Benefits Of Charcoal Soap For Men

Face masks, pore strips, scrubs, gel cleansers, spa treatments – charcoal is showing up everywhere as a luxury skincare ingredient, but is it worth the fuss? I’d argue yes, at least when it comes to all the benefits of charcoal soap for guys. 

Benefits Of Charcoal Soap

Charcoal Is A Serious Detoxifier

Honestly, charcoal soap is the only soap out there that should be allowed to market itself as detoxifying.

We’re going to keep talking about this throughout the article, but active charcoal does something unique against your skin. Not only does it wash away bacteria like other soaps, but it bonds to debris buildup, so when you rinse the charcoal away, you’re rinsing off bacteria, dirt, toxins, and oils more effectively.

In fact, during World War I, soldier’s gas masks used active charcoal as a main chemical component to filter chlorine gas. That’s how effective active charcoal is at binding to toxins.

Active charcoal is also used in vet clinics when animals swallow poisons, and some ER doctors use it to treat emergency overdoses. 

As a small disclaimer, there isn’t a ton of research out there on whether those detoxifying properties still work when active charcoal is added to soap. But this is one of those cases where user reviews tend to speak louder than studies. Devout charcoal soap users love how deeply it cleanses, clearing away oils and debris, while fading blemishes and helping with acne.

Not to go on a tangent here, but if you’re wondering what I mean by “active charcoal,” it’s just charcoal that’s specifically gone through a high heat purifying process. Any charcoal-based cosmetic product that you’re using is active charcoal, not normal campfire charcoal.

Charcoal Soap Is A Godsend For Oily Skin

Because it’s such an effective detoxifier, charcoal soap is a go-to for curing oily, french fry face syndrome (it also happens to be one of the main benefits of red kaolin clay soap.)

So, for dry-skinned readers…charcoal might not be for you. If you have that fun blend of dry and oily skin, you can pair charcoal with a strong moisturizer, like the benefits of oatmeal soap. Lots of people opt to use charcoal soap every few days, switching over to a cleanser and moisturizer in between – maximum skin benefits that way.

Charcoal Soap Shrinks Pores

Your pores might be getting larger with age. Think of it as a sign that you’ve lived a fun, full life – the kind of life that’s filled your pores with debris from all the places you’ve traveled.

We talked about how great charcoal is at getting rid of dirt and crud. Without anything polluting your pores, they’ll finally have a chance to breathe and contract, all thanks to charcoal soap. Consider pairing your charcoal soap with the benefits of coffee soap. Charcoal will cleanse, while coffee will dilate your blood vessels, giving your skin a bright and tight look.

Can Charcoal Soap Be Used Everyday?

If you want all the long-term benefits of charcoal soap, you should use it regularly, but not everyday.

We talked about how it’s great for oily skin – that’s because it will dry out your skin, to a certain extent. Any soap that labels itself as good for oily skin is going to dry you out. That’s why you shouldn’t use it every day.

Depending on just how much of a french fry face you’re trying to combat, you might settle on an every-other-day or every-three-days kind of routine.

In between, use something gentle as a normal cleanser. I recommend the benefits of a good almond soap.  Make sure the almonds are combined with something like goat’s milk or oatmeal to keep you moisturized.

Does Charcoal Soap Lighten Skin?

Nope. But really, you shouldn’t be using any soap that markets itself as a skin lightener.

What charcoal soap, and really all natural soaps, do is brighten your skin. Because natural soaps are packed with authentic ingredients, they cleanse and tone. Your complexion will even out, and you’ll see dark spots fade slowly.

On the other hand, commercial soaps that brand themselves as skin lighteners have bleaching agents that will do long-term damage to your internal organs. Your liver and kidneys will have a difficult time filtering those chemicals to keep you safe.

So choose an all-natural soap instead to get those skin brightening effects, without the health consequences. Charcoal soap is a good option – you might also try out the surprisingly moisturizing, vibrant skin benefits of salt soap. The latter has a more established reputation as a skin brightener.

Is Charcoal Soap Antibacterial?

All soap is antibacterial, including the best charcoal soaps.

Soap, by its very nature, destroys the bonds between microorganisms and your skin, so as you wash away the soap suds, you’re also washing away bacteria. Soaps that label themselves as antibacterial simply take that a step further, throwing in chemical agents that stop bacteria from reproducing.

Those added chemicals aren’t necessarily great for your skin or the environment, so I always recommend you avoid soap that brands itself as antibacterial. A normal bar of soap has all the same benefits, with none of the unfriendly eco consequences. 

Charcoal soap is known as “extra antibacterial” because of those detoxifying properties we talked about. Active charcoal bonds to debris and washes it away, making it a more effective skin cleanser.

Is Charcoal Soap Good For Pimples?

Charcoal soap is fabulous for pimples, zits, and all-around acne. It bonds to the oils and debris on your face, so once you rinse it off, it takes all that dirt and grub with it.

But be careful. Stripping your skin of its natural oils leaves you vulnerable. Those oils that cause your pimples also protect your skin from dryness and bacteria, so it’s a catch 22. That’s why you shouldn’t use charcoal soap every day, and you need to pair it with another moisturizing soap.