Have you noticed many brands are incorporating coconut oil in their products?
Although coconut oil is readily available in Sri Lanka, we don’t seem to pay much attention to its uses and benefits besides using it in our day to day cooking.
Well, some of us do use hair and skin care products that contain coconut oil and that is great! There are some really good products out there in the market but today we will discuss how we could include refined coconut oil in its raw and organic form in our beauty routine.
Let’s start with:
HAIRCARE
If you have tangled locks that needs some moisturizing to aid in the detangling process, before you hit the shower:
Simply apply coconut oil to your scalp and work it through to the strands with your fingers. With the use of a wide toothed comb, put your hair in a bun or a ponytail. Rinse off after 30minutes.
- Overnight hair mask
If you have fairly dry hair or even flaky dandruff:
Take a dollop of coconut oil and apply it on your scalp. Massage for about 5-10 minutes with your fingertips. Comb and leave it overnight in a bun – covered with a towel or shower cap.
Using your favorite shampoo and conditioner, gently cleanse and let it airdry.
- Tame the frizzy flyaway
Frizzy hair can be a nightmare. Think of all those days you woke up late and had to rush to work without absolutely no time for ironing your frizzy mane. If you have a small jar of coconut oil stored in the fridge:
it can come handy on days like this. Just take a small amount and rub between your palms and slowly push away those pesky flyaway.
- Control dandruff
Dry scalp can cause irritations and flakes. There are many products in the market that help minimize this problem. If you like to try a natural remedy alongside, every now and then:
Take 2 tablespoons of oil and hold it above the flame at low heat just for a few seconds. Then slowly massage that into your scalp.
Simple as that. The mechanism here is that the warm oil will open up the hair cuticles allowing the oil to penetrate and nourish your hair strands from the root. The antifungal and anti-bacterial properties of coconut oil also plays a major role in this process. Let it sit on your scalp for about half an hour and rinse it off.
Once you’ve used coconut oil to add luster and moisture to your hair let’s see how you can use it in:
SKINCARE
- Natural make up remover
You can use coconut oil just as how you would use any make up remover. Take a small quantity into a cotton pad and gently wipe the make up off. You would be surprise to see:
how it even takes away the waterproof mascara without causing any irritation to your eyes or skin.
- Double cleansing process
If you don’t have very oily skin, use some coconut oil to give your face a brief massage:
Stroke in circular motion your face and neck for about 10 minutes and rise with a facial foam or cleanser that suit your skin type.
- Lip scrub
Once in awhile our lips need some scrubbing too!
Sometimes we wonder if it would be wise to use a face scrub on our lips - so we shrug and forget about it. Unfortunately, chapped and flaky lips can be quite unattractive. Here is an easy fix:
Coconut oil combined with fruit/vegetable pulp + a few sugar granules make the perfect lip scrub.
If you’re someone who drinks fresh juice at home, take the remaining pulp and add a few drops of coconut oil and half a teaspoon of sugar. Rub it on your lips using your fingers or a toothbrush and gently wipe with a damp cloth.
The residual coconut oil will hydrate your lips, leaving them smooth and shiny.
- Natural enhancer for your lips and lashes
There are days we just don’t feel like dressing up but we don’t want to look like we just jumped off the bed. Then there are days we want to go make up free:
Like one a dress down Friday.
Create a quick lip stain by mixing a small amount of lipstick with some coconut oil and dab on your lip for a naturally rosy lippy look. Use an old mascara applicator and apply some coconut oil to your lashes. Then use the lash curler and enhance them.
Now your natural look is complete!
- Body Scrub
If you want to keep one day of the week for an all-natural pampering session at home – here is a secret recipe:
DIY body scrub
½ cup of coconut oil
1 cup of brown sugar or sea salt
Few drops of essential oils
Hint: This could be the base of any DIY scrub. Be it lemon, coffee, tea, oatmeal or even banana. Just mix away!
- Shaving balm
There are so many brands of shaving cream for men. But for us women who like to go for the razor in between our waxing appointments there aren’t that many go-to products.
So, try this:
Apply coconut butter on your skin before you run that razor and it will glide through easily without causing any cuts or bruises. Besides the fact that your skin will look hydrated and smooth, the microbial properties of the coconut butter is also a reason why it’s suitable as a shaving balm.
- Natural Moisturizer
Sri Lankan climate can be warm all year round and if there is one thing we hate:
It’s heavy moisturizing creams that leave us feeling yikes! though out the day.
Although we pay attention to our face and apply our creams right, when it comes to our body - sometimes we tend to let go. Don’t we?
If you don’t like the idea of applying body moisturizers/creams every day, consider using some coconut oil after you step out of the shower on a weekend. It is neither too heavy nor greasy and will leave your skin supple. On the other hand, it will also smell divine.
What is your take on incorporating coconut oil in your beauty regime? If you’re someone who has been using natural coconut oil for a while and have your own tips, we’d love to know!