13 Best Charcoal Soaps for Skin Detoxification

Written by Anoushka Sinha, Skincare Coach & Writer
Updated on Feb 07, 2024
A woman holding handmade charcoal soaps to detoxify your skin
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Charcoal is best known for its exfoliating and detoxifying properties. It has become an incredibly beneficial ingredient in skincare as it suits all skin types and works well for people of all gender and age groups. While a soap bar can be considered a basic skincare staple, charcoal soaps were considered rare finds but not anymore. More and more people are now using the best charcoal soaps for their soothing and cleansing benefits. If you haven’t hopped onto the bandwagon yet, now is the time!

Address your ultimate cleansing needs by adding these specially curated best charcoal soaps to your bath care routine.

13 Best Charcoal Soaps

Dead sea mineral salts include ingredients like magnesium, potassium, and calcium that help in skin regeneration and tissue growth. This charcoal soap with dead sea salt helps in detoxifying the skin by getting rid of all impurities and cleansing the skin thoroughly. It tightens the pores, heals, and tones the skin all while restoring the natural pH of the skin. If you are dealing with body acne or redness, you can give this soap bar a try!

Pros
  • Non-drying
  • Lasts long
  • Creamy texture
  • Suitable for all skin types
Cons
  • None
  • The Yellow Bird Activated Charcoal Lemongrass & Lavender Soap Bar

    The Yellow Bird Activated Charcoal Lemongrass & Lavender Soap Bar
  • This handmade soap bar is ideal for people with sensitive skin as it is organic and helps soothe inflammation. Activated charcoal acts as a natural detoxing agent which absorbs excess oil and keeps acne under control. Back acne, butt acne, and psoriasis can be reduced by using this charcoal soap that is made with shea butter and other essential oils and is free of sulfate and parabens. The oils present in the soap help moisturize and cleanse your skin. It also has a sweet lavender scent that will boost your mood and make bathing a fun experience.

    Pros
    • Vegan
    • Cruelty-free
    • Long-lasting
    • Eco-friendly packaging
    Cons
    • May not suit all skin types
  • Best Fragrance

    Aspen Kay Naturals Dead Sea Mud & Charcoal Soap Bar

    Aspen Kay Naturals Dead Sea Mud & Charcoal Soap Bar
  • Enriched with natural and organic ingredients, this is one of the best charcoal soaps to treat acne, psoriasis, and eczema. While shea butter, castor oil, olive oil, and palm oil help in moisturizing your skin, special ingredients like eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, and lemongrass oil nourish and hydrate the skin with long-term benefits. These non-irritating ingredients make Aspen Kay Naturals Dead Sea Mud & Charcoal Soap Bar a therapeutic-grade soap that can be used by men, women, and children.

    Pros
    • Vegan
    • Gluten-free
    • Eco-friendly
    • Cruelty-free
    Cons
    • May cause breakouts in some
  • Best Organic Ingredients

    Keika Charcoal Peppermint & Tea Tree Soap

    Keika Charcoal Peppermint & Tea Tree Soap
  • Keika Charcoal Peppermint & Tea Tree Soap is infused with the goodness of coconut oil, palm oil, jojoba seed oil, tea tree leaf oil, and peppermint oil. All these essential oils and nourishing ingredients work together to improve radiance and heal your skin from within. This soap lathers well and gently exfoliates and cleanses your skin. It has no artificial fragrances and is suitable for oily, sensitive, and acne-prone skin types. Our contributor, Dr. Rekha Singh, a certified skin specialist (dermatologist), recommends using products without artificial fragrance as artificial fragrances can be harsh on sensitive skin, leading to irritation, redness, and allergic reactions.

    Pros
    • Vegan
    • Non-GMO
    • Cruelty-free
    • Long-lasting
    • Creamy formula
    Cons
    • May feel sticky
  • Best for Oily Skin

    Bioré Pore Penetrating Charcoal Bar

    Bioré Pore Penetrating Charcoal Bar
  • Specially formulated for oily skin types, this natural charcoal soap from Bioré cleanses pores 2 times better than any other. It is infused with jojoba beads and refreshing peppermint oil which help in exfoliation and cleansing respectively. This non-comedogenic soap clears all dirt and impurities from the clogged pores and leaves your skin feeling young and fresh. It forms a white lather that effectively targets the clogged pores, the root of all skin problems.

    Pros
    • Vegan
    • Cruelty-free
    • Suitable for face and body
    Cons
    • May cause dryness
  • Best for Daily Use

    Southern Natural Dead Sea Mud & Charcoal Goat Milk Soap

    Southern Natural Dead Sea Mud & Charcoal Goat Milk Soap
  • Made with the Dead Sea Mud and activated charcoal, this pH-balancing Charcoal Goat Milk Soap fights acne, fades signs of aging, clears clogged pores, and cures blackheads. In short, it is what you need to make your skin glow from within. With high moisturizing benefits, this daily-use bathing bar soothes and rejuvenates skin cells. This hypoallergenic bathing bar is

    handmade with organic ingredients like coconut oil and olive oil and has a refreshing mint scent.

    Pros
    • Non-GMO
    • Long-lasting
    • Sulfate-free
    • Paraben-free
    Cons
    • Pricey
    • May stain the soapbox
  • Best for Acne-prone skin

    Oars + Alps Blue Charcoal Exfoliating Men’s Bar Soap

    Oars + Alps Blue Charcoal Exfoliating Men’s Bar Soap
  • Those struggling with clogged pores need to try this versatile bar soap by Oars + Alps. With shea butter, and charcoal as the primary ingredients, this soap cleanses the skin and gently exfoliates. The other ingredients include volcanic sand, blue-green algae extract, blue charcoal, and witch hazel extract which makes it suitable for all skin types. It rehydrates your skin, reduces excess oil production, removes dirt, and enhances your complexion. 

    Pros
    • Organic ingredients
    • Suitable for all skin types
    • Instant results
    • Cruelty-free
    • Sulfate-free
    Cons
    • Might react to very sensitive skin
  • Herbivore Bamboo Charcoal Detoxifying Soap Bar

    Herbivore Bamboo Charcoal Detoxifying Soap Bar
  • Skin that is tormented by pesky bumps and unseen zits should definitely indulge in the goodness of this Herbivore charcoal soap. The product gently exfoliates dead skin cells and seamlessly removes accumulated grime and dirt without causing any redness, inflammation, itching, or allergies. Furthermore, the product contains a blend of tea tree oil that safeguards the skin against bacterial and fungal infections, and coconut oil that helps to maintain hydration levels of the epidermal barrier of the skin cells. To note more, the soap has safflower extracts that have an abundant supply of unsaturated fatty acids to help improve overall skin’s health (1).

    Pros
    • Brightens complexion
    • Provides a halo-like radiance
    • Treats unseen zits
    • Tightens open pores
    Cons
    • Turns gelatinous on exposure
  • Editor’s Pick

    JackBlack Charcoal Massaging Soap

    JackBlack Charcoal Massaging Soap
  • Experience the goodness of nature as you include the JackBlack charcoal soap in your showering sessions. The product consists of seaweed extracts that have potent photo-aging and chronic aging combating super powers(2). Along with that, it also has jojoba beads that have potent anti-bacterial, antifungal, and antiprotozoal properties. What's more is that the soap contains a considerable amount of glycerin that is intensely hydrating. Overall, this charcoal soap is a great pick for sensitive skin as it does not trigger flare-ups and provides a luminous shine.

    Pros
    • Exfoliates skin
    • Great for pustular acne
    • Non-comedogenic
    • Cruelty-free
    Cons
    • Causes slight tingling
  • Suitable for Sensitive Skin

    BESTIES Charcoal Blend & Cleanse Starter Set

    BESTIES Charcoal Blend & Cleanse Starter Set
  • Your skin will always remain indebted to you for having introduced the Besties charcoal soap. This product is a savior choice for acne prone skin as it gently exfoliates accumulated grime, dead skin cells and excess of sebum without making the skin vulnerable to the stress caused by environmental deterioration. Moreover, it comes with a beauty blender that provides an alluring air brush finish. Lastly it is formulated without any harmful ingredients like sulfates, phthalates, parabens and minerals and hence is best suited for all skin types.

    Pros
    • Non-foamy
    • Long-lasting
    • Smooth exfoliation
    • Smoothens rough skin texture
    Cons
    • Not for acne-prone skin
  • Best for Clogged Pores

    Yardley London Activated Charcoal Moisturizing Bath Bar

    Yardley London Activated Charcoal Moisturizing Bath Bar
  • Yardley London Activated Charcoal Moisturizing Bath Bar works well for all skin types and lathers well to exfoliate your body. Its creamy formula penetrates deep into the skin, unclogs pores, and removes all oily and greasy impurities like dead cells and environmental pollutants. It works like magic to make your skin feel baby-soft and supple. This oil-controlling soap is what you need to pause acne breakouts and other skin irritations.

    Pros
    • Cruelty-free
    • Sulfate-free
    • Paraben-free
    • Mint scented
    Cons
    • None
  • Best for Acne-prone Skin

    Joanna Vargas Miracle Bar

    Joanna Vargas Miracle Bar
  • This is a detoxifying bathing bar with bamboo charcoal that works best for acne-prone skin types. Formulated by celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas, this is a miracle bar that rinses away impurities, nourishes the skin from within, and helps you achieve flawless skin. It also includes the skin superfood, shea butter, that moisturizes and hydrates the skin making it look smooth and plump. Its glycerin and olive oil content helps control the overproduction of sebum thereby keeping acne at bay! Our contributor, Dr. Rekha Singh, says, “Glycerine is a humectant that attracts water to the skin, maintaining moisture balance without clogging pores. Olive oil has a low comedogenic rating, making it less likely to cause clogged pores and breakouts, thus supporting sebum regulation.”

    Pros
    • Cruelty-free
    • Non-comedogenic
    • Deep cleansing effect
    Cons
    • Expensive
  • Value for Money

    O Naturals Charcoal Black Bar Soap

    O Naturals Charcoal Black Bar Soap
  • Made of botanical blends of activated charcoal, coconut oil, and peppermint oil, O Naturals Charcoal Black Bar Soap detoxifies and exfoliates your skin. It improves radiance, tightens the pores, and also helps you bid adieu to dull skin. It is a triple-milled soap bar that lathers up well and gets you the best bathing experience. Also, it is infused with coconut and palm oil that moisturizes the skin deeply and leaves your skin with a fresh feel.

    Pros
    • Vegan
    • Paraben-free
    • Sulfate-free
    • Cruelty-free
    • No artificial fragrances
    Cons
    • May leave behind residue

    Grab the above-mentioned best charcoal soaps and give your skin the freshness it deserves! The essence of activated charcoal in these soaps will heal and soothe the skin making it flawless. Every skin deserves the luxury of charcoal soaps. Get yours now!

    Contributor: Dr. Rekha Singh, MBBS, MD - Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy - Oliva Clinic

    Why Trust Pinkvilla

    Anoushka suggests that it's never a bad idea to detoxify your skin from environmental stressors, and more. As an advocate for skincare, she found assurance in charcoal soaps that a natural alternative to cleansing the body. After trying a few, she did find her skin more appealing and relaxed compared to before. And, chose to share the secrets of youthful skin with this cherry-picked list of the best charcoal soaps for all skin types and textures. 

    Our product experts study the specifications of every product we suggest and try them out to bring what’s proven to be worthy of your money, time, and energy. We also have subject matter experts from various fields like Fashion, Skincare, Haircare, Home Decor, and Health & Fitness onboard to make sure our suggestions are credible and trustworthy. You can trust Select to be your faithful shopping guide for all the right reasons!

    Author BIO
    reviewer
    Anoushka Sinha
    Skincare Coach & Writer

    Anoushka is certified in Professional Skincare and is a Mass Media (Journalism) graduate from Mumbai University. As a More