Beauty Our Favorite Charcoal-Based Beauty Products This ingredient can benefit your skin, body, scalp, and hair. By Rachel Sanoff Rachel Sanoff Twitter Rachel is a freelance writer for MarthaStewart.com. Editorial Guidelines Published on February 10, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Courtesy of Sephora Beauty trends involving various botanical-infused products come and go, but charcoal-based skin has been a mainstay on the market for years—and for good reason. "Charcoal, which is the dehydrated carbon remnants of burned organic substances such as wood, contains numerous pores," explains Dr. Audrey Kunin, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of DERMAdoctor. "These pores are able to absorb toxins, removing them from the skin." Top Picks Briogeo "Scalp Revival" Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment Serum GlamGlow "SUPERMUD" Charcoal Instant Treatment Mask Bioré Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser APOTHEKE Charcoal Plant-Based Lotion Boscia "Charcoal Pore Pudding" Intensive Wash-Off Treatment Dr. Robin Schaffran, chief dermatologist and co-founder of BalmLabs, describes its effects as a "micro sponge." Thanks to its many little pores, Dr. Schaffran says, "it will trap the oil and sebum on the surface of your skin, so when you wash the charcoal away, it will take all of that oil and debris along with it." Oily, acne-prone complexions can especially be improved by charcoal products, says Dr. Schaffran. Since dirt and residue is thought to stick to the activated charcoal, it then pulls impurities from your skin and unclogs pores once the product is washed away. However, if you have dry or sensitive dermis, Dr. Kunin warns that these products may not be for you, since they can be drying. If you do want to give them a try, you've come to the right place: From face masks and body scrubs to shampoos and scalp serums, we've rounded up several of our favorite charcoal beauty products, ahead. Eight New, Good-for-You Skin Care Ingredients to Discover in 2022 01 of 10 Briogeo Courtesy of Sephora No matter your hair texture, this serum can make your scalp healthier. By managing your scalp's oiliness and removing any impurities, it helps with itchiness and flakiness. Shop Now: Briogeo "Scalp Revival" Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment Serum, $32, sephora.com. 02 of 10 Clinique Courtesy of Clinque "Activated charcoal works by trapping all of the toxins, environmental pollutants, and excess sebum in your pores and pulling them out to the surface so they can be washed away," explains Edyta Jarosz, an esthetician at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue. This five-minute detoxifying face mask and scrub improves your skin texture by doing just that. Shop Now: Clinique "All About Clean" 2-in-1 Charcoal Mask + Scrub, $22.50, clinique.com. 03 of 10 GlamGlow Courtesy of Sephora Charcoal and six different exfoliating acids team up to clear your pores once you apply this mask. It's formulated for people with combination and oily skin. Shop Now: GlamGlow "SUPERMUD" Charcoal Instant Treatment Mask, $60, sephora.com. 04 of 10 Origins Courtesy of Sephora Reduce the prominence of your pores, target any dullness, and wash away environmental toxins with this bamboo charcoal and clay mask. By removing excess oil, this product can also stop blackheads before they start. Shop Now: Origins "Clear Improvement" Active Charcoal Mask, $28, macys.com. 05 of 10 May Lindstrom Skin Courtesy of May Lindstrom Skin Bamboo charcoal, raw cacao, spices, salts, and soil nutrients help this mask stimulate collagen production, target breakouts (or stop them before they even start), treat inflammation, and brighten skin. Shop Now: May Lindstrom Skin "The Problem Solver" Warming Correcting Masque, $100, maylindstrom.com. 06 of 10 Nécessaire Courtesy of Violet Grey "The gritty texture of charcoal makes it helpful as a physical exfoliant," says New York City-based dermatologist Dr. Hadley King. This sandalwood-scented vegan body scrub sloughs away dry skin, while glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids strip away dead cells. Shop Now: Nécessaire The Body Exfoliator in Sandalwood, $30, violetgrey.com. 07 of 10 Bioré Courtesy of Ulta If you have oily skin, this charcoal cleanser goes deep enough to clear clogged pores and prevent acne breakouts. Shop Now: Bioré Deep Pore Charcoal Cleanser, $7.99, ulta.com. 08 of 10 IGK Courtesy of IGK Hair The cleansing powers of charcoal don't just benefit your skin. This shampoo targets residues from hair products, chlorine, and various pollutants—all of which can affect your hair color. "This shampoo helps my clients' color last longer—and they don't have to over-wash their hair," says Cyrus Miller, a Los Angeles-based hair colorist. "The charcoal provides excellent oil absorption. I recommend first massaging it into the areas where you get the most build-up before adding more. It's also great for adding volume and texture." Shop Now: IGK "First Class" Charcoal Detox Clarifying Shampoo, $29, igkhair.com. 09 of 10 APOTHEKE Courtesy of Amazon Packed with botanicals and a refreshing scent of cedarwood and sandalwood, this charcoal lotion quickly absorbs into your skin. Shop Now: APOTHEKE Charcoal Plant-Based Lotion, $22, amazon.com. 10 of 10 Boscia Courtesy of Sephora This face mask is enriched with charcoal, jojoba leaf, and willowherb to repair damage from UV rays, pollution, and various environmental toxins. It's dermatologist tested, preservative free, fragrance free, and gluten free to boot. Shop Now: Boscia "Charcoal Pore Pudding" Intensive Wash-Off Treatment, $19, sephora.com. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit