Coconut oil is becoming increasingly popular both in and outside of the kitchen. This tropical treasure has remarkable therapeutic properties that have been enjoyed by people living in the South Pacific for a very long time.
Besides being a highly nutritious and delicious cooking oil, coconut oil contains properties that feed and moisturize the skin. The scientific community is finally catching up with what many have known for ages, coconut oil is truly good for you, both inside and outside.
Here are just some of the reasons why you should start putting extra virgin coconut oil on your face and skin:
Coconut is an excellent skin moisturizer
This all natural, edible oil is inarguably the best moisturizer out there, and the only one you’d ever need. Coconut oil may be solid at room temperature if your room temperature happens to be below 75F, but it typically remains a liquid in the tropical regions where coconut trees grow. Solidified coconut oil has a texture similar to plain petroleum jelly, but it does not feel sticky or greasy on your skin because our body temperature is normally above 97F.
Coconut oil melts on the skin as soon as you apply it, without leaving any kind of residues. It easily seeps into the skin pores, moisturizing deeply and thoroughly.
How to use it: If you have dry skin, apply coconut oil to your face after washing and drying it lightly with a towel. You need only a small amount since the oil spreads well. Take just ¼ teaspoon oil in the palm of one hand rub it with the other. Apply it on the face with both palms, gently massaging it in. Wait for 5-10 minutes for the oil to absorb into the skin, and wipe away any excess with a soft cotton towel. A thin layer is all you need to prevent moisture loss through evaporation from the skin surface.
If you have oily skin, you can still make use of the moisturizing effect of this oil. Overproduction of sebum is often the result of inadequate skin hydration; it is body’s own attempt to prevent further dehydration. However, extra sebum secretion can cause skin problems like comedo formation and acne, especially when dry, flaky skin easily forms keratin plugs over the follicles.
For oily skin, apply warm coconut oil liberally on the face and neck after washing with a mild soap. Leave it on for 15 minutes. Wash with warm water and dry with a soft towel. Repeat this for several days to condition your skin. You may experience an initial flare up of acne, but you can ignore it unless it is too severe. Your skin would eventually reduce sebum secretion.
Coconut oil is a fabulous natural makeup remover
Have you ever struggled to take your makeup off? No matter what type of makeup you wear, it is always a good idea to take it off before going to bed. Removing it allows your skin to breathe. However, the process of removing makeup can traumatize the soft skin on the face, especially the sensitive area around the eyes. Coconut oil makes this hard task easy on you and your skin.
Coconut oil is an excellent grease cutter; it is as good as, or even better than, commercial anti-grease products. If you read the labels of cleaning products, you may come across a coconut-derived detergent agent sodium lauryl sulfate. Chances are, you will find the same ingredient in baby wash care products as well. The point is that it is powerful enough to cut through motor oil and grease while being safe and gentle on baby’s skin.
How to use it: To avoid too much rubbing and skin pulling while wiping off the makeup, apply coconut oil all over the face with a cotton ball. Leave it on for 5 minutes and wash off with warm water and mild soap. The main bulk of the makeup should be gone, but you should again apply oil to do a thorough cleaning.
Keeping the eyes tightly closed, place cotton pads dipped in coconut oil over them. Within a few minutes, the oil will dissolve waterproof mascara and eyeliner so that you can gently wipe them off. If coconut oil gets into the eyes, it may sting a bit, but it is perfectly safe. In fact, the oil is used in many herbal preparations for eye diseases.
Coconut oil is the ideal deep cleanser
It is important for skin health to deep cleanse our face from time to time. No other part of our body is exposed to as many chemicals, be it from makeup, air pollution or just dust and grease in the air. Toxins seep into skin pores and clog them. The dehydrating effect of air conditioning and heat can leave your skin dry and flaky, and the skin pores can develop keratin caps that keep the sebum trapped in the follicles.
Coconut oil is a gentle, yet thorough cleanser. It softens the keratin caps and makes exfoliation much easier. The light, spreading texture of coconut oil enables it to seep into the hair follicles and dissolve the hardened sebum, bringing it up to the skin surface.
How to use it: For dry to normal skin, mix 2 Tbsp almond flour with enough coconut oil and milk to make a thick paste and apply on the face, gently massaging in a circular motion. You can also use powdered oatmeal in place of almond flour for normal skin, but it can be too drying for dry skin. Dip a towel in very warm water and place it on the face for 10-15 minutes. Wash off first with warm water to clean out all the pores and then with ice cold water to help the pores close. Allow the face to air dry and apply a very thin layer of coconut oil to lock in the moisture.
For oily skin, use a paste of rice flour/oatmeal and coconut oil to exfoliate. You can add a teaspoonful of lemon juice or a few drops of lemon oil to the mixture. Use a warmed wet towel to cover your face for 15-20 minutes or, better still, steam your face for five minutes. This will open up all the skin pores and help get rid of the accumulated dirt debris softened by the oil. Wash it off with mild soap and warm water.
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