Coconut Oil - Enriching Hair, Skin and Nails
The health benefits of coconut oil know no bounds, bringing wondrous solutions to a number of skin, hair and health maladies. This is why many beauty devotees swear by this elixir of life. After consistently using the virgin coconut oil in your daily beauty regimen, your body will respond positively to all the Vitamin E and fatty acids (such as lauric acid, myristic acid, capric acid and more) which are anti-fungal, anti-oxidizing and anti-bacterial.
Virgin coconut oil for skin
Use as a first step face wash
With coconut oil around, you don’t have to go through numerous skin care products when you can use it as a night time moisturiser for your face. Apply the oil cleansing method to your routine — rub the oil in circular motions all over your face and neck, while giving yourself a gentle massage as you go. When you’re done, cleanse gain with your favourite gentle face wash to ensure all the residue is rinsed away.
Remove eye makeup
Ran out of makeup wipes? No problem. Just apply some oil to a cotton ball and gently sweep it over your eyes to melt away that stubborn mascara you have on. Not only does this oil melt away your makeup, it also leaves the areas you covered moisturised. Then, wash for your wash.
Highlight your cheeks
A highlighter accentuates certain points of your face, like the top of your cheeks. Instead of your usual liquid or powder highlighter, try dabbing on a tiny amount of organic coconut oil on top of your makeup. It will look like a glow from within, which is why many natural makeup brands use it as a base ingredient in their formulas.
Shave your legs
Coconut oil is a natural antimicrobial, smells like you’re on a tropical vacation and skin-soothing properties will leave your legs looking va va voom after a shave.
Slather on as a massage oil
If you read the label of store-bought massage oils, you’d find coconut oil or jojoba oil as the base. So why not just use the actual thing? It’s slippery, skin-friendly, and moisturising.
Soothe eczema
Coconut oil works as natural treatment option for those with eczema — skin condition that leads to red, itchy, swollen patches of skin. One small study found that eczema patients (specifically those suffering from atopic dermatitis) who topically applied virgin coconut oil to the skin twice a day experienced a reduction in staph bacteria on the skin, dryness, abrasions, redness, and thickening of the skin due to scratching. Apply a light layer of virgin coconut oil to the affected area twice a day to help soothe eczema.
Body moisturizer
Due to coconut oil’s comedogenic (tending to cause blackheads by blocking the pores of the skin), dermatologists don’t recommend its use on the face, especially if you have blemish-prone skin. Rich in fatty acids, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, you can use it as a moisturiser for your body.
Deodorant
It’s quite an intriguing notion, using coconut oil against body odour. Simply put, odour is caused by bacteria, which is warded off by coconut oil’s antimicrobial properties — not to mention, most people love the smell of coconuts, so this is a great alternative to deodorant to try.
Treat your feet
Are you guilty for having sweaty feet? Don’t worry, most of us are. Those with sweaty feet have most likely suffered from athlete’s foot — a common fungal infection. Yet again, this humble oil comes to the rescue to soothe the infection and flaking skin. After you apply athlete’s foot treatment, top it with a layer of organic coconut oil and cover with cotton socks. This works wonders for cracked heels, too.
Virgin coconut oil for hair
Deep condition
Little will you know but your hair conditioners often contain coconut oil because it easily penetrates the strands and prevents protein loss. Instead of the commercial conditioner, you can apply a dollop of coconut oil to your hair then put it up into a bun. You can also do a deep conditioning and place a shower cap over your hair. Come morning, rinse with a gentle shampoo.
Create a DIY hair mask
Self care involves taking care of your hair too and you can achieve this with a spa-worthy mask. Simply mix 3 to 5 tablespoons of organic virgin coconut oil (in its liquid state) with 20 drops rosemary oil. Massage onto hair and cover with a shower cap and let it soak for 30 to 60 minutes, then shampoo out.
Tame frizz
Living in a tropical climate, frizz is not uncommon. Rub a small bit of coconut oil between your fingers and run through particularly frizzy areas to leave hair looking smooth and polished.
Dandruff treatment
Having dandruff tends to get uncomfortable and affects one’s confidence. Not to worry, though, because just e pea-sized amount of the coconut oil and its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties will soothe a scaly scalp. While it bodes well for dandruff, it doesn’t mean that coconut oil can stimulate hair growth.
Virgin coconut oil for nails
Add shine and nourish dry cuticles
Want your nails to look like you just visited the nail parlour? Add a tiny amount of organic coconut oil onto your nails to add a little shine. And while you’re at it, massage the oil into the cuticles and its surrounding skin to fend off cracked skin, hydrate brittle nails, and hang nails. Remember that a small dab will do you—any more than that and your hands might feel greasy.
