DIY Skincare: Deep Cleansing Charcoal & Fuller’s Earth Face Mask | Chronic Illness [with video]

I love a deep cleansing DIY face mask especially when the ingredients are natural, and I have complete control over what I put in them because my skin is extra sensitive to many of the products out there from having Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, endometriosis, PCOS, fibromyalgia, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome.

So today I’m gonna share the recipe for this deep cleansing face mask.

But as usual, before that…

Please remember that I am not a certified dermatologist or a medical professional in any capacity. I am a patient who deals with various medical conditions and I just wanna share what has worked for me. It’s always best to check with a medical professional before you decide to try anything that I share. Also, a lot of these DIY recipes are things my mum has taught me about skin care and hair care and I’m trying my best to pass that on.

If you would like to watch a video version of this recipe, then you can here, if not then just scroll down for text the version…

DIY Deep Cleansing Charcoal & Fuller’s Earth Face Mask | Chronic Illness Skincare

Now there are five ingredients that make this face pack so effective…

The first ingredient is Charcoal – I use activated wood charcoal – I take 1 teaspoon of this.

This ingredient is really the main reason for this face mask to be a deep cleanser. Activated charcoal has the ability to remove impurities by absorbing dirt and toxins in clogged pores and dead skin cells which then helps those who have acne. (Buy from US Amazon | India)

Next is Fuller’s Earth or multani mitti – I also need 1 teaspoon of this.

It’s an absorbent clay with magnesium chloride. It also helps to get rid of acne and reduces its frequency. Just like the charcoal, it’s also a great skin cleanser as it has the ability to absorb oils from clogged pores. It’s anti-inflammatory which helps to reduce swelling and pain – especially caused by acne. (Buy from US Amazon | India)

Then, there is water to help bind the ingredients. I’ll take 1.5 teaspoons of this.

Water too is a cleanser and refreshes the skin – I prefer to use filtered water.

Fourth ingredient is aloe-vera. 1 teaspoon of aloe-vera is needed.

Aloe-vera is really helpful for my sensitive skin – I find it soothing. The added bonus for me is that it reduces scars and lightens pigmentation. (Buy from US Amazon | India)

Read here for:

• DIY Anti-Acne Face Mask
• DIY Oats Face Mask for Dullness Caused by Medication

The fifth and last ingredient is honey, of which I’m going to take just 1/2 teaspoon. Honey is an antioxidant. And very importantly, it’s an antiseptic and has antibacterial properties which helps the purpose of this face mask to do what it’s supposed to do – but there is also one more reason I add honey. (Buy from US Amazon | India)

Because of the charcoal and fuller’s earth, this mask can be very drying – so the honey helps to balance that out by helping to soften the skin without making it overly moisturising.

Please remember, in general, when using various clays and charcoals, avoid using metal spoons. Clays and charcoals are believed to absorb the metal when in contact with it, so it’s best to avoid using metal spoons, which I do as a rule regardless of the ingredients I’m using just so that I don’t make a mistake.

Okay so once the ingredients are nicely mixed up – I wash my face and apply this on my neck and face, avoiding the eyes and avoiding under the eyes as usual.

Also, this is enough quantity for a one-time use – I consciously do not make a larger quantity as nothing here is a preservative, so it won’t preserve!

Now I keep this mask on – if it was on my face for a maximum 15 minutes – actually anywhere from 10 to 12 minutes even if it hasn’t dried, it gets washed off with cool water, it helps to close the pores – the cool water does. We shouldn’t keep it on longer because charcoal does have a habit to stain the skin.

And so just a cool quick wash and a pat dry!

If you feel your skin is too dry, then take a small dab of a facial oil you prefer or a light cream or a face mist of choice.

Relevant Read:

• Tips: How I Reduced Hair Loss Caused by Medication
• My Acne Story [PCOS & Endometriosis]

Apply gently on the face and neck – it’ll help to restore that balance.

I usually use this mask once in 10 days but it just depends if I’ve stepped out more in the pollution then every 7 days works well for me as well.

Quick Ingredients Recap:

Activated Charcoal – 1 tsp (Buy from US Amazon | India)
Fuller’s Earth – 1 tsp (Buy from US Amazon | India)
Water – 1.5 tsp
Aloe-Vera – 1tsp (Buy from US Amazon | India)
Honey – 1/2 tsp (Buy from US Amazon | India)

So that’s it for this one! If you do try this, let me know how it goes for you – you can leave your comments below…

~~~~~~~~~~~

If you’re a social media person, then you can follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or YouTube.

I have a podcast too. You can check them out here along with their transcripts or if you don’t wanna read them then they’re available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts too.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. I am a patient and have created this platform to share my experiences. This is all purely informative and in no way am I providing medical advice. Please consult a medical professional.