Weekend Ramblings: Binchotan Charcoal by Morihata

Just a few weeks ago I was rambling on about The October Union's Charcoal Detox Mask + Spot Fix, and today, I have a couple more charcoal gems to share with you.  My latest and greatest discoveries include the Binchotan Facial Puff* and Binchotan Toothbrush* by Morihata International.

Morihata, started by Kaz and Yuka Morihata, is a wholesale business with a Japanese twist.  They began by selling mostly home goods and similar products, but after they discovered all of the benefits of charcoal for the body, they developed a line of charcoal products to add to their offerings. Binchotan Charcoal originates from the Kishu region of Japan where artisans have been heating and rapidly cooling oak branches to create it for centuries. It's known for purifying and enhancing blood circulation.  The Morihata Binchotan Charcoal product line includes: Kishu Binchotan Charcoal Sticks, Binchotan Toothbrush, Binchotan Pumice Stone, Binchotan Facial Soap, Binchotan Facial Puff, Binchotan Charcoal Body Scrub Towel and Binchotan Eye Mask.

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to try the Binchotan Facial Puff* because I am already addicted to konjac sponges (see this post and this post).  I was even more pleased to discover that this particular "facial puff" is one of the more cleansing ones I've tried. The Binchotan Charcoal is definitely a contributing factor in this.

Also, another of their products that I was particularly fascinated by is the Binchotan Toothbrush*.  Not only were the black bristles cool, but the fact that this toothbrush is infused with actual charcoal is pretty awesome as well.  I haven't found that it cleans my teeth and better or worse than my trusty Crest toothbrush, but it definitely has a little more sex appeal (if toothbrushes can have that).

If you would like to try out the Binchotan Charcoal products for yourself, they can be purchased here.  And even if you don't buy anything, I would highly suggest a visit to Morihata's website.  They have some incredible and unique products to offer.

So, what is your opinion on these charcoal products?  Do you believe the hype?

The * denotes a product which I was sent free of cost.  Reviews will remain objective, regardless of how the product came to me.

You Might Be a Skincare Nerd When...

You are so excited for the arrival of your konjac sponge!  Let's just get the first obvious question out of the way: what the heck is a konjac sponge? Konjac is a type of potato grown in Asia, therefore a konjac sponge is made from the material of the konjac plant. Women in Asia have apparently been using this potato for years due to its gentle exfoliating and cleansing properties. Honestly, I had no idea what this would really do when I was placing my order on Amazon; but let's be real, the majority of Asian women have great skin, so I will buy whatever they're selling. These sponges come in a few different varieties, including French Green Clay, French Red Clay, Charcoal, and Pure.  Each type of sponge addresses a certain skin issue.  I chose the Charcoal one as it is recommended for oily, problem-prone skin.  Many different companies manufacture these, but I purchased mine here for about $6 not including shipping.  I don't know that it is much more than a glorified facial sponge, but it's something exciting and new to try!  I am hoping that the activated charcoal it contains will help to keep spots away, but only time will tell.  When the sponge first arrived, it was pretty small and hard, but after allowing it to soak up some warm water it grew to the size of my palm and became very soft and spongy.  I think it is much softer than a washcloth and perhaps even gentler than a muslin cloth.  In order to use this I just wash my face with my typical cleanser, then buff the sponge over my skin, and finally, I rinse everything off.  My skin feels super soft after.  For now I think I will consider this random purchase to be a success!