Coconut Oil For Skin

Coconut oil is well known for it’s benefits as a superfood and in hair products. But did you know it’s also great for your skin? If not, let’s take a look at some of the ways you can use coconut oil for skin care…

Here’s a few of the many benefits coconut oil can offer when it comes to natural skin care:

Exfoliation

You can make your own home-made skin scrub by mixing coconut oil with sugar or salt. You’ll find many simple recipes on the internet with instructions on how to do this.

Protection from the sun

Coconut oil has a natural sun protection factor of 4, and you can add it to sunscreen. This will give your skin extra protection from the sun’s harmful rays. And it will help improve the condition of your skin too.

You can also use it on it’s own for protection from the sun for short periods. Plus you can use it to help soothe and repair sunburned skin.

Hydration

Coconut oil is also a natural emollient that is easily absorbed by your skin. Although it’s solid at room temperature in many parts of the world, it soon melts when applied to your skin.

It then seeps through your pores and acts as a deep and nourishing moisturiser.

As it’s so easy to spread, you don’t need to apply much oil. Place a small amount of the oil in the palm of one hand and rub with the other hand. Then massage it into your face. Use a clean cotton towel to wipe away any residue after about five minutes.

Treating skin conditions

Coconut oil can also be used in the treatment of a wide variety of skin conditions. These include acne, psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis, as well as warts. The oil’s anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties make it very effective in this area.

You can also use coconut oil as a carrier oil when using essential oils to treat these conditions too. You can read more about using essential oils for eczema here, and psoriasis here.

Strengthen skin and reduce signs of ageing

Coconut oil contains medium-chain fatty acids. These are easily absorbed by your skin and work to strengthen the connective tissue.

Coconut oil also has antioxidant properties. These help heal your skin and repair any damage, reducing wrinkles and signs of ageing.

Again, coconut oil makes a great carrier oil when using essential oils for skin care.