Plenty of people get frustrated with persistent acne or skin breakouts which is why they often look for acne face wash which helps in removing the excess oil, sweat and remaining impurities from the skin.
Charcoal face wash is one such popular skin care product which has been extensively used by people with oily or acne prone skin. Activated charcoal in it acts as a magnet which pulls out the deep seated impurities from the skin pores and gives a refreshing look on the face.
However there are many myths that have circulated around on the social media about charcoal face wash such as a detoxifying ingredient. Therefore in this blog we will go over the common myths regarding charcoal cleanser and should use charcoal cleansers that will help clearing your doubts regarding charcoal face wash and you can properly implement charcoal face wash for your particular skin concern.
Myths Regarding Charcoal Face Wash
These are the main myths that should be debunked which clears the confusion in people’s minds.
1. Myth: It ‘Detoxes’ your Skin
One of the common and most circulated myths about charcoal face wash is that it removes toxins from the bloodstream and helps in skin detoxification which is totally incorrect.
Charcoal does not have any detoxification properties. Our skin does not need any external detoxification tool as the livers and kidneys are responsible for removing toxins from the skin.
Charcoal face wash only helps in pulling out the trapped materials, excess oil and sweat from the skin pores and gives a fresh and new look. So whenever you purchase a charcoal face wash don’t buy thinking of it as a detoxification ingredient.
2. Myth: More Foam Means Deeper Cleansing
Most charcoal face wash in the market often produces a thicker foam while cleansing the face and people think that more foam means better cleansing.
But in reality there are no studies that prove more foam means better effectiveness. Experts have recommended using a gentle cleanser with mild foam and non-drying formula which helps remove the excess oil and remaining impurities from the skin pores.
That’s why whenever you are picking a charcoal face wash look for a mild foam, gentle formula and fragrance free product that will reduce the risk of any unnecessary irritation and dryness.
3. Myth: It Treats Acne
Charcoal face wash should not be considered as proper treatment for acne. As no studies have proven that it alone can treat acne like other ingredients such as benzoyl acid and salicylic acid.
For example, salicylic acid is oil soluble beta-hydroxy acid which allows it to dive deeper into the skin and helps in dissolving trapped materials and excess oil which clears the clogged pores. With time, it can help in preventing acne.
So does that make charcoal cleanser a bad face wash? No. It can be beneficial for pulling out the excess oil and impurities from the skin pores and if it is paired with other ingredients like salicylic acid then it can totally help in preventing acne or skin breakouts.
4. Myth: It Physically Shrinks Your Pores
Many charcoal face wash claims that charcoal can make your larger pores disappear which is totally wrong. Because pores can not be simply erased by washing your face.
Using a charcoal face wash can help in reducing the appearance of larger pores by removing the excess oil and other impurities from the skin.
But it cannot shrink the pore size, as pore size is solely dependent on the genetics and which cannot be changed. People that are struggling with blackheads or whiteheads can introduce ingredients such as adapalene or salicylic acid which are also recommended by dermatologists.
5. Myth: It is Suitable For Every Skin Type
This is totally wrong as charcoal face wash does not necessarily suit every skin type. Charcoal face wash can be beneficial for people with oily or combination skin as it helps in dragging out the excess oil and impurities and also minimizes the shiny appearance from their skin.
However people with dry or sensitive skin may feel irritation or dryness after using the charcoal face wash as it can also strip off their skin natural moisture along with removing impurities which leaves the skin more dry.
Therefore, it is generally recommended people with dry or sensitive skin should avoid charcoal face cleansers, instead they should look for a face wash that contains hydrating ingredients and fragrance free formula which prevents irritation and dryness.
Does This Make a Charcoal Face Wash Bad?
No, absolutely not. A charcoal face wash with gentle formula can totally help the people with oily or acne prone skin as it will remove the excess oil, sweat and remaining irritants from the face and helps in preventing more skin acne or breakouts.
In addition, it is also useful for people who are actively engaged in high intensity workouts as it can remove the sweat and dust and gives them a clean and energetic look.
However if you are someone who is having dry or sensitive skin then you can avoid charcoal based cleansers and instead go for a cleanser that contains gentle formula, fragrance free and barrier supporting ingredients to avoid any unnecessary irritation or dryness.
The Bottom Line
Charcoal face wash is popular among people who are having oily or acne prone skin as it is known for dragging out the excess oil and remaining irritants from the skin while also giving a clean and fresh look on the face. However it is often misunderstood due to clever marketing and social media trends.
Due to this, people’s expectations become very high but ultimately this results in sadness when they don’t get the desired results. That’s why knowing about these myths regarding charcoal cleansers such as detoxifying ingredients, fully treating acne, shrink pores and suit every skin type is essential for people as this way people don’t hope for unexpected results and can effectively use if the face wash suits their skin type.