When you walk into a health food store, you may see a container of coconut oil sitting on the shelf and wonder what it is used for; we are here to help you figure that out.
Coconut oil has been extracted from the meat of coconuts for thousands of years but has gained trending popularity as a beauty and skin moisturizer. The combination of saturated fats and vitamins is what makes it an amazing cosmetic product. There are a lot of edible benefits of coconut oil but in this post, we will be talking about external uses only.
Coconut Oil Uses for Hair
Coconut oil is known to work wonders on your hair and has many benefits; one of the most popular uses for coconut oil is as a conditioner to strengthen and revitalize your hair. The vitamins and fatty acids that are naturally found in coconut oil is what can help nourish your hair. Using it as a conditioner locks in the moisture of your hair and will typically add some extra shine. It can also aid in defeating dandruff and help with faster, healthy hair growth. Coconut oil is also known to protect your hair from sun damage as well!
There are many ways to apply coconut oils to your hair. Here are a few popular ways to do so:
- Use it as you would a normal conditioner in the shower. Let it soak in your hair for 5 minutes then rinse with water - Apply it all over your hair (scalp to ends) and wear a shower cap overnight to let the coconut oil really soak in for hours and then wash it out in the morning - Add a tiny bit to the ends of your hair to soothe frizz and add a bit of shine to your hair (but be careful because a little coconut oil goes a long way and you don’t want your hair to get greasy)
Coconut Oil Benefits for Skin
Skin is the human body’s largest organ so taking care of it is just as important as taking care of your inner health and well being. Our skin is so often neglected, which can result in dry skin, break outs, and accelerating the aging process. Diet, exercise, plus a beauty routine that works for you are great ways to keep your skin in beautiful condition.
Coconut Oil Used as a Face Wash
It’s no surprise that everyone wants to take care of their skin, especially their face. It is the one part of your body that people see on a daily basis, no matter what you are doing or where you are going. Coconut oil benefits your skin because of its antibacterial and antifungal properties. By using coconut oil as a face wash, you can actually help in killing germs on your face while quickly washing away dirt and grime as well. It is a great cleanser and can leave your skin bright and moisturized.
Coconut Oil Used to Remove Makeup
In today’s market, women tend to use lot of waterproof or long lasting makeup products to last them through the whole day, and because they are using these products, removing makeup can sometimes be a challenge. Coconut oil is a nice and natural way to remove makeup. You can see the benefits in using just a small amount - about a teaspoon or less mixed with warm water can take off a day’s worth of makeup. This is also useful for those who are prone to dry skin; rinsing off your makeup with coconut oil can add some extra hydration to your skin!
Coconut Oil Used for a Skin Moisturizer
Nearly half of the population suffers from dry or very hard skin. This can be due to the seasonal changes or merely due to genetics. Regardless, having dry or hard skin can be a bit of an annoyance and oftentimes even an embarrassment. The good news is that coconut oil is a natural solution to help remedy these types of situations. Coconut oil is safe to apply almost anywhere on your body.
Hands and feet are very common places to apply coconut oil to. We use our hands for almost everything so it is easy for our hands to become rough, hard and cracked depending on how we use them. If you suffer from perpetual rough hands, try rubbing a small amount of coconut oil on your palms, knuckles and around your hands. By doing this, you will slowly start to see improvements in the way your hands look and feel thanks to coconut oil’s healing and hydrating capabilities!
An additional (and oftentimes overlooked) use for coconut oil is to shave your legs with. Typical shaving cream can get pricey and usually contain harsh chemicals. Coconut oil is a great option to use because it is naturally antibacterial and will help hydrate your legs, too!
Coconut Oil Benefits as a Lip Balm
Many people often suffer from perpetual dry lips, and most of us are susceptible to dry lips during the winter season (which is quickly approaching!) Either way, dry or chapped lips can be quite bothersome and can look unsightly. If you are looking for an all-natural way to condition your lips, try using coconut oil. Only a small application can make a difference! Coconut oil tends to keep your lips moist and heal the cracks and crevices.
Helpful Hint: So you don’t have to carry around a jar or bottle of coconut oil with you, add some of the oil into a spare contact lens holder to carry around with you all day! It’s small enough to fit into your purse and makes it easily accessible.
These are just a few of the most popularly beneficial effects that coconut oil can do for your skin and hair. There are a plethora of other uses that coconut oil can provide for you; however, we just wanted to give you a few examples of what this amazing natural product can do for you. If you are ready to start using coconut oil and reaping all of its natural benefits, take a look at our 100% Coconut Oil.
