Last week we looked into the Health Benefits Of Coconut Oil and how it is now classed as a ‘Superfood’, however don’t be fooled into thinking that it is just to be used for cooking. In fact it has just as many positive uses for the Beauty side of things too. In fact so much so it now gaining the moniker of a ‘Wonder Oil’.
This do-it-all ingredient can be used to moisturize skin and remove makeup, but that's just the beginning. Here are some of the ways you can incorporate coconut oil into your beauty routine.
The main two areas of use are the hair and skin.
The contributions of vitamin-E towards skin care are well known. It is essential for healthy skin growth, repair of wear & tear on the skin, keeping skin smooth and protecting against cracking. Above all, it prevents premature aging and wrinkling of the skin, since it has good antioxidant properties. 100 grams of coconut oil has about 0.1 mg of vitamin E, thus enhancing its skin-nourishing properties.
This has prompted a lot of people to use the oil as a base for their moisturiser. A good time to moisturise generally seems to be straight after a bath, although some people prefer to actually put the oil into the bath itself so that the body naturally absorbs it.
Expectant mums should take note too, and keep a jar of coconut oil nearby to help ward off stretch marks, but anyone can use this as a topical treatment for scars. While the oil won't fade any marks, it can help prevent dark spots and blisters from forming.
How about to remove eye makeup? Yes, coconut oil even works on waterproof mascara! Put a little on a cotton ball and gently sweep it over your eyes, paying attention to your under-eyes as well. The oil does a great job breaking down waxy, inky eye makeup, and leaves the delicate area hydrated, too. Once you're done, wash your face as usual.
Naturally this doesn't have to be used solely on and around the eyes. Used like before with a cotton pad makeup will melt away across the whole face.
Here's a little DIY beauty secret: That store-bought body scrub you save for special occasions? It's a waste of money. That's because you can make one yourself with ingredients you already have in your kitchen. To make your own, we suggest melting ½ c of coconut oil at very low heat. Pour it over 1 c of brown sugar or salt and stir well. If you have some on hand, add in five drops of your favorite essential oil or some pure vanilla extract for a scrub so fragrant you'll want to eat it!
When it comes to hair there are just as many uses.
A key one is as a deep-conditioner. There's a reason many conditioners contain coconut oil: It's better able to penetrate hair (and prevent protein loss) than mineral and sunflower oil, according to research.
Also smooth a tiny amount of coconut oil onto your ends to add a little shine, or on flyaways if you have dark hair. However please remember that a dab will do you: Any more and your hair might appear greasy.
Coconut oil can also be very protective against hair damage and one study shows effectiveness as sunscreen, blocking about 20% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
And finally for your hair (although we hope nobody needs this) it can be used as part of an all-natural lice treatment. Rinse the hair with apple cider vinegar. Once the vinegar has dried, apply coconut oil to the entire head and let it sit for 12 to 24 hours. Brush through hair with a fine comb, then shampoo.
As well as these there are also so many other less common uses such as itch relief from irritations, bugs bites and burns. Or how about a massage oil, a shaving cream, lip balm, cuticle oil, whitening toothpaste, and another application is using it like mouthwash in a process called oil pulling, which can kill some of the harmful bacteria in the mouth, improve dental health and reduce bad breath.