Coconut Oil Craze
Coconut oil has become quite the trend these days. It’s been added to hundreds of beauty products on the market. You may be thinking, what is coconut oil and why do all these companies want us to use it? Coconut oil is derived from the extracted meat of mature coconuts. It’s an amazing moisturizer and can gets deeper into your skin and hair follicles than most products out there. Before use it must be softened first, as it hardens quite substantially in the fridge, where it needs to be stored. It’s all natural, affordable, and full of nourishing benefits for your beauty regime. Below are just a few of the many beauty uses coconut oil has.
Home Shaving Cream
Once softened, apply to your legs and underarms as if you were applying lotion. Then use your razor as normal. It’s all natural, destroys the growth of microorganisms, naturally anti-fungal and hydrates extremely well. Bonus, it naturally smells great. Imagine the chemicals they put in our normal shaving creams that make them florescent pink and smell like a margarita.
Make up remover
Soften the coconut oil, make sure it’s at room temperature. Swab it across your eye makeup with a cotton swab or makeup pad. It will vanish with ease, even waterproof mascara! Coconut oil is very high in saturated fat and is greasy so make sure you wash your face immediately after. As with applying anything to your skin the first time, always try a small test area first.
Body and lip scrubs
We have talked about homemade scrubs in previous blogs. Coconut oil is the perfect base for making your own scrub. Once you add sugar, salt and essential oils, you have the ultimate all natural scrub. The coconut oil not only blends with the sugars and salts well, but it keeps the skin or lips extremely soft and nourished when you are finished. Some of the scrubs from the store exfoliate well, but then we find ourselves layering on lotion afterwards. This is not necessary when using coconut oil. Save time and money, make your own.
Natural Lotion
It provides great hydration for all of your skin. After it’s softened apply a thin layer to your skin, it’s a great all natural lotion. It can be used on the face, but it’s highly oily, so if you have greasy or sensitive skin avoid the face. You can apply it straight from the jar after it is softened. For more of a whipped lotion, mix the coconut oil with your favorite essential oil in the blender for two minutes.
Coconut Oil Hair Treatment Spray
Skip the expensive bottles of “coconut oil infused” hair shine sprays at the store and make your own. Get a cheap plastic spray bottle. Put one heaping tablespoon of melted coconut oil in the spray bottle then top with warm water (if it’s a large spray bottle only fill half way). Then shake. Spray on hair, paying extra attention to dry areas. If you have very oily hair like myself, only apply to the ends. It works great for hydrating hair, especially this time of year.
It’s fun to make your own beauty products. Plus you get the peace of mind knowing that it’s 100% all natural and not tested on animals. Also the satisfaction that you made it! They also make great gifts. You can buy cute mason jars or small containers from craft stores and fill them with holiday themed colors and scents. Or have a party and let people make their own! Next blog we will discuss working coconut oil into your diet and the health benefits associated with that.