Jun 29th 2019
Coconut Oil, the New Super Food for your Skin
We all use coconut oil for cooking, baking, all those new healthy ingredient substitutes, but did you know its benefits go far beyond just consuming it. Coconut oil is great for you both inside and out and can help boost your beauty routine!
Allow us to highlight a few skin benefits, hacks and uses of coconut oil.
1. FIGHTING DRY SKIN
Okay, an obvious one, we know. But it is the most important benefit as during the winter it is crucial to not let your skin dry out. Skin that lacks moisture ages extremely quick.
Coconut oil offers amazing anti-ageing properties as it contains antioxidants Vitamin A & E and your epidermis absorbs all the amazing natural oil. You can use it as a cleanser or alternatively in a recent Cosmo article on coconut oil, they suggest you leave it on your face for 5-10 minutes for it to completely soak in.
Remember to apply it over your moisturiser as it acts as a seal to lock moisture in. Coconut oil is also great to moisturise hands dried out from washing dishes, keep some next to the sink and moisturise, also great for dry cuticles! Give it a go, you will thank us later.
2. TEMPORARY SUNSCREEN
Yes, we know, this stuff is amazing! It can be used as a very mild sunscreen, with an SPF of 4, it won’t keep you covered on a beach day but errands to and from home has you sorted by blocking 20% of UV rays and protecting you from free radicals.
Add zinc oxide or red raspberry oil to create a stronger sunblock. Coconut oil can also be used to soothe skin and relieve redness from sunburn thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.
3. GREAT AT REMOVING MAKE-UP
Coconut Oil is an amazing make-up remover. The oil can break down mascara, yes even waterproof mascara, eyeliner, concealer and lipstick. The best part is that not only does it completely remove makeup, but it also is gentle to your skin, moisturises it after a night out and can even nourish your lashes and give your lips some moisture right before you hit the sack.
Just apply it with a cotton ball, leave for 5 minutes and rinse. Actress Emma Stone said in a Vogue article that she is allergic to most skincare products and that coconut oil is her go-to alternative for make-up remover. #winning
4. EFFECTIVE BREATHE FRESHENER
You hear us, coconut oil has amazing antibacterial properties. According to a detailed article by Healthline, When lauric acid found in coconut oil is digested, it also forms a substance called monolaurin. Both lauric acid and monolaurin can kill harmful pathogens like bacteria, viruses and fungi.
Using coconut oil as toothpaste will help you get whiter teeth, healthier gums and will even fight bad breath and lower your plaque count. As a mouthwash mix coconut and peppermint oil and swish around mouth for up to 20 minutes at a time. Ever heard of oil pulling? It’s a thing.
5. BYE BYE PSORIASIS
If you suffer from psoriasis (as well as eczema), you know that it sucks, big time. Coconut oil is an anti-inflammatory which can help with many skin disorders affected by chronic inflammation.
Coconut oil is a safe natural remedy for autoimmune skin disease. It will relieve the itchy, dry and scaly skin in an instant. One of many triggersthat can cause psoriasis include dry skin, and what better way to avoid it then a good old’ spoonful of coconut oil in your bathtub.
6. HAIR LIKE RAPUNZEL
When Doctors prescribe us with something to make us feel better, we follow it blindly because they are professionals, right? The same should apply to our hairdressers who have seen everything from burnt bleached hair to split ends whose split ends have split ends.
Hairdressers are some of the biggest advocates of coconut oil for hair. Coconut oil is good for all hair types, it nourishes damaged and over-processed hair, as well as strengthening and protecting. It penetrates the shaft better than other oils because of its low molecular weight and the fatty acid structure.
And yes, it also helps to fight dandruff and works wonders as a dry scalp moisturiser. To soften hair use as an overnight mask, just put on a shower cap before bedtime and voilà.
7. SAVING YOUR LIPSTICK
Yes, there is a life hack to save that annoying last bit of your favourite MAC lipstick that just can’t come out. And that life hack is called, you guessed it, coconut oil.
A great way to get some colour and some gloss in one. This is also perfect for lips that are chapped or need some TLC. The oil combined with the leftover lipstick will make sure your lips are well moisturized.
8. HELPFUL AGAINST ACNE
It doesn’t sound right at all. Oily skin is normally prone to acne breakouts, so why would you want to apply more oil? Well, strangely enough, coconut oil although oily can effectively help prevent acne.
Skin can overproduce sebum which is often a result of poor skin hydration. Extra sebum can cause acne but using coconut oil after washing your face, leaving on for 15 minutes and then washing off with warm water can then help the skin reduce the sebum secreted.
We have already mentioned that coconut oil fights bacteria linked to acne and studies have also shown that it can actively reduce inflammation.
9. PERFECT NATURAL EXFOLIATOR
Exfoliating skin helps to get rid of dead skin cells and unclogs pores. Mix your coconut oil with some sugar and use it as a scrub while you shower.
Use this a few times a week. Not only will it exfoliate your skin, but it will also keep it super moisturised. This is a great way to fight dry skin this winter.
10. IT CAN REPLACE YOUR SHAVING CREAM
No really, we’re not making this stuff up as we go. Coconut oil is a great alternative to shaving cream. It doesn’t lather like shaving cream, but we promise that it has the same effect if not better as it doesn’t dry out skin at all. It is inexpensive and antimicrobial (so you can apply to your feet to prevent athlete’s foot too.)!
11. HELPS TAME THAT FRIZZ
Let’s face it, people, frizzy hair hasn’t been in fashion since the ’80s. We are all for embracing your true authentic self if you do have frizz-prone hair, but we are also all for not being annoyed with your hair. Coconut oil is the chemical-free anti-frizz.
Uneven absorption of water in the hair’s outer layer is the main cause of Frizzy hair. Coconut oil creates a moist and humidity barrier and protects the hair fibres from uneven swelling. Coconut oil can also be used on afro textured hair to tame that fro in a healthy way.
12. ITS CHEMICAL FREE AND ALL NATURAL
More and more ladies are moving away from products overloaded with chemicals and fake fragrances and turning to natural ingredients for a more safe and natural skincare regime. One of the most natural products being pure unrefined coconut oil. The coconut is GMO-free and the oil does not require any additives or preservatives as it is over 85% saturated oil.
So yes, I think if you were to label us as either non-coconut-oil-users or coconut-oil-fanatics, we will unapologetically and without shame, be the ones going: “Wait, what? How could you not use coconut oil?”
We love it and we are the one part of the population who can’t argue that coconut oil is in fact, the best thing since sliced bread.