Black Charcoal Face Masks

Charcoal is everywhere, from beauty products and makeup to health and wellness supplements. Among the most popular beauty trends is the infamous peel-off charcoal face mask designed to cleanse deep within the skin’s pores.

One of the most popular brands of the deep cleaning peel-off face mask is by Shills. Ranging from $10–14, Shills’ charcoal facemask is spread evenly over the face;be careful not to place over the eyebrows, as the peel can become quite hard and strong pulling off any hairs in the process.

The reviews have been positive with users seeing smoother, cleaner skin after, but the process is by no means painless. The mask dries so stiff the process of removing it can be rough. Beauty brands from Origins to Yes To and Clinique all have their own peel-away charcoal masks from $15–30.

The popularity of the charcoal face mask and its increasing price tag inspired a D.I.Y. trend. Literally thousands of charcoal face mask tutorials can be found online, detailing firsthand experience from brave beauty bloggers testing homemade face masks.

These masks typically include Elmer’s school glue as the base, a splash of peppermint extract for scent and tingling sensation and two tablespoons of active charcoal powder. The result of ripping the mask off produces smooth, red and seemingly clear pores, but only after a lot of pain. The glue essentially strips the face of the surface layer of skin and the natural oils our skin produces to fight bacteria.

The intense exfoliation can do more harm than good and, in this case, beauty is not pain.