Among the different natural remedies for your skin, coconut oil is one of the most popular. This is because it is all-natural, easy to use, inexpensive, and has loads of skin benefits. It’s made up of mainly saturated fatty acids, which means it is a highly stable oil that does not go rancid very quickly or easily. Coconut oil is extremely softening, moisturizing, and hydrating. It helps to replenish and soften dry, damaged, inflamed, and irritated skin. It has been found to have antimicrobial activity and helps the wound healing process with decreasing time for the skin cells to form.
You can find coconut oil in two different forms, but know they are the same. There is “cold pressed coconut oil” and there is “fractionated coconut oil”. Cold pressed oil is in a solid form, and instantly melts on your skin. I love this oil; we use this in our handmade bar soaps for its cleansing qualities.
Fractionated coconut oil is in a liquid form. It is simply a fraction of the raw extra virgin coconut oil which has been refined to create a liquid consistency. Although the refining process does mean that nutrients may have been lost or removed, it still retains very good skincare and skin-healing properties. The liquid version is more versatile as well. We use this in our body oils. Because it’s very light, and it absorbs easily.
Now that we know a little background, let’s look at how you can use coconut oil for your skin.
To Soften Your Skin
When you want soft, supple skin without making it feel heavy throughout the day, coconut oil is a great option. It is light and refreshing, helping to soften your skin while remaining lightweight. You can use just a very small amount and it will make a world of a difference for your skin. Be mindful of the absorption rate of this oil. The solid form of the oil absorbs really slow so unless you want to leave oil marks on everything you touch during the day, I suggest you use the liquid form of the oil during the day. That’s why we include it in our herbal healing oil. These oils contain fractionated coconut oil that has been infused with organic chamomile flowers. Making it a fascinating skin moisturizer.
If you want to take full advantage of your evenings, use the solid form or cold pressed option. Its best to apply the oil to damp skin before bed so that you give your skin time to absorb the goodness it has to offer. If you have more focused areas of concern, like your heels or cuticles, make it apart of your nightly routine.
You Can Cleanse Your Face
Believe it or not, you can use coconut oil as a deep cleanser. This should not be used as a daily cleanser, but instead when you need a really good deep cleaning. If you want to give yourself a facial at home, it always starts with cleaning your face really well, getting rid of the dirt and oils, and cleaning out your pores. This is what coconut oil is best for in terms of cleansing the face. Mix it with a little sugar or grits to make your own scrub to really get rid of those dead skin cells. Just a few words of caution: when using a scrub on your face, remember that what you use to make it scrubby, i.e., sugar, grits, etc., is scrubby enough. Use facial scrubs gently, no need to apply pressure.
Remove Your Makeup
If you are looking for a healthy and natural way to remove your makeup, look no further. Coconut works great at removing makeup from your face, plus it is gentle and won’t leave behind redness or irritation like some other makeup removing products. Make sure you are using organic, virgin, unrefined coconut oil. This is the natural form of coconut oil that has not been extracted with chemicals that could irritate your skin. Just apply a little to a cotton ball put it directly on your skin with clean fingers. Rinse away the excess.
If skin is normal, dry, sensitive, or mature, don’t worry about leaving it on your face because it is a great moisturizer. However, if you have acne prone skin, you should follow by cleaning your skin with a natural cleanser, such as our Cleansing Grains, or even our Neem & Tea Tree Soap.
Treat Skin Disorders
If you have a chronic skin disorder like psoriasis, eczema, or rosacea, coconut oil can help treat it and reduce the inflammation and pain associated with it. Please be sure to consult with your doctor before adding this to your treatment plan. And as mentioned, ensure you are using organic, virgin, unrefined coconut oil. Apply it to your skin while still damp at least 3 times a week or more if needed. It can be applied between outbreaks or during an active outbreak. For maximum absorption, apply before bed so that your skin can absorb it overnight. Using the oil will help keep you moisturize to prevent or reduce the occurrence of inflammation.