'Nurturing yourself is not selfish - it's essential to your survival and well being'
- Renne Peterson Trudeau
I imagine by now, you're probably well aware that this seemingly magical oil works wonders when it comes to hair and skin care, but believe it or not, there's actually a lot more you still might not know about coconut oil. Aside from its obvious benefits in the beauty department, it has numerous health benefits and can also be quite useful around the house and as a natural remedy; and that's just the beginning. If you don't keep coconut oil in your bathroom cabinet (like myself), these reasons are exactly why you should start now.
COCONUT OIL FOR BEAUTY AND SKIN USES:
Natural Skin Moisturiser: Using coconut oil for skin health works well as a moisturiser for not only your body, but also your face. It absorbs quickly, is non greasy and smells amazing. After your shower, apply coconut oil liberally all over your body (face included). Coconut oil will hydrate dry skin, helping to soothe skin after shaving and as an added bonus, coconut oil has a natural SPF and is great for protecting your skin from sun damage. At room temperature, coconut oil is a solid, but it quickly melts when it comes into contact with hands; I have used coconut oil for years as my everyday morning and night whole body moisturiser, and since discovering it I will never look back.
Natural Makeup Remover: Just by dabbing a small amount of coconut oil to your skin, you will quickly liquefy eye makeup, making it easy to wipe off. It is recommended to rub coconut oil gently onto the upper lids and lower lids in a circular motion, wiping off with a warm cloth. The benefit over commercial eye makeup removers is that coconut oil will not sting or irritate the eyes and, as an added bonus, will help to hydrate around the eyes too.
Lip Balm: Dry chapped lips can happen during any season which can effect us all in different ways both mentally and physically. Commercial lip balms are packed with unhealthy (and potentially toxic) ingredients, which is particularly concerning since we are putting them on our lips. The healing properties of coconut oil help to nourish the lips, providing a touch of sun protection and, most importantly, is safe to consume. There are so many combinations you can find online to try out when making your first lip balm, the options are endless.
Natural Mouthwash: I gave this a go for my first time the other day and was amazed at how after just one wash; how much whiter my teeth looked! I now know I won't be buying into any mouth whitening gadgets we are bombarded with on the market these days and rather using this as my go to cleaner. Simply, mix equal parts of coconut oil and baking soda, adding a few drops of peppermint essential oils and use daily to help whiten teeth, improve gum health and freshen your breath.
Shaving Cream: If razor burn, ingrown hairs or other skin irritation is a problem after shaving (particularly for those like myself with sensitive skin), start using pure coconut oil as your shaving 'cream'. Warm a small dab of oil in the palm of your hand rubbing onto your face, under arms, on the legs or the bikini area and then shave.
Massage Oil: Coconut oil is a soothing and conditioning massage oil which may seem obvious, yet how many of us find ourselves walking the aisles in the grocery store or pharmacy for the next best thing to help with sore muscles or a 'twing' in your back . Add a couple of drops of lavender and peppermint oil to help heal sore muscles and stimulate mindful relaxation.
Homemade Exfoliator: By combining coconut oil with organic coconut sugar or ground coffee beans, you can easily create a homemade facial or body scrub that will help remove dry skin and also (my latest discovery) deepen tanning when out in the sun). Doing this twice weekly will help ensure smooth skin that is less likely to develop ingrown hairs, acne, blackheads, or other unwanted dullness.
Cheek Bone Highlighter: I am not someone who you will find wearing make up often, in fact its already 3/4 way through January and have yet to use a single drop on my face, so when discovering this little trick I was completely blown away. Try using coconut oil in place of makeup to add shine to your cheek bones and eyelids. It not only gives you a natural youthful glow, but it requires no makeup, makeup removal or extra expensive products to purchase.
I love coconut oil and will forever vouch for its incredible benefits on our personal beauty, skin and also for internal health.
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