Common Name(s): Activated charcoal/fuller's earth,pore cleansing adsorbent,detoxifying clay
CAS Number: N/a
DESCRIPTION
What It Does: Physically adsorbs excess sebum, environmental pollution particulates, and skin surface impurities into the porous structure, purifies pores during mask application, and provides the 'detox' pore-drawing action validated by the visible sebum and debris transfer to the mask on removal.
Why It's Used: Provides genuine documented high-capacity physical adsorption โ not a marketing claim but a measurable adsorbent capacity. activated charcoal's ~2000 mยฒ/g surface area adsorbs sebum lipids and particulate pollutants through van der waals forces at concentrations no clay or silica alternative can match.
How It Works: Activated charcoal's turbostratic graphite structure (disordered graphene layers) provides pore sizes of 0.5โ50 nm covering micro, meso, and macro pore ranges. sebum lipids adsorb into mesopores (2โ50 nm) via van der waals forces; pollutant pahs adsorb via ฯ-ฯ stacking with graphene rings; the high-capacity adsorption drives equilibrium-driven partitioning from pore to charcoal surface.
Typically Found In: Charcoal masks,pore purifying,detox
TECHNICAL DETAILS
Primary Category: Active ingredient โ mineral / metal active
Secondary Functions: Antimicrobial,sebum regulation,antioxidant enzyme cofactor
Application Areas:
Facial Skincare
Body Care
Hair Care
Beard Care
Color Cosmetics (Makeup)
Dietary/Oral Supplements
Typical Concentration Range: 5%โ30%
SOURCING & ETHICS
Vegan Status: Yes
Halal Status: Yes
Source Notes: Mineral/inorganic compound. cosmetic or pharmaceutical grade.
SKIN COMPATIBILITY
Irritancy Rating: 1/5 โ very low
Comedogenicity Rating: 0/5 โ non-comedogenic
Sensitivity Concerns: Non-irritating at recommended concentrations.
Safe for Sensitive Skin: Yes at recommended concentrations
SAFETY & COMPATIBILITY
Safety Profile: Excellent safety profile at cosmetic concentrations. ewg score: 1โ2.
Works Well With: Niacinamide,salicylic acid,other actives
Avoid Combining With: No significant incompatibilities at standard concentrations
SCIENTIFIC NOTE
Activated charcoal's adsorption capacity (1โ3 g sebum/g charcoal) significantly exceeds kaolin clay (~0.5 g/g) and bentonite (~0.8 g/g) โ the higher porosity-to-mass ratio from carbonisation providing the most efficient sebum adsorption per gram of any cosmetic adsorbent.
Last Verified: 2026-03-12
Primary Sources: Cosing database,activated charcoal pore adsorption capacity review