Does charcoal soap actually work? 4 things it does and 2 it doesn't
Does charcoal soap actually work? It works as soap. It lathers, lifts dirt and oil off the skin, and rinses away clean. What it does not do is pull toxins out of your pores or fix acne, and there is very little good research showing that activated charcoal does anything special for skin once it is in a rinse-off bar. Here is what we think is fair to say about it, four things it does and two it doesn't.
What does charcoal soap actually do for your skin?
Activated charcoal is a fine black powder made by heating carbon-rich material until it is full of tiny holes. In a bar of soap it is an ingredient like any other, and it behaves a bit differently from a plain bar. Here are the four things we are comfortable promising.
1. It cleans well
Most of the cleaning in a charcoal bar comes from the soap itself. Tallow soap lifts oil and everyday grime off the skin, and the charcoal rides along in the lather. If your skin feels oily or you have been out in the garden, a bar like this leaves it feeling properly clean.
2. It adds a little gentle grip
The charcoal is a fine powder, so it gives the lather a slight texture. It is not a scrub, and we would not call it exfoliating. Think of it as a soft, silky feel in the hand rather than anything abrasive.
3. It suits a simple routine
Our charcoal bars are made with one oil, grass-fed beef tallow, plus water and activated charcoal. The scented bar adds frankincense and ylang ylang essential oils. If you like a short ingredient list you can read in one breath, that is a real point in its favour.
4. It can be a good everyday bar for oilier patches
Some people with combination skin like how a charcoal bar leaves the T-zone feeling fresh. That is a feeling, not a medical result, and it varies from person to person. If it works for you, lovely.
Does charcoal soap detox or purify your skin?
No, and we won't pretend otherwise. This is the first of the two things it doesn't do. The idea that charcoal draws toxins out of your pores is popular online, but a review in the journal Clinics in Dermatology, summarised by Skin Inc., found that clinical evidence does not support the claims made for charcoal in skincare, though it is generally considered safe. Another explainer from Baylor Scott & White Health says the claimed benefits are mostly anecdotes rather than research.
There is also a practical problem. Charcoal binds to things slowly, and soap is on your skin for about a minute before it is rinsed off. So when someone says a charcoal bar feels like it cleaned better, the tallow soap deserves most of the credit.
Will charcoal soap clear acne or tighten pores?
This is the second thing it doesn't do. Charcoal soap is not an acne treatment, and it won't change your pore size, which is mostly set by genetics and age. If you are dealing with breakouts or any ongoing skin trouble, a GP or a dermatologist is the right person to ask. A good cleanser is one small part of the picture, and a bar of soap is not a treatment.
It is also worth knowing that charcoal is a colourant as much as an active. It is the reason the bar is black.
Is charcoal soap good for dry or mature skin?
Many of our customers have drier, more mature skin, so this one deserves a straight answer. Charcoal itself doesn't dry the skin, and it doesn't moisturise it either. What matters more is the base soap. Ours is made with 6% superfat, which means a little extra tallow is left unsaponified so the bar cleans without leaving skin tight. If your skin is very dry, you may like to use the charcoal bar on hands, body and oilier areas, keep a gentler bar for your face, and moisturise afterwards. You can read more about that in our post on washing your face with a soap bar.
If you are sensitive to fragrance, choose the unscented version. The scented bar uses essential oils, which are natural but can still bother reactive skin.
A simple way to test any new bar: use it on your hands and body for a week before it goes near your face. Notice how your skin feels an hour after washing, not just in the shower. If it feels comfortable and soft, you have a keeper. If it feels tight, pair it with a balm or switch to a gentler bar.
Which charcoal soap should you try?
We make two. Both are 6% superfat, both are made from grass-fed tallow, and both are handmade in small batches at Fulham Homestead.
| Bar | Scent | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Charcoal Unscented | None | Fragrance-sensitive skin, a simple routine |
| Charcoal | Frankincense and ylang ylang essential oils | Anyone who likes a warm, earthy scent |
A tip from the soap bench: let the bar dry between uses on a draining dish, and it will last much longer.
Frequently asked questions
Is charcoal soap good for oily skin?
It can leave oily skin feeling fresh, mostly because it is a good cleansing soap. It is not proven to reduce oil production. Use it once or twice a day and see how your skin feels.
Can I use charcoal soap on my face?
Many people do. Lather it in your hands first, wash gently, rinse well and moisturise afterwards. If your face feels tight, switch to a gentler bar for your face.
Does charcoal soap stain towels or basins?
It is a black bar, so lather left to dry could leave a mark on very pale surfaces. A quick rinse of the basin and towel after use keeps things tidy.
Is unscented charcoal soap better for sensitive skin?
If you react to fragrance, it is the safer choice because nothing is added to mask the scent. Patch test on your inner arm first, as you would with any new product.
Curious about charcoal without the fragrance? Try the unscented Just Tallow Soap 6% Charcoal.