Charcoal grooming products have been trending for a few years now: all kinds of brands are putting it in soaps and scrubs and even toothpaste. But charcoal itself has been used by humans as a cleaning agent since just about ever. We’re talking thousands of years. This holding power is why charcoal is GQ’s grooming ingredient of the year for 2017.

"Activated" charcoal, as they call it in marketing-speak, extracts impurities from the skin. This includes bacteria, dirt, grime, excess oil, and environmental toxins. Another word you’ll see listed on most charcoal products is “detoxifying.” That's because charcoal works a bit like a vacuum for the skin at the microscopic level.

Here are some of our favorite products that use charcoal.

Context White Charcoal Detox Mask

Charcoal is most potent in a mask, where it can steadily absorb impurities. Use this guy once weekly to keep pores clear, and in turn preserve moisture retention and a clear complexion.

> $45, buy it now at ContextskinCuraprox Black is White Toothpaste

The charcoal fad brought with it the idea that you should brush your teeth and gums directly with charcoal powder and water to remove stains and purify the gums. Don’t do that, says the ADA: There’s no proof that it works, and it also makes you look like an extra on The Walking Dead. Instead, play it safe and get a carbon-and-fluoride-packed toothpaste. (“Activated carbon” is another name for activated charcoal.) Perhaps it’s a fad after all, but at least you’re still getting the benefits of actual toothpaste.

> $30, buy it now at CuraproxScotch Porter Charcoal & Licorice Exfoliating Face Scrub

If you don't have time for masks, then this twice-weekly charcoal scrub will remove dead skin cells while sucking out the gunk from your pores.

> $18, buy it now at Scotch PorterYes To Tomatoes Clear Skin Detoxifying Charcoal Facial Wipes

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Yes To’s “Tomatoes” product features an array of charcoal-powered grooming goods. You could build out your entire regimen with the brand (and at an affordable price!), though our favorite is its charcoal face wipes. For one, they look cool (black, obviously), but more importantly, they will eradicate any sweat and toxins immediately following a workout.

> $17, buy it now at AmazonSeaweed Bath Co. Purifying Detox Facial Bar

What’s effective for your face is also good for the entire body—but rarely the other way around. Seaweed Bath Co.’s charcoal soap also includes volcanic ash and (duh) seaweed, which soak up toxins while nourishing with 65+ vitamins and minerals.

> $8, buy it now at Seaweed Bath CoOrigins Detoxifying Charcoal Body Scrub

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Origin’s charcoal scrub buffs dead cells with sea salts and brown sugar while soaking up impurities. Best of all, there’s a refreshing clove and wintergreen scent that lingers.

> $32, buy it now at OriginsSchmidt’s Naturals Charcoal + Magnesium Deodorant

If you’re sensitive to most deodorants (or even if you’re not), Schmidt’s charcoal and magnesium stick is a skin-friendly solution. Magnesium works as a natural deodorant, while being good for you, as opposed to many funk-blocking ingredients. And charcoal, well, no surprises here: It soaks up the sweat and grime as it accumulates in your pits.

> $10, buy it now at SchmidtsnaturalsClinique for Men Charcoal Face Wash

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A mask is best used once weekly, and an exfoliant twice weekly. This cleanser, though, is gentle and non-drying enough to be used twice daily. It’s as good as your current cleanser, but works double time with charcoal fueling the engine.

> $20, buy it now at CliniqueBoscia Konjac Cleansing Sponge with Bamboo Charcoal

You don’t always have to soak up the sweat from the inside: Boscia’s sponge is like a squishy self-cleaning pumice stone. Use it with your cleanser for an extra-potent punch that buffs dead cells while detoxifying pores.

> $15, buy it now at BosciaColgate Slim Soft Charcoal Toothbrush

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Charcoal makes for slim, soft toothbrush bristles: Colgate claims its 0.01mm bristles are 17 times slimmer than the average bristle. That makes for easier, floss-like cleaning between teeth.

> $4, buy it now at AmazonDove Men+Care Elements Charcoal Fortifying Shampoo

Your scalp has plenty of impurities, too, and your hair has plenty of oil that needs soaking up. Dove’s charcoal-packed wash—which deep-cleans both head and hair without over drying—is an obvious substitution for your current shampoo.

> $7, buy it now at DoveWatch NowThe Anointed Ones: The Future Athletic Greats

Adam Hurly has been covering men's grooming since 2013 (and for GQ since 2016). He is also a travel writer. In Fall 2024, Adam is launching Blue Print by Adam Hurly, a men's grooming platform. Adam resides in Lisbon (previously Berlin, NYC, and San Francisco). He is a Sioux Falls, SD, native... Read moreWriterInstagramRelated Stories for GQGrooming AwardsGrooming