ZEW Shaving soap

[Boru62]

That's a good point, been thinking about that as well, but I'm far from this level of knowledge with regards to chemistry.

Charcoal is wood with the moisture removed so will soak up liquid, that it can differentiate between liquids seems doubtful.
Maybe a chemist can help: @Benz3ne

 

[Nisse]

It is good for purifying ethanol so l am all for it

 

[Benz3ne]

There's a distinction between charcoal (wood heated without oxygen) and activated carbon, which is very small carbon structures with a high surface area, more akin to soot. This is a simplified example and there's a lot to it including particulate sizes etc coming into play.

The latter is used for a far greater number of applications, as fuel filers, for chromatography columns (chemistry lingo), filtering liquids (eg ethanol for drinks, as referred by @Nisse). The high surface area means it can absorb liquids to a high degree, smaller particle size means there's more surface energy so can adsorb (bond) gases to the surface, hence its use in filters. Also, when compacted, it creates a physical, very fine mesh filter in essence - think of filtering water with sand etc.

Now the former is interchangeable with the latter to some degree, but particle sizes and impurities are less regulated in its formation giving the distinction between different woods (as they contain different oils etc) as @Bogeyman stipulated. Doubt there's much difference with these when used in soaps.

Now, as @Boru62 states, there's almost certainly going to be a lot of absorption when it's used in soaps, face wash etc considering it's not going to distinguish whether it's absorbing from its surroundings or your face.

I'd therefore estimate it is used almost solely as an abrasive for soaps/face washes etc. given the above, which partially accounts for its drying qualities. It's really gaining marketing status so is something of a fad, in my opinion, but works well for flaky skin as an exfoliant.

Ben over-and-out!

 

[Boru62]

There's a distinction between charcoal (wood heated without oxygen) and activated carbon, which is very small carbon structures with a high surface area, more akin to soot. This is a simplified example and there's a lot to it including particulate sizes etc coming into play.

The latter is used for a far greater number of applications, as fuel filers, for chromatography columns (chemistry lingo), filtering liquids (eg ethanol for drinks, as referred by @Nisse). The high surface area means it can absorb liquids to a high degree, smaller particle size means there's more surface energy so can adsorb (bond) gases to the surface, hence its use in filters. Also, when compacted, it creates a physical, very fine mesh filter in essence - think of filtering water with sand etc.

Now the former is interchangeable with the latter to some degree, but particle sizes and impurities are less regulated in its formation giving the distinction between different woods (as they contain different oils etc) as @Bogeyman stipulated. Doubt there's much difference with these when used in soaps.

Now, as @Boru62 states, there's almost certainly going to be a lot of absorption when it's used in soaps, face wash etc considering it's not going to distinguish whether it's absorbing from its surroundings or your face.

I'd therefore estimate it is used almost solely as an abrasive for soaps/face washes etc. given the above, which partially accounts for its drying qualities. It's really gaining marketing status so is something of a fad, in my opinion, but works well for flaky skin as an exfoliant.

Ben over-and-out!

Cheers for a very detailed answer Ben.
Another example of a company implying rather than claiming benefits of a product.

 

[Helveticum]

Yeah I agree it's more of a marketing fad - been seeing a lot of charcoal products of all types lately. However, like I had said before, that soap has got quite a few other nice ingredients, and performs reasonably well anyway.

 

[Benz3ne]

Cheers for a very detailed answer Ben.
Another example of a company implying rather than claiming benefits of a product.

Very welcome as always.

Thing is, the spiel Nisse mentioned about charcoal doing this and that (as stated on Zew's website) is to some extent a claim. The only thing you have to do for cosmetics in EU regarding claims is to evidence it, whether (that's) through direct testing or literature. Eg, charcoal itself might remove oils from skin, but not necessarily in this soap. Still a valid claim.

 

[Boru62]

Very welcome as always.

Thing is, the spiel Nisse mentioned about charcoal doing this and that (as stated on Zew's website) is to some extent a claim. The only thing you have to do for cosmetics in EU regarding claims is to evidence it, whether (that's) through direct testing or literature. Eg, charcoal itself might remove oils from skin, but not necessarily in this soap. Still a valid claim.

That's why I said implying, they state what charcoal does and then leave you to link that statement to their soap.

 

[Sabre]

The Portland shave soap they had in the past was a winner. British made tallow goodness

I picked up two of those, I haven't gotten around to using one. I am currently back on tallow with Cella. This was my first international product back in 2007 .