How to Heal Acne with Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal has become a popular face mask ingredient, and for good reason! The porous quality of activated charcoal draws out bacteria, toxins, chemicals, and other impurities from skin. Since activated charcoal is inert, people with sensitive skin or allergies can also benefit from its cleansing properties. 


In this week’s blog post, we share how activated charcoal can improve your complexion. But first, what the heck is activated charcoal...

What is activated charcoal?

Activated charcoal is a fine black powder with numerous health benefits, including skincare! But this is not your average grilling charcoal. Activated charcoal is made from carbon material, such as bamboo, wood, coal, or coconut and is processed to create a porous surface that allows for adsorption or chemical reactions.  


Dirt Don’t Hurt uses Activated Coconut Charcoal because of its medicinal properties. The fine powder is created by slowly burning coconut shells and treating it with oxygen. This process makes the coconut charcoal highly porous, allowing it to bind with dirt and oil trapped in your skin. Activated Charcoal is odorless, tasteless and nontoxic. 

Benefits of activated charcoal for skin

The beauty industry is buzzing about a new secret weapon for healthier skin -- activated charcoal! It can be found in cleansers, shampoos, soaps, scrubs, and more. It can improve your skin by… 


  1. Removing impurities - Activated charcoal draws bacteria, chemicals, and dirt out of the skin, giving you radiant, clear skin. 
  2. Heals acne - Blemishes are caused by dead skin cells, oil, and bacteria building up on your skin. Activated charcoal lifts impurities from pores and heals acne. 
  3. Treating insect bites - Mosquito bites can be annoying or even painful, but activated charcoal can ease the sting by neutralizing toxins. 

Natural face mask for acne

Using an all-natural, earth and plant-based face mask is a big step towards healthier skin (and a healthier planet). It’s important to research skincare products since some commonly used ingredients can irritate or damage skin. 


Chemicals used in synthetic products can cause breakouts and other irritation, but there are many natural skincare products that are gentle on skin. Activated charcoal products help remove toxins, not add them!. 

Skin is the body’s largest organ and it absorbs many of the ingredients that we apply to the surface. Luckily, activated charcoal is not absorbed or metabolized by the body, making it safe to apply to skin. Synthetic products are absorbed and then make their way into the bloodstream and have an effect on our overall health. 


If you’re looking for a natural remedy to help give your skin a healthy glow, try our Charcoal + Clay Mineral Face Mask. We use the following natural ingredients to clarify your skin: 


  • Activated Charcoal
  • Bentonite Clay
  • French Green Clay 
  • Colloidial Oatmeal
  • Tea Tree EO
  • Frankincense EO

How to use a charcoal face mask

Here’s how to use the Dirt Don’t Hurt Charcoal + Clay Mineral Face Mask for clear skin:


  • Mix ½ tsp. of the mask with 1 tsp of water in a bowl
  • Stir until it turns into a thick paste (add more water for desired consistency)
  • Apply evenly on face with the Dirt Don’t Hurt brush
  • Wait 15min and rinse

Use the mask two to three times per week for fresh, beautiful skin. 


Interested in trying our Charcoal + Clay Mineral Face Mask for yourself? Visit our store here: https://dirtdonthurtme.com/collections/skin-care/products/charcoal-clay-mineral-mask-and-brush

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