Brush your teeth with charcoal! 4/5
It’s not just for barbecues. It can give you a dazzling smile — and perfect skin
C ould the secret to radiant beauty be lurking in your barbecue? Well, according to fans of the new trend for using beauty products infused with charcoal — yes, the grimy stuff you use to cook sausages on your patio — the answer is a resounding ‘yes’.
It’s the latest wonder ingredient and can now be found in a mind-boggling array of products, from face masks to shower gels and even toothpaste.
The theory is that charcoal has the ability to absorb toxins and pollutants and so, when added to beauty products, it becomes a type of super-cleanser, acting like a magnet to attract dirt and excess oil.
Consultant dermatologist Dr Susan Mayou explains: ‘Charcoal is justifiably recognised for its ability to absorb oils and bacteria and could be beneficial for the skin. Its effectiveness would, however, depend on its concentration and length of contact with the skin.’
So does it work? Femail asked Annabel Cole to get her hands dirty and investigate.
EASTERN PROMISE Pure Konjac puff sponge with bamboo charcoal, £7.99, cultbeauty.co.uk
WHAT is it? A dome-shaped sponge which resembles a large pumice stone. It is 100 per cent natural and made from konjac fibre — taken from the root of the konjac plant, a naturally alkaline and moisture-rich species native to Asia — infused with charcoal made from carbonised bamboo. What’s The claim? Gently exfoliates, deeply cleanses, refines pores. Especially good for oily skin. How does It Work? The sponge, once moistened, takes on a strange, jelly-like consistency.
I’ve been looking for a product which would polish my skin without being abrasive, so had high hopes for this. The sponge was certainly gentle — but too gentle. It glided over the surface of my skin, thanks to its texture but failed to budge my areas of flaky skin.
As for the charcoal, I couldn’t really see what it had added. The Verdict: A damp squib. Probably good for super-sensitive skins, but not for me. 2/5
BLACK MAGIC Clinique pore-refining solutions charcoal mask, £22, houseoffraser.co.uk
What is It? A black face mask. What’s The claim? Clinique’s first charcoal mask combines a blend of clays and charcoal powder to absorb oils, minimise pores, reduce shine and leave skin feeling fresh and clean. How does it Work? I squeeze a large dollop of the glossy, black paste into my palm and spread it over my face. It’s easy to apply and after about three squirts I look as if I have had my head inside a chimney.
After about three minutes the mask turns matt and begins to dry, making my skin feel tight but also pleasantly cool.
Rinsing it off turns out to be easier than I had imagined. A few stubborn patches remain around my chin and hairline which I wipe away with a towel — a mistake, as the towel ends up covered with grey streaks.
But my skin feels clean and pleasantly soft. I don’t feel the need to rush for moisturiser and I am not left with any red patches, as I have often done with other natural face masks. The VERDICT: A real treat.
MINTY DELIGHT
Beverly Hills Perfect White Black Toothpaste, £4.99, superdrug.com What is It? A tube of black gel toothpaste. What’s The claim? Charcoal absorbs tannins — compounds found in coffee, tea and wine — for ‘perfect’ stain removal and whitening. The charcoal also eliminates bacteria which cause bad breath. How does it Work? Perfect White Black works like any other toothpaste, but its appearance takes a bit of getting used to. Having spent my entire life, like most people, cleaning my teeth with hygieniclooking white or stripy toothpaste, squeezing what looks like jet-black oil paint on to my brush is a bit intimidating.
It looks awful, but my teeth don’t turn black as I had imagined.
Instead, the paste quickly turns into a pale grey foam. It has a fresh, minty taste and unlike other natural tooth whiteners, like baking soda, this toothpaste is non-abrasive. Afterwards my mouth feels fresh.
After a few days’ use, I don’t see vast changes in my coffee-stained teeth. But I am willing to give it a longer trial. The VERDICT: A fun way to put a sparkle back in your smile. 3/5
HOLLYWOOD GLOW Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment, £44.99, glamglowmud.co.uk
What is it? A clay-based mask containing plant extracts and activated charcoal for purifying the skin. What’s The claim? A celebrity favourite, Glamglow promises Hollywood skin in a jar — at a price tag to match. Glamglow’s detoxifying formula apparently fights ‘all common skin concerns’, de-clogs the skin and boosts collagen and elastin, giving the user ‘ crazy, gorgeous skin’. How does it Work? As I open the luxurious silver and white packaging, it certainly feels as if I am about to get the Hollywood treatment.
When I eventually get through the layers of promotional material to the (very small) jar inside, I discover that it contains a dark grey paste with an overpowering minty smell.
The mask is gritty and thick. Within seconds of applying, my skin is overcome by an unpleasant stinging sensation, rather like the inside of your mouth feels when you suck on an extra-strong mint. Apparently this ‘tingling’ is a key element of the Glamglow process and a sign that it is ‘working’. The mask dries quickly, turning a light grey colour. After washing it off, my skin does glow but feels rather sensitive. The VERDICT: Effective but overpowering. Great for Hollywood egos but not for sensitive souls — or skins. 4/5
A SOOTY SHOWER
Origins Clear Improvement purifying body wash, £19, origins.co.uk (available from tomorrow) What is it? A shower gel which combines charcoal with essential oils and mint. what’s The claim? Bamboo charcoal helps deep-clean daily the build-up of dirt and debris. how does it Work? Like any other body wash. It’s a smooth gel which is easy to spread and creates a gentle lather. Despite its inky colour, it doesn’t turn my skin black and the minty smell is certainly fresh if, to my mind, a little medicinal.
After a quick lather then a rinseoff, my skin feels fresh, as promised. But I wonder whether the charcoal can really be as effective as claimed in such a brief amount of time. The VERDICT: Not worth getting into a lather over. 2/5
NO SWEAT The Guv’ner deodorant powder, £6.50, lush.co.uk
What is it? A charcoal-based powder deodorant with herbs and essential oils. The claim: A hardworking, absorbent deodorant powder that combines two super- effective powders — charcoal and lycopodium — to control sweat by absorbing it. How does it Work? The Guv’ner looks like fine ashes in a bottle. In terms of practicality, it’s far trickier than your average rollon: you have to put some on your palm and spread it under your arm — not as easy as it sounds.
On my first attempt I managed to cover the new navy shirt I was wearing in the fine grey powder, which took quite a bit of brushing out.
The Guv’ner is a deodorant but not an antiperspirant, i.e, it absorbs sweat but won’t stop you sweating. After an hour of rushing around on the Tube, my armpits felt less damp than I had feared but smelled of a slightly sickly mix of sweat and lavender. VERDICT: I’ll stick to my roll-on, thank you. 2/5