you just said, “Huh?” that’s okay. It simply means that it has lots and lots of pores on its surface that can then go through the chemical process of adsorbtion.
Please note that adsorbtion is different from absorption. Absorption is the soaking up of elements (like a sponge). Adsorption is the binding of elements to a surface. In other words, activated charcoal pulls elements to its surface because of its multitude of tiny pores, and often these elements that get pulled are toxins and chemicals. That’s why hospitals use activated charcoal to treat poisoning and drug overdoses. And it’s activated charcoal’s adsorption that has made it so popular. People are thinking up all different ways to ingest it in order to detox the body. And, of course, also thinking up ways to apply it to the body in an effort to detoxify further.
So if you are in a detoxing mood, here are ten different ways that you can use activated charcoal today:
Activated Charcoal Face Mask
So now that you know all about activated charcoal’s adsorption, you’ve probably guessed that this is a detoxifying mask, and you would be right. But it also features bentonite clay which is another detoxifier. Don’t worry though, it’s still super moisturizing with its coconut oil base. Detoxifying and moisturizing? Awesome!
Activated Charcoal Face Wash
This face wash is made from three simple ingredients. It includes baking soda, so it can double as a face exfoliant. And, it is totally safe to leave on for 10-15 minutes, so it triples as a face mask. Nice!
From Modern Day Chaos.
Activated Charcoal Lemonade
I am so excited about this recipe! Mainly because my local juicery charges $10 (yes, $10!!!!) for the exact same drink. Crazy, right? Don’t worry about the scary black color. It tastes just like regular lemonade. But please note, due to activated charcoal’s adsorption, do not drink this when taking oral medications; it will hinder the medication’s ability to work.
From Style & Spice.
Activated Charcoal Face Scrub
I’ve mentioned this face scrub before in this blog post about the best all-natural face scrubs, but I thought I would mention it again. It contains more ingredients than the average DIY recipe, so be prepared. But, is totally worth it. You won’t be able to tell this scrub apart from its store-bought cousin.
From Soap Queen.
Activated Charcoal Room Deodorizer
Don’t just detox your body. Detox your home too! This recipe includes charcoal from a pet supply shop, but you can also just open some activated charcoal capsules and use those instead. But that being said, you can’t use pet supply charcoal in your lemonade and smoothie recipes. Make sense?
From The Cheese Thief.
Activated Charcoal Smoothie
Is this a beautiful smoothie or what? I think so! It’s blueberries, charcoal, honey, lemons, and coconut. What a yummy (and detoxifying) treat!
From Kenzie & Kendra.
Activated Charcoal Toothpaste
I’ve mentioned this recipe before too when I listed all of the best DIY toothpastes recipes that are out right now. Not only will the charcoal in this recipe detoxify your mouth, it will also make your teeth whiter!
From Maple Alps.
Activated Charcoal Salve
Since activated charcoal pulls toxins and chemicals, it is the perfect ingredient to include in a skin salve! Be sure to whip up a batch of this now and keep it on hand the next time someone in your family gets a bug bite or bee sting. Then, just dab some of the salve on the area, wait a couple of hours, and let the activated charcoal work its magic.
From Hello Glow.
Peppermint Charcoal Soap
Just like the face mask mentioned above, this body soap is both detoxifying and moisturizing. Plus, it will help treat acne and stimulate blood flow. How awesome is that?
From Bulk Apothecary.
Homemade Mascara
Did you know that you could make your own mascara? The thought never even occurred to me until I began my healthy journey and started making my own personal care and beauty products. This recipe is super simple too! Just make sure you store it in an airtight container. Oh, and also make sure you have saved a wand from an old mascara tube. You’ll need something to apply it with.
From Life By Jeanie.
A Word about Curated Posts
The above is a curated post. Some people call them round-ups, but I like the phrase “curated post” a lot better because I have spent hours putting each of these lists together. I have been a Pinterest junkie for years, and I am always looking for the newest or best or most interesting DIY project out there. Finding these items, testing them, and then using them on a daily basis is so much fun AND, I have discovered, helps save me money.
So if you enjoyed this post, here are some others that you might like:
All-Natural Beauty DIYs
All Natural Personal Care DIYs
8 Baby Products You Need to Quit Buying & Start Making
Healthy Living DIYs
DIY Room Sprays So Your Home Smells Like Spring
So there you have it! 10 amazingly awesome ways to use activated charcoal! And now I want to hear from you. What are some ways that you are incorporating activated charcoal into your life?
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