We source our activated charcoal from a Tasmanian certified organic farm, then grind it into a fine powder. It’s made by superheating wood with reduced oxygen at a steady temperature (between 500-700°C), pyrolising the wood. This term is from the Greek-derived elements ‘pyro’ (fire) and ‘lysis’ (separating). The method gives a clean burn, ensuring the integrity of the carbon (platelet) product and the removal of resins and volatiles. Activation occurs when the charcoal is introduced to steam, which magnifies the surface area of the carbon molecules within it. This is what enables it to capture unwanted impurities, dirt, and oils, which has made it popular in many cosmetic products today.
Anecdotal evidence says that activated charcoal:
- Binds to poisons, toxins or bacteria: these are what contribute to skin issues or bite reactions. According to functional medicine practitioner Dr Axe, it works in a similar way when applied topically on skin as it does when used inside our body, drawing the unwanted microparticles away from our body;
- Assists with acne control: this is because it has the potential to absorb the excess oils from the skin that are often produced by the body during hormonal changes;
- Helps with clearing facial redness: because the redness could be the result of bacterial infection, the activated charcoal in the soap may aid in drawing out the offending bacteria;
- Absorbs smells: this makes it useful as a deodorising ingredient for our body areas prone to whiffy perspiration;
- Reduces pore size: this is possible since it is known to draw the impurities out of skin.
While we love the reported benefits of this ingredient, we deliberately wanted to include it in our devil soap to symbolise the colour of our iconic Tasmanian devil. Feel the fiery, wild spirit!
