The Truth About Coconut Oil for Skin
Coconut oil is essential and something we all need in our daily lives. You may know coconut oil is good for your hair, as it strengthens, moisturizes, and gives it that much-needed glow. Many people also participate in coconut oil consumption to gain its health benefits in a different way.
However, you may not know coconut oil can also be used on your skin! It can be an amazing skin moisturizer that protects your skin and gives it a great glow. But, coconut oil is not for all skin types, and some people may not be able to use it. Later, we will talk about what skin types can use coconut oil, but before then, we need to get deeper into what coconut oil is and the benefits for your skin, and much more!
What is coconut oil?
Coconut oil, also referred to as Cocos Nucifera oil by scientists, is an edible oil found inside a coconut. It can be sourced from the milky and meaty parts of matured coconuts. The meat part from which the coconut oil is gotten is known to have the most nutrients in the entire fruit, so you are assured that both refined coconut oil and unrefined coconut oil has plenty of nutrients for your skin.
The oil is white and thick, melting at around 78°F or 25.6°C. It can be used on your skin for several skin conditions like eczema due to its soothing and healing properties.
Coconut oil goes through processing without any added chemicals, which leaves the end product 100% natural. It is a plant-paced oil with several medium-chain fatty acids such as capric acid, caprylic acid, and lauric acid. It is uniquely high in saturated fats and fatty acids compared to most other plants with oils.
Health benefits of coconut oil
- Coconut oil is an excellent recommendation for healthy and glowing skin. It does a lot of magic to your skin which I’ll share with you immediately.
- It hydrates skin. Topical coconut oil use boosts the hydration level of your skin by moisturizing dry skin, acting as an emollient.
- A tablespoon of coconut oil can improve skin texture, making it look radiant and tender.
- With its improved antioxidant status and increased levels of collagen, it helps accelerate wound healing and helps reduce scarring.
- It protects the skin from certain infections thanks to its saturated fats. The presence of saturated fats in its composition helps protect the skin from infections that causes harm to your skin.
- It contains lauric acid, which helps reduces the presence of bacteria, fungi, and viruses on the skin.
- It contains rich fatty acids. These fatty acids halt the growth of certain microorganisms on the skin.
- Also, its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce skin irritation.
- In 2014, a clinical study showed that pediatric patients suffering from mild to moderate atopic dermatitis were healed with “virgin” coconut oil; it also showed that those patients used it for eight consecutive weeks, and adverse reactions were developed in none of the pediatric patients.
Is coconut oil good for your skin?
Well, this depends on your skin type. Although it is known for its amazing soothing and healing properties, it is also not much of a benefit for people with a specific skin type. Coconut oil can clog your pores due to it being highly comedogenic.
Clogging your pores can cause acne, blackheads, and whiteheads to appear on your skin which isn’t something anyone wants happening. So if you have a type of skin that is very acne prone, then you are advised to stay away from coconut oil, or it may cause your skin to act up; It will not be the best option for your face, but you can use it on the body if you want to.
However, if you have somewhat regular skin that is not acne-prone, coconut oil is good for use for your skin. Even just a tablespoon of coconut oil will bring several health benefits and leave your skin moisturized and healthy.
What is the best skin type to use coconut oil for?
Coconut oil is an oil-based product; hence it is best used on people with dry skin due to their skin lacking oils. The coconut oil will replenish the skin and hydrate it. So it is best for people with dry skin to use it.
As previously mentioned, coconut oil clogs your pores due to its comedogenic nature, so people with oily and acne-prone skin are not advised to use coconut oil, especially not on the face.
Can you use coconut oil daily?
“No” if it’s your first time using it. Skincare experts debunk this strategy due to the oil’s comedogenic nature. In order words, it does not have the ability to penetrate through the skin pores and will eventually suffocate the skin by resting on top of it, clogging the pores. Moreover, it can cause a huge problem for sensitive skin and blemish-prone skin.
In this case, you’ll need to find out the most suitable routine for your skin. Start it slow by applying it once or twice a week. If it soothes your skin type, it wins, and that’s even better! You can add it to your daily skincare routine for more outstanding results.
Side effects of coconut oil on the skin
Coconut oil can serve as a moisturizer, hydrator, ointment, antioxidant, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory. It can also cause damage and worsen the situation when you apply it to the wrong skin type. We are not talking about you having light or dark skin here; it’s about whether you have blemish-prone skin or not or whether you have sensitive skin.
If you have sensitive skin, this is for you. Coconut oil can cause allergies; some allergic reactions include eczema and rashes. Individuals with excessively oily skin should not risk exposing their skin to danger by applying coconut oil to their skin.
The lauric acid in coconut oil usually aids in killing the acne-causing bacteria in the dry skin. However, you can mix your virgin coconut oil with other essential oil and get rid of acne. This works!
The fact that coconut oil is comedogenic in nature and clogs pores hinders the free movement of air through the skin. Therefore, it suffocates the area, and blackheads, whiteheads, acne spots, and irritation can be the outcome of this action. Moreover, it isn’t technically advisable to apply virgin coconut oil on the face.
Best coconut oil products to use for your skin
Now that you know all that you need about coconut oil, you may have questions about where you can get them and which are the best products to use.
If you have dry skin and are looking for coconut oil to help hydrate and replenish your skin or use its anti-inflammatory functions to your advantage while replacing your mint ointments with extra virgin coconut oil for mild wounds, we have put together the best products for you.
Listed below are hand-picked products by dermatologists, including organic coconut oil and other varieties. You may find what you are looking for here, so happy shopping!
SheaMoisture 100% Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
Palmer’s Skin Therapy Face Oil
Herbivore Botanicals Coco Rose Soft Glow Body Oil
MAJESTIC PURE Fractionated Coconut Oil
Conclusion
Knowing what coconut oil is, its source and quality, the exciting benefits, and the recommendation from different Excellent brands, coconut oil will always win your heart over and over again. It is a natural product you’d love to join hands with to transform the health and beauty of your skin to a better condition. It has practically won many hearts with its sweet coconut smell.
Dive into it bit by bit; trying it on a small portion of your skin or eating coconut oil to taste its efficiency is the best idea. If your skin permits, you can introduce it to your favorite skincare products, and you can carry it along in your handbags for the ladies.
In case of burns or bruises, you only need to wash the area with cold water and then use your favorite coconut oil from the above-recommended ones to cover it up and find a cotton fabric to seal for wonderful results. Don’t forget that intake of virgin coconut oil does wonders in your body, too, depending on why you take it.
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