Coconut Oil & Your Skin
Coconut Oil & Your Skin
Feeling the buzz of the season? Are you a little harried or frazzled as you make your final plans for Christmas? As you know we love to start at home first when looking for ways to destress our lives and do little things for ourselves that help our body, minds and spirits relax.
Out of your own cupboard you can take out the coconut oil and find many ways to use it beyond cooking. If you don't already have it, we do recommend organic coconut oil, however. So a quick trip to the market may be in order.
As a brand, we use unrefined organic coconut oil in our body care products. Coconut oil is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins A & E, and healthy fats. These are great for your skin and can keep you looking youthful. Most of you at home probably see coconut oil and think, “It’s great for cooking!” And it totally is, but it has so many more uses and we’ve like to share our top 9 with you!
#1 A Deep Rejuvenating Skin Treatment
Got super chapped skin? Coconut oil may be your answer. You can apply coconut oil in many different ways. When you take a bath, you can add a spoonful of coconut oil in the warm water. When you get out of the tub, the oil will adhere to your skin as a natural moisturizer. Another trick, If you have super chapped hands, you can apply coconut oil to them and put cotton gloves on to keep them extra hydrated. If you don't have cotton gloves you can also try dishwasher gloves!
#2 Treat Fungal Infections
Coconut Oil is antibacterial and anti-fungal, so if you have athletes foot, or another type of fungal infection, this can naturally aid in curing it! If you are seriously trying to treat athletes foot try adding some essential oils that are also anti-fungal. Oils to try: Oregano, lavender, tea tree, cedarwood, chamomile, thyme, and/or clove. What I suggest: Before bed each night, coat your foot in essential oils and coconut oil. If you are worried about getting your bed greasy, then sleep with a pair of socks on.
#3 Head & Hair Healer
If you have dandruff, your scalp may be itching for some coconut oil! Commonly, dandruff is caused by a yeast-like fungus known as Malassezia. As we talked about before, coconut oil is antifungal, so it only makes sense that a hair mask can help you out! In addition, a coconut oil hair mask will act as a deep relief conditioner agent and an anti-frizz treatment. What you can do is apply coconut oil to your scalp, and if really want silky hair, you can add it to the rest of your hair, paying attention to the ends. If you have long hair, after you apply the oil, throw it up in a bun. You can either leave the oil in for an hour and rinse, or apply it before bed and throw a shower cap over it and head to bed. Another awesome hair trick with coconut oil is to use it as a daily anti-frizz product. It also adds a natural shine to your hair!
Coconut oil can also help with hair loss. This article by Hair Loss Revolution covers this topic thoroughly.
#4 Use it as Shaving Cream!
Lots of people who prefer natural products often skip shaving cream all together and just use their organic soap. However, if you really want some protection don’t hesitate to use coconut oil, and if you do end up with a cut, you can just add a little more coconut oil to help halt the bleeding.
#5 Eye Makeup Remover
We often suggest our Unscented Organic All Over Body Balm as a makeup remover, and it’s no wonder because one of its main ingredients is coconut oil! If you don’t want to use one of your handcrafted balms as a makeup remover, you can simply use plain coconut oil! Take a small amount of coconut oil and two fingers. Rub in a circular motion on the area you’d like to remove makeup from. Take a wet towel, or dry cotton ball, and wipe clean. You can follow with your nightly cleaners and cream. If you have acne prone skin, make sure you unclog your pours after using this technique.
#6 Body Moisturizer
This oil helps restore the body’s natural PH level. If your skin is inflamed from something such as eczema, coconut oil can be a real savior and soothe your skin. Coconut oil is super hydrating and is great to apply right after a shower. It’s a one ingredient moisturizer, and in the beauty industry a good rule of thumb is, "The less ingredients, the better.”
#7 Make Your Own Body Scrub
Making your own scrub will save you lots of money, and you’ll know every last ingredient you’re putting into the mixture! We’ve made lot of these in the past and they are all amazing, feel free to try our Sand Scrub, Himalayan Salt Scrub, Full Body Coffee Toning Scrub, or our Pomegranate Lemon Sugar Scrub.
#8 Tanning Oil
Do you live in a warm climate? Heading south for a vacation soon? Sub out the toxic tanning oil and use coconut oil! If you burn easily, we recommend you also apply zinc oxide to your skin for protection, but if you are a person who turns brown and not red when you’re in the sun, try coconut oil! It does have a little natural SPF in it, which varies depending on quality and other factors, but it is a great substitute to other tanning oils that can be loaded with toxins.
#9 Massage Oil
These days there are lots of unsafe synthetics in massage oils, not to mention loads of preservatives, parabens, and other possible toxic ingredients. So why not stay safe and just use some coconut oil as a massager aid! If you’d like to have a scent, you can always just add a few drops of your favorite essential oil while your massaging! Some people will swear by olive oil for massages, the downside of that, is the smell. You get just as many nutrients from using coconut oil as you do olive oil, but with coconut oil you get a much sweater, more pleasant, aroma.
These are our top 9 uses! Coconut oil is truly a gift from nature! Let us know some of your favorite uses for coconut oil.
Enjoy,
Kristine Sperling and the Makes 3 Organics Wellness Team
Kristine Sperling is a wellness enthusiast and co-founder of Makes 3 Organics, an organic brand dedicated to providing consumers organic alternatives to conventional personal care products. She lives in Santa Barbara, California, with her co-founder husband, Dan, their teenager, Alice, and their blue Shih Tzu, King.
