Should I Jump on the Active Charcoal Train?

[NellyBell]

I keep seeing ads for all kinds of active charcoal products: masks, cleansers, body clay, toothpaste/whiteners, soap, etc. Has anyone used any of these products? Are they worth all the hype? I've only tried pore strips before I even knew active charcoal was trending, and I didn't notice any difference between them and other products.

 

[IrishLass2247]

I keep seeing ads for all kinds of active charcoal products: masks, cleansers, body clay, toothpaste/whiteners, soap, etc. Has anyone used any of these products? Are they worth all the hype? I've only tried pore strips before I even knew active charcoal was trending, and I didn't notice any difference between them and other products.

I have many friends in my botanical community who swear by activated charcoal for a whole host of issues and ailments. I personally have no experience with it yet, but I usually like to give something a try so I can speak about it from a position of personal experience.

 

[Impaired]

Almost all of these wind up causing some sort of issue.

Anything is toxic in large enough quantities.

 

[NellyBell]

@IrishLass2247 I've heard the praises, especially from those kinds of communities, but then I see those products getting sold in the pyramid schemes of Facebook and I have to start questioning how much of the popularity is because it's trendy right now.

@Impaired It does always seem to go that way.

 

[Hilander]

I thought about trying the charcoal peel off mask I've seen advertised since I like the Biore strips. Has anyone tried it and do you like it? Does it work as well as the Biore strips? Amazon has it on sale right now, or they did, thinking about ordering it.

 

[NellyBell]

@Hilander I was going to say that I'd be willing to try them out with you, but after googling to try and find them, a bunch of links came up that warned against trying them because they 1) don't do what they promise and, more importantly, 2) can damage your skin. Here's one of the articles: Don't use those black peel-off face masks everyone's obsessed with – here's why | Metro News

 

[Hilander]

@Hilander I was going to say that I'd be willing to try them out with you, but after googling to try and find them, a bunch of links came up that warned against trying them because they 1) don't do what they promise and, more importantly, 2) can damage your skin. Here's one of the articles: Don't use those black peel-off face masks everyone's obsessed with – here's why | Metro News

I don't think I could take having every tiny hair on my face ripped out, needless to say I don't wax my legs. I won't be trying that.

 

[Keri35]

Ouch! I haven't ever tried a mask because I'm not into pain. They really rip your facial hair out?
My daughter loves the charcoal masks. I don't see a difference after she uses them.