The popularity of coconut oil has truly grown and now, more people are curious about its effects when used as a typical part of a beauty routine. There are already lots of that use coconut as an essential oil and it is too easy to find them whether you choose to purchase from an organic beauty store online or offline.
But the question is, what are the real beauty benefits of coconut oil?
To save you time and effort, Alyaka has put together an extensive, but easy to understand guide that presents the must-know information that will help you understand the beauty benefits of coconut oil for hair, skin, and face.
COCONUT OIL: AN OVERVIEW
In order to understand the beauty uses of coconut oil and how it benefits the hair, skin and face, here’s an overview of this amazing fruit.
This oil is derived from the “Tree of Life”–a popular term that refers to the coconut tree as all of its parts have beneficial uses–both as a source of food and medicine.
WHAT’S IN A COCONUT OIL?
SATURATED FATS AND LAURIC ACID
Basically, coconut oil is composed of saturated fats that are rich in medium chain fatty acids, with lauric acid making up a good percentage of it and providing antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anti-inflammatory components that make it more beneficial for the skin.
LINOLEIC ACID
It also has a minimal amount of linoleic acid, a monounsaturated omega-6 fatty acid with inflammatory properties. It can be converted by the body into gamma-linoleic acid that minimises inflammation and enhances the function of the brain function, boosts metabolism, as well as reproductive and bone health.
VITAMIN E
The benefits of coconut oil for hair, face and skin can also be attributed to its vitamin E content that serves as the skin’s protection from radical damage.
OTHERS…
Other substances in coconut oil include phytonutrients and polyphenols. These components act as antioxidants and come with properties that support and protect the tissues.
Now that you have already learned the components of coconut oil, it’s time to know its types and what’s best to use for beauty and skin care.
TYPES OF COCONUT OIL FOR SKIN CARE
Coconut oil may look simple, but if you think that it doesn’t have any variant you should know that there are 3 different types of coconut oil for skin care, namely: unrefined, refined, and liquid.
To guide you in choosing the one that works best for skin care, here are some information that you need to know.
- Unrefined Coconut Oil – this is extracted from fresh coconut meat either by wet-milling or quick drying to ensure that its natural phytonutrients and polyphenols remain intact. The organic type of unrefined coconut oil is the best choice for skin care because of the natural properties that it is able to preserve.
- Refined Coconut Oil – this type is derived from previously dried coconut meat using chemicals or by means of physical extraction. To produce the oil, it goes through refining process for purification, resulting to the loss of beneficial nutrients from coconut oil. The organic type of refined coconut oil is the most suitable choice for those who can’t stand the scent of the unrefined version, as well as for those who want to spend less for this product.
- Liquid Coconut Oil – this type of coconut oil no longer contains lauric acid, leaving it with only two medium-chain fatty acids that have lower melting points. With the absence of solidifying fatty acids, this is the perfect option for people who are prone to comedogenic acne.
COCONUT OIL VS. MINERAL OIL: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Another important fact to know is the difference between coconut oil and mineral oil.
While coconut oil is extracted from the coconut fruit, mineral oil, on the other hand, is derived from a non-vegetable source and comes with no odour or colour. Generally, this type of oil is sourced from petroleum and was primarily intended to be used as a lubricant for machines. But now, it is used in a range of products including cosmetics, pesticides, wood preservatives and electrical parts.
Knowing that your skin is the largest organ in the body, you should not compromise its health with products that are not designed for the skin and in fact, do more harm than good including damages to connective tissues, collagen breakdown, retarded cell renewal and eventually, premature ageing.
Coconut oil is easily the best choice between the two. Below you’ll find the most important advantages that coconut oil can give.
WHY YOU SHOULD USE COCONUT OIL
Coconut oil is natural and packs a range of benefits. To convince you further, here are the things that you should know about this amazing oil.
- Coconut oil is safe. It can be used for babies and even for persons with skin sensitivity. Also, it is GMO-free and does not require any additive or preservative to be used.
- Coconut oil is hypoallergenic. Contrary to the belief of some people that coconut is a nut, it actually isn’t. In a botanical perspective, it is a drupe and this means that people who are allergic to nuts should be free from worry.
- Coconut oil is effective. It is a versatile product with properties that can benefit the body in various ways. It has medicinal uses and beauty uses, which you will discover in the next section.
Now that you have learned more about this wonder oil and why it should fit into your beauty and skin care regimen, it’s time to know the beauty uses of coconut oil and how it benefits the hair, face and skin. Read the next section to know some interesting information.
30 Amazing Beauty Uses of Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has become a popular ingredient that offers huge benefits, but if you think that it’s only for the kitchen, you’re absolutely wrong!
Packed with therapeutic properties, coconut oil also comes with nourishing and moisturising benefits to support your beauty needs–particularly in hair care and skin care.
Indeed, coconut oil benefits you inside and out. Below, you will learn more about how this versatile oil can change your beauty routine.
USES OF COCONUT OIL FOR HAIR
One of the things that make coconut oil a miracle beauty ingredient is its amazing way to maintain healthy and fabulous-looking tresses. Below you will find some of the best uses of coconut oil for hair.
#1. LEAVE-ON HAIR TREATMENT
The molecular weight and shape of coconut oil enables it to easily penetrate faster and deeper into the hair to prevent protein loss–making it an effective leave-in treatment that can help repair split ends, prevent dry scalp, and restore your hair’s healthy glow.
#2. HAIR GROWER
Want to grow long and thick hair fast? Coconut oil when used for the hair can make that happen. It comes with vitamins and essential fatty acids that help nourish the scalp and eliminate the formation of sebum in hair follicles.
#3. NATURAL HAIR SUNSCREEN
If you will be exposed to harsh elements, you can rely on coconut oil as an excellent all natural sunscreen that should keep your tresses protected.Coconut oil has natural SPF. Apply it in the morning, especially on days when you are expected to be exposed to elements more than usual.
#4. DANDRUFF PREVENTION
The uses of coconut oil for hair extends to dandruff prevention and maintaining a healthy scalp. Coconut oil comes with antimicrobial properties that help prevent itchiness, flakes and dandruff by healing the scalp.
#5. HAIR LOSS TREATMENT
With its capability to mimic Sebum, coconut oil can work like the body’s natural oil to help prevent scalp dryness and coat the hair roots or hair follicle to protect them from damages that lead to hair loss.
#6. HAIR COLOUR BASE
Want to colour your hair and get vibrant results? Coconut oil serves as an excellent and all-natural medium to colour your hair. As mentioned above, it penetrates the hair more deeply and faster as compared to a lot of other natural oils, thus helping you achieve a richer hair colour that doesn’t fade easily.
#7. LICE TREATMENT
People experiencing problems with lice and are in search of treatment can use coconut oil as it proves to be effective in eliminating lice especially when combined with anise spray.
#8. PROTEIN LOSS PREVENTION
With the molecular weight and straight linear chain of coconut oil, it is revealed in a study that it remarkably reduces protein loss for both healthy and damaged hair.
#9. HAIR DETANGLER
Problems with tangled hair? Coconut oil is the solution–and can even prevent problems with hair breakage. It penetrates the hair shaft, thus improving hair break stress. As it surrounds the hair, knots are easily removed after washing
#10. STYLING AGENT
One of the most commonly overlooked uses of coconut oil for hair is as a styling agent. Unlike the typical hairstyling products, it is free from toxic ingredients. Much more, it can tame the hair, prevent frizz, and keep hair in place without resulting in thermal damage or making the hair brittle and susceptible to tangles.
USES OF COCONUT OIL FOR SKIN CARE
When it comes to skincare, there is no such thing as one size fits all. Even when coconut oil works well for all skin types and can easily suit most people, it actually comes with specific uses to ensure that your needs are met–and these are the uses of coconut oil for skin care that you will discover below.
#11. SKIN MOISTURISER
Coconut oil comes with moisturising effects making a suitable treatment for dry and itchy skin, and works even better than other oils. It can improve dryness with its antibacterial and emollient properties. Its saturated fats prevent moisture loss through the pores giving your skin a healthy, smooth and even complexion.
#12. STRETCH MARKS REMEDY
With its ability to enhance collagen cross-linking and restore lipid barrier function, coconut oil is said to have the ability to reduce the appearance of stretch marks. Its beneficial properties of coconut oil, and the empirical data that exists suggests coconut oil can reduce or prevent stretch marks.
#13. SHAVING CREAM SUBSTITUTE
When a shaving cream is not in sight, no worry! Coconut oil can work as great–if not, even better! Coconut oil creates a moisturising layer that protects the skin when applied. And unlike the typical shaving creams or foams it doesn’t cause dryness and won’t leave you with an itchy feel.
#14. WOUND HEALING
Coconut oil’s ability to increase collagen cross-linking and antioxidant enzyme activity is found to be effective in improve wound healing and can help in the treatment of minor cuts and abrasions.
#15. TREATMENT FOR VARIOUS SKIN CONDITIONS
Skin conditions that occur due to dry skin can be relieved with coconut oil. It is an effective substance that can improve eczema, xeroses and other skin infections with the skin hydration and lipid barrier function that it is capable of.
#16. INSECT REPELLANT
Do insects bother you? Add at least 50 drops of your preferred essential oil to 8 ounces of coconut oil to create your own repellant so you can be free from the worries of insect bites–as well as from the harmful chemicals that are usually found in conventional insect repellants.
#17. MASSAGE OIL
Coconut oil has a mild and nice scent that doesn’t dry out easily, making it a great massage oil. With a few drops of your favourite essential oil, it can bring relief for tired and sore muscles and provide relaxation.
#18. SUNBURN TREATMENT
As previously mentioned, coconut oil has a minimal amount of SPF. so when you feel like you had a bit too much of the sun, just slather some coconut oil to help soothe inflamed skin, minimise redness and rehydrate your skin.
#19. ANTIBACTERIAL
Lauric acid, a substance that is also present in breastmilk is also a component of the coconut oil. It acts as an antibacterial agent to give the skin added protection against potential pathogens. Moreover, it can prevent the worsening of acne due to bacterial infections.
#20. SOOTHES DRYNESS
Coconut oil can be used as a body lotion. When you feel that your skin on your elbows, knees and hands is seriously dry, you can find a remedy in coconut oil. Simply rub it in your hands just like the way you use your lotion. Focus on the spots that tend to get drier than the other parts of your body.
USES OF COCONUT OIL FOR FACE
Coconut oil is as natural as it gets and if you’re looking for a beauty product that is safe and effective for your face, you should know the uses of coconut oil for the face.
#21. FACIAL WASH
If you are looking for the perfect facial wash, look no further than those with coconut oil as ingredient. Coconut oil has moisturising and antimicrobial properties to leave your face clean–freeing it from bacteria-causing pimples while leaving it hydrated and vibrant-looking!
#22. ACNE TREATMENT
Do you suffer from acne? Researches suggest that coconut oil can effectively treat some types of acne and can also be used as an alternative remedy that might help improve acne vulgaris for some people. Its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties enable it to inhibit the growth of bacteria and reduce inflammation and swelling.
#23. DEEP CLEANSER & EXFOLIANT
As the face is regularly exposed to dirt, dust, pollution and even makeup, deep facial cleansing is a must to maintain a healthy skin and keep it free from toxins that can seep into the skin and cause clogged pores. Coconut oil when used as a cleanser, gently exfoliates the skin, penetrates pores and dissolves clogs.
#24. MAKEUP REMOVER
Your eyes and the skin around it are very sensitive and you should not just use any makeup remover to avoid irritation. Using coconut oil as a makeup remover will allow you to clean the area around the eyes safely. Furthermore, the coconut oil’s hydrating properties work to reduce the appearance of wrinkles!
#25. DAY AND NIGHT CREAM
It takes a gentle application of coconut oil on your face to keep it hydrated and allow regeneration as you sleep. It can also be used as a day cream and best works with a sunblock to prevent damages caused by sun exposure.
#26. WRINKLE PREVENTION
Coconut oil can penetrate deep into the skin that enables a smooth and wrinkle-free complexion for a more youthful look. Thanks to its triglycerides that attract protein molecules to allow the timely repair of the collagen layer.
#27. ANTI-AGING TREATMENT
There are certain elements like UV rays, pollution, stress and harsh chemicals that cause the skin to age faster than it should. And oftentimes, the most affected area is the skin of the face.Coconut oil when applied to the skin works like a physical barrier that protects it from harsh elements, while at the same time keeping the skin moisturised. And because it has antioxidant, oxidative damage is also reduced to make the skin look smooth, supple and younger-looking.
Here’s a bonus tip: when applied directly to age spots, coconut oil prevents the formation of free-radicals causing it to fade!
#28. LIP BALM
With a single drop of oil, you can get relief from chapped and cracked lips. And because it is shiny, it is an instant lip gloss that makes your lips look more beautiful. You don’t even have to worry about licking it because it is actually edible! Much more, its antifungal properties can be used to treat oral thrush infections.
#29. CHEEK HIGHLIGHTER
Need to perk up your face? Tiredness can reflect on your face but you need not worry especially with a small amount of coconut oil to use as a highlighter! With a few drops of coconut oil on top of makeup, you can leave it to achieve a glowing skin. In fact, natural organic makeup brands use coconut oil as a base ingredient for their products!
#30. EYELASH ENHANCER
Do you want to enhance your eyelashes? Coconut oil is the answer. Simple brush a small amount of the oil on your eyelashes to enhance their growth and colour. With regular application, you can achieve longer and fuller lashes to frame your peepers!
So, are you all set to include coconut oil among your favourite beauty products? If you’re not into using it raw and not comfortable with its scent and texture. We have the answer.
COCONUT OIL ENRICHED BEAUTY PRODUCTS THAT YOU HAVE TO TRY
There is already a wide range of cosmetics and organic beauty products that use coconut oil as a base ingredient–and we’re sharing it with you! Take your pick from these precious finds to get the care you need from head to toe and start reaping the beauty benefits of coconut oil.
RMS Beauty Raw Coconut Cream – Certified organic, raw, unrefined, virgin coconut oil. This is a versatile product that is effective as a makeup remover, cleanser, moisturiser and even as a deodorant! Perfect for all skin types.
Siam Seas Coconut Shampoo – All-natural shampoo that is ideal for treating dry, damaged and dull hair. Cold-pressed coconut oil is used in this shampoo to preserve its nutrients that can deeply penetrate the hair shaft to create beauty–inside out. Brings out the shine and healthy glow of hair and leaves a soft, island-inspired fragrance.
Dr. Jackson’s 04 Organic Coconut Melt – Made with 100% organic coconut oil that works to preserve skin health. It has a replenishing and nourishing creamy serum that is easily absorbed by the skin to heal and rejuvenate damaged cells.
RMS Beauty Ultimate Makeup Remover (Wipes) – Pure and simple. This makeup remover is made from 100% pure certified organic virgin coconut oil to keep facial skin clean, soft and moisturised. Pack it as an everyday essential.
Earth Tu Face Honey + Coconut Mask – Honey + Coconut make the perfect combination to create a face mask that can soothe inflammation, tighten pores, make the skin look plump and give it an instant glow. Works well for all skin types. It is specially formulated with natural beauty ingredients that can moisturise, purify and rejuvenate the skin.
Coconut oil used to be an age-old beauty secret, but now it’s already out for more people to enjoy the benefits of coconut oil. Don’t be left out in discovering the amazing uses of coconut oil for hair, skin and face. Check out our that guarantee to meet even the most demanding beauty requirements.
