Coconut Oil Secret Elixir for Skin and Hair

Coconut oil has been touted as a superfood for a few years now despite containing a high concentration of saturated fat. Coconut oil is a secret elixir for skin and hair health.

Coconuts are loosely described as a fruit, a nut or a seed, but they are in fact something called a ‘drupe’ – which is a fruit with a hard stony covering. 

Coconuts are truly multifunctional – for centuries they have provided drink, fibre, food and even fuel. Botanical oils have historically been applied to skin long before skincare ranges existed and while it may be relatively new to the wellness scene, residents of the Tropics have incorporated coconut oil into their skin and hair care regimes for thousands of years.

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Coconut oil is a contentious superfood because it is basically all fat. It has a much greater saturated fat content than many other natural oils – including lard and butter! Although this means we need to watch how much of it we consume, in terms of application to the skin this can actually be a good thing. 

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In general, skincare oils help the skin’s lipid barrier retain moisture. Coconut oil, in particular, is non-fragrant plant oil that’s full of fatty acids, like linoleic acid and lauric acid, has antibacterial properties, and works as an emollient (moisturizer) to soften the skin.

Coconut oil also contains vitamins, minerals and plant sterols that all benefit skin health.

Coconut oil the secret skin elixir is beneficial for

• improving and supporting the skin barrier for people with dry skin.
• gentle facial cleansing.
• a general moisturiser.
• makeup removal for both your face and eye area. 
• whipping up your own DIY body scrub to exfoliate with for brighter and softer skin. 
• protection against infection within the skin.
• protection against inflammation.
• improved wound healing.
• theoretical therapy for some acne patients.
• soothing eczema
• a double cleansing routine for your makeup brushes.
• dandruff treatment

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How Coconut Oil Can Help Your Skin and Hair

Use Coconut Oil as a Facial Moisturizer

Replace your current facial moisturizer with coconut oil for hydrated, healthy-looking skin. Use a small amount and apply to your face before bed each night. Note that while coconut oil will sit on top of your skin for a little bit, it will eventually soak in. You can also use it on other parts of your body where you have a lot of dry, flaky skin, such as elbows, knees, or heels.  A little bit goes a long way when it comes to moisturizing with coconut oil.

Recommended: Indus Valley Bio Organic Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil With The Natural Aroma Of Coconut Oil For Hair & Skin Care

Great Hair Conditioner

Coconut oil makes a great conditioner for your hair. You can also opt to use it as a special deep conditioning treatment instead of on a daily basis. Apply it after you use your regular conditioner and leave it on your hair for up to 10 minutes. When you wash it out your hair will be silky smooth.

It can be hard to get all the coconut oil out of your hair, so try this first on a weekend or a day when you don’t have to head out the door right away. Once you figure out the best technique for getting the coconut oil out of your hair and how much to actually use, you’ll love the benefits.

Use It as a Face Cleanser

You can even use coconut oil to wash your face! Coconut oil is extremely gentle and won’t clog your pores. It might seem scary to wash your face with an oil, especially if you have oily skin, but coconut is a great product to use on acne-prone skin. Give it a try to see if this works for you and your skin. Many people swear by this technique.

Make A Foot Scrub With Coconut Oil

Add some sugar or coarse salt to the coconut oil and you’ve got a great foot scrub! (Mix in a bowl with a spoon so the heat of your hands doesn’t melt the oil right away.) Coconut oil is anti-fungal, which makes it an ideal ingredient for a foot scrub. Plus, the sugar or salt will exfoliate any rough patches on your feet. The coconut oil will also soften any calluses on your feet.

Tame the Frizzies

If you suffer from frizzy flyaway hairs, use a tiny bit of coconut oil to smooth them back into place! Keyword being tiny. Too much and you’ll look oily.