The Ultimate Skin Detox: Activated Charcoal
New obsession alert! Activated charcoal. This has quickly become a staple in my daily skin care regimen. As of late, I have been getting more and more questions regarding skin care and what my daily skin care regimen is. I believe in the mantra, "less is more" when it comes to my skin. And what I mean by that is, I do not overload my skin with toxic products, let alone overload it on the good, natural stuff as well.
We all know (or should know) that our skin is our largest organ. Not only is it your largest organ, but it also the fastest growing organ we have. It protects us, keep us warm, and is often our biggest agent of detoxification. Toxins are often eliminated through the skin when the energy in the body is off balance, this is why eating well and giving your body proper tools to eliminate, detox and cleanse properly come in to play.
My body skin care regimen is pretty simple.
I use a dry brush each morning to activate my lymphatic system (our body's filtration system) to help move toxins along and help to alleviate unwanted cellulite (my goal is to look 25 forever- naturally) :)
I use a bar of olive oil soap or Jason's Aloe Vera body wash that I find is awesome for sensitive skin
I use sand I collect from the beach (or coconut sugar) as a natural exfoliator since I find most store bought brands contain artificial fragances and plastic beads that can be harmful on your skin
After the shower, I spray a rosewater toner on my face and body
I moisturize using only coconut oil
*Back to how our skin is our largest organ, it absorbs everything we put onto it within seconds. It is important to follow this rule to the best of your ability:
if you can't eat it..don't put it on your skin!
Activated charcoal has become a new favorite in the holistic wellness community as an excellent detoxifier of the skin and pores. It has been something that has been on the back burner of my mind, but I hadn't yet incorporated it into my daily skin regimen, until I found this body scrub during a stroll throughout Whole Foods. With a mixture of activated charcoal as well as virgin hemp seed, coconut and olive oil, this makes for a perfect body or facial scrub in the shower.
Now, you might be asking what is all the rage over activated charcoal and skin care?
Activated charcoal draws impurities, bacteria, poisons, chemicals, dirt, and other micro-particles directly from the skin. This helps achieve a smooth complexion and also makes it a wonderful acne fighting agent!
"Activated charcoal means the carbon is infused with oxygen and is prepared for human ingestion (in the case of poisoning or detox) and skincare products. This oxygenation creates a super porous surface, increasing its ability to absorb matter and toxins. Possibly the most absorbent cosmetic ingredient out there, activated charcoal is said to have the ability to absorb thousands of times its own weight." -Liz Thompson, EcoSalon.com
After using this detox body scrub for the first time, I noticed an instant difference in the smoothness of my skin. My skin looked radiant and I noticed blemishes that were forming on my face or body instantly disappeared after just a one time use. Our skin is introduced to toxins daily, and as I mentioned earlier so using a powerful detoxification agent is aiding our bodies with proper toxin elimination.
So, it's safe to say activated charcoal is my new skin care obsession! Stay tuned for plenty of DIY face masks with activated charcoal as the main, acne fighting ingredient!
*Warning* Activated charcoal can stain clothes and countertops, but will not stain your skin!