Wednesday 25 January 2012

Coconut Oil - A Beauty Must Have!



You know what, every now and then I like to try a bit of homespun beauty. I don't go crazy, like mixing my own shampoo in a vat over the bath or anything but I have been known to plaster porridge on my face (oats make a great exfoliator and are very soothing for dry skin).

This latest kitchen cupboard discovery is the endlessly useful coconut oil. I'm not talking cocoa butter or shea butter. This is more like the insides of a Bounty. Without the sugar. And organic. And virgin. *Blush*

It's a great ingredient and has been included in hundreds of skincare formulas I've come across before. It's also the 'healthiest fat in the world' (cue fanfare of silver hornets and trombones) with an amazing array of health promoting properties. Google it if you're interested but as a quick overview it acts differently to other saturated fats - this one is a medium chain triglyceride which means your body metabolises it right away and doesn't store it like it does other fats. It can reduce bad cholesterol, it's great for keeping your heart healthy, it's anti-microbial, ant-viral, anti-inflammatory and it has a whole host of anti-oxident action too. Seriously it's overwhelming stuff. I'm breathless just thinking about it!

But aside from eating it (I have yet to try it on my toast but I hear it's a great cooking oil too as it's stable at high temperatures) the reason I'm loving it so much is how good it is for the skin. I feel a little silly after declaring it can have boundless good effects on your health and then following it up with, "I use it to take my eye make up off!" but it's true. I do. And there's nothing better if I may be so bold.

Quick moan: I hate taking off my eye make up. Firstly, because it generally means the removal of my entire eye - without make up I look like a little blind mole that's been dug up from the soil and dangled in bright sunlight; pallid, squinty, shy. And secondly, it's just messy, my eyes sting, go red, get sore. Its just a faff isn't it?

So using something that is quick, uber-gentle and actually good for my skin instead of leaving me with nightmares of propylene glycol molecules dancing around my bloodstream in some kind of Wizard of Oz mash-up, well, it's just perfect really. I dampen cotton wool with warm water, squidge a bit onto the pad, it quickly turns into a liquid from the heat of the pad, I apply to my eye, hold a few seconds, circle my eye a couple times and then wipe away. DONE.

After using it to remove eye make up so successfully, well, one thing led to another and what can I say,  I began using it as a full face cleanser! Bam! Right now, I have to say, it's even made me put my Clarisonic down and reach for the hot cloth method once more. Yikes. It makes my skin look so clean, so much more even and I love that! (There will be updates on my progress with Mr. Clarisonic soon)

So then I went the whole hog and began using it as a body oil, it's LUSH! I was getting a pesky little eczemary patch on my arm, Lo! And Behold! it cleared that up in a matter of days, nay, hours. It instantly relieves dry skin and it works to generally improve skin tone and elasticity. It's blooming marvellous. I don't usually go in for a body lotion or such like, mostly because it's a bit of a bore applying it but I'm loving this and it smells all tropical and exciting.

I won't go on any more. You get the picture. Buy a jar of it from your health food shop for about £4 and quench that winter skin! 




12 comments:

  1. You make this sound wonderful. Coconut & Cinnamon are my two favourite smells in the whole wide world so I am thinking why have I never tried this before? :)

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    1. Ooh love cinnamon! Give it a go - it's amazing on eczema too! Thanks for commenting! :D

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  2. Hi, I have just found your blogg and I really like the way you write about different products. I use coconut oil a lot. Washing by face, body lotion and for dry scalp. It is much easier to wash it out then olive oil. In the summer coconut oil is a great after-sun lotion.

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  3. Great you have found my blog! Hope you enjoy reading more! Thanks for commenting. It's great to hear from readers!

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  4. I see coconut oil all the time in our local health food store.I have never been a fan of the taste of coconut, but slathering on the skin seems like it could be a better alternative for me. Thanks for mentioning it I think it's time for me to try it!

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    1. Give it a go! I still haven't cooked with it! I don't really like coconut either but I'm coming round to the idea! Thanks for your comment!

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  5. Sarah, you had me at coconut oil. I just found your blog while looking for Neal's Yard reviews, and when I clicked on your homepage, I thought, "Ahh, coconut oil! My new obsession! Great minds think alike!" I use coconut oil as a moisturizer, too, and I also lob it on my hair, let it set for a couple of hours, and shampoo it out. Hello, heavenly soft tresses. This stuff is so, so amazing and I love the smell.

    My other favorite thing to do with it - chop a banana, put it in a bowl, drizzle a bit of honey over it. Put two heaping spoonfuls of coconut oil, and sprinkle raw organic cacao powder over it. It makes the most amazing dessert.

    I'm so excited to read your blogs and check out which makeup you suggest. I've been looking for a good mineral powder that I can get in the UK and I think I've found it - Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation! From your blog, of course. Thank you!

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    1. Welcome to BEskincareful Nicole. Lovely to hear how you found me! I hope you enjoy reading more! That banana dessert sounds lush will have to try that. I love cacao nibs! Might try it with those!

      Great to hear you're trying the Lily lolo. So many great responses from that post. I do love it! It's all about the patience to apply it but it keeps skin so much fresher and unclogged compared to regular foundations. I can't bear the thought of putting even Chanel back on my face now!

      Thanks for commenting!

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  6. I've been using this for over a year for hair and scalp treatments, eye makeup remover, and body moisturiser... lOVE it! Haven't tried using it as a face cleanser (well, once) and I just felt that it wasn't cleaning my face... maybe I'll give it another go. xx

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  7. I think when you use an oil cleanser it is a different feeling to get used to! I always like to run a cotton pad with toner over my skin to see if it comes away clean when I'm trying a new cleanser and it passed the test! Depends on make up you're wearing too though probably! Removing mineral is pretty easy!

    Thanks for commenting! I have to try the hair treatment thing still!
    And I promise the daily routine post is coming soon!

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  8. great post! I love coconut oil... best moisterizer ever...Just found your blog, and I really love it...I am your newest follower!
    xxx Marina

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    1. Hi Marina, great to hear how you have found my blog. Thanks so much for commenting - I love to her from followers! And for the record- I totally agree with you on Uggs - Ughs I say!
      Sarah x

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