Coconut Oil - It's many uses...

I am all about discovering new wonder beauty products, and the more natural the better. So, I am thrilled to have found a true multi purpose 100% natural product that can be ingested AND used topically. Yep! You could actually eat this while applying it to your skin/hair - should you get peckish! I present to you.. 100% natural raw virgin coconut oil.

This is essentially pressed coconut meat which is solid-ish in the jar but it melts really quickly when applied to the skin. Years ago coconut oil took a bit of a shunning due to the fat content which has now been proven to be a unique healthy source of fat and not a bad saturated fat as once believed. Coconut oil is a truly wonderful multi purpose natural product which has more than 100 uses!! 

I use this on a daily basis as a make-up remover, moisturiser, hair treatment, added to black coffee and as a cooking oil. The health benefits and uses are so vast, I would be writing for eternity to get them all down.

I will however write about how I have been using coconut oil for the last 2 months.

1. Make-up remover : This is a no brainer. It's an oil. Oils are renowned for removing the most long wearing/hard to remove make-up products. I remove the majority of my make-up with a cleansing water then finish with coconut oil and a cotton pad. You'll be amazed at how clean and smooth your face looks after. Coconut oil is anti-bacterial too so double thumbs up!

2. Facial Moisturiser : This is my favourite use for coconut oil. After I have cleansed and removed all my make-up, I apply this all over my face and rub it in in circular motions for a few minutes. I do this early in the evening so my skin has all evening and night to drink it up. Some people are wary of applying oil to their face as it has been linked to spots and acne. However, as coconut oil is natural, anti-bacterial and non-clogging, even people with oily skin and acne have reported an improvement in their skin with the use of coconut oil. It is worth mentioning that during the first 2-3 weeks of using coconut oil on your face, you may get a few tiny spots. This is known as purging and will disappear once your skin is used to this new product. I have been using it on my face for two months now, and had very mild purging during the first two weeks only. My skin is now without a doubt smoother, cleaner and clearer than it ever has been so persevere with it! Coconut oil has also been known to help with the fading of scars and age spots due to the high level of antioxidants and nourishing properties. I also use it as a lip moisturiser and eye cream. It is worth mentioning that coconut oil contains an SPF of 4 (Not very high!) If you plan on applying coconut oil as a moisturiser, I recommend you use a moisturiser/bb cream/foundation with a higher SPF in over the top.

3. Body Moisturiser : Coconut oil tops any body oil, body butter or moisturiser I have ever tried (and there's a lot of them!) If the dewy effect it gives and scent win you over, the nourishing properties will. Rub this on your body wherever desired and inhale the tropical scent and enjoy the feeling as it melts into your skin, nourishing and moisturising leaving your skin looking smoother almost instantly.

4. After Sun : Coconut oil is well known for making a fantastic after sun treatment. If you have overdone it in the sun or not applied an SPF (tut tut!) You are probably looking more rouge than bronzed so you will definitely want to dip your fingers into a jar of coconut oil and smear it all over your sore bits. This method has been tried and tested by yours truly and the redness went the very next day! This is due to the high level of Medium-chain fatty acids and high levels of antioxidants. Plus the fact is contains no chemicals or fragrance like after sun does, will help massively in decreasing redness and not causing further irritation.

5. Diet : Coconut oil is repeatedly mentioned in posts regarding weight loss. It consists of mostly medium-chain fatty acids that can help with losing excess weight. MCFA are a type of fat that behaves differently from other fats. MCFA fats can be absorbed straight into the cell, where they can be immediately burned up as energy, making them less likely to be stored as fat. 

I add a tablespoon of coconut oil to my black coffee every morning. If you don't drink coffee, you could add it to tea or into a smoothie. I like to start my day taking in plenty of good fats, protein and vitamins after fasting overnight. A good breakfast high in nutrients, staves off hunger and bad eating throughout the rest of the day. Coconut oil is lower in calories and much more nutritious than other oils, so I also use it for stir frying and cooking. A dollop of this wondrous oil also gets added to my hot porridge in the morning and melts in like a dream.

6. Hair Treatment : Perhaps one of the most famous uses for coconut oil is as a hair treatment for dry and parched hair. For this, I apply a generous amount of the oil all through DRY hair and work through thoroughly. I then put my hair up into a secure bun and leave it in overnight. In the morning I wash it off, shampooing twice to ensure I wash it all off and then I condition as normal. My hair looks super shiny after this treatment and I swear my hair is growing faster too. Ooh which brings me onto my next point. This super oil can also help with hair growth and preventing hair loss. Simply massage into your scalp whilst applying it to your hair. I don't recommend using coconut oil on your hair as a serum however as it will leave your hair looking wet and greasy, it works best by being washed out as a pre shampoo treatment ;-)

So, that is what I use this super food for, of course the uses are endless and it is used for many different things depending on who is using it. Now Summer is here it's a perfect time to introduce this into your daily routine. After all, aint no-one got time for red skin, frazzled locks and dehydrated skin!

What to look for : When choosing Coconut oil, you want to make sure you get a 100% natural raw virgin one. This way you will get all the goodness and none of the hydrogenated nasties or added fragrance and chemicals. These are no-no's for your skin!

The one I use is by 'Perfectly Pure' and is from Holland & Barrett. Click here

It costs £15.49 for a 454g jar so you definitely want to pick this up when their penny sale is on or any other promotion. They are currently running a 'Buy one get one half price' sale ;-)

I seriously cannot sing this product's praises enough. It is going to be a staple in my bedroom and in my kitchen for the foreseeable future. I just wish I had discovered it sooner and saved myself a small fortune trying out different face creams, body moisturisers and hair treatments etc! I have found a truly remarkable product here, a gem amongst many much higher priced chemically infused products. Nature is marvellous and I believe all the best things for us on this planet are found on trees, bushes, plants and such like. Sometimes we should strip things right back to basics and remember everything we need is here for us, not made by man in a factory mixed with unnecessary chemicals, a high price tag and a brand name added.

I sure will miss my days of walking around Boots and Superdrug though searching for new skincare, body lotions and hair masks. But, there is still make-up :-)

Have you tried coconut oil?

What are your uses for it?

Leave me a comment if you've tried it or are going to. Thanks for stopping by!