The charcoal trend has been all over everyone's Instagram feed and on everyone's mouth (literally!) lately. Activated charcoal has made its appearance in toothpastes, hair products and skincare products. 

But what exactly is activated charcoal? It's a carbon that has been treated at very high temperatures to create charcoal and then oxidised, a process known as activation to increase its absorptive powers. 

Known to bind to dirt and pull out any impurities and toxins leaving your skin feeling fresh and clean, it's no doubt it has become the new hero ingredient that we've all been waiting for. 

Some of my favourite products including this miraculous ingredient are:

The Miracle Hair

Activated charcoal can soak up up to 100 times its weight in impurities, polishing away dirt, any excess oil whilst soothing your scalp and getting rid of any dandruff, redness or itchy head. Drybar On The Rocks Clarifying Charcoal Shampoo is great for stripping all that product buildup without damaging your hair. Dry shampoo is a girl's best friend and the IGK Hair First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo is a great formula to soak up excess oil and give volume to your hair. 

The Face Glow

For that glowy look, a charcoal cleanser or face mask for a deep pore clean is what you are looking for. Activated charcoal leaves your skin smooth and clear by moisturizing whilst gently cleansing away all the nasties. For a day to day cleanse try the Bamboo Charcoal Cleansing Bar Soap by Herbivore Botanicals for an amazing deep clean and natural exfoliation. Don't be scared of the BLAQ Activated Charcoal Face Mask, this peel off mask is my trick to target toxins and draw out impurities. 

The Whitening Toothpaste

The charcoal works by sticking itself to the plaque and grime to your teeth, lifting stains in the same way and it pulls impurities to make your teeth appear whiter and your sink looking sooty. For the tooth powder formulas like Georganics Activated Charcoal Natural Toothpowder a little goes a long way for a thorough scrubbing. If you want to stay mess-free, but still achieve the charcoal properties, the Hello Activated Charcoal Whitening Toothpaste is for you. A mix of mint, coconut oil and activated charcoal is freshness in a tube!