If you are tired of using chemical-laden skincare products, coconut oil can be a nice natural alternative. Of course, as with everything in life, this isn’t exactly that simple.
If you want the promised coconut oil skin benefits, you have to be careful about how you use this oil.
First, you need to know if coconut oil is right for you as well as how to use it. Once you’ve covered that, you need to figure out what the best products on the market are.
Well, fortunately, there isn’t any research involved. To get the lowdown on coconut oil for your skin, simply read through this post…
Best Coconut Oil for Face
Best Coconut Oil for Body
Let’s answer the big question first – is coconut oil actually good for your skin? Well, coconut oil isn’t the miracle skincare ingredient that some people make it out to be.
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However, there is no denying that it has its perks. The oil has been known to ease the symptoms of certain skin conditions. These include:
•Acne
•Psoriasis
•Dermatitis
Coconut oil is also good at preventing trans-epidermal water loss. Thus, it can come in handy for people who have dry skin due to moisture escaping through weak skin barriers.
There is also some evidence to show that the coconut oil anti-aging stories may hold a grain of truth. The oil can help to keep skin supple, delaying the onset of wrinkles, sagging skin, and some of the issues related to getting older.
It is clear that coconut oil does have several advantages for your skin. At the same time, you must understand that it isn’t a suitable option for everyone. On this note, here is what you need to know before using this oil:
It is quite unusual to be diagnosed with a coconut allergy, but it isn’t impossible. A contact allergy to coconut oil may manifest in a rash or blisters that will develop shortly after exposing your skin to coconut oil.
This is why you should always run a patch test with the oil before using it on your face or over a larger portion of your body. Taking this precaution will reduce discomfort or any long-lasting damage to the skin.
Have you ever wondered how deep does coconut oil penetrate skin? Well, you aren’t the only one. What many people are only just realizing is that coconut oil is comedogenic.
The oil isn’t readily absorbed into most people’s skin. Instead, it simply sits on the surface and can block your pores. As you can imagine, this isn’t ideal if you already have oily skin.
This oil is also not suitable for anyone that has acne-prone skin. The oil can aggravate your skin condition further by plugging up even more pores.
So, you should only use coconut oil as a moisturizer if you have dry skin that isn’t prone to acne.
Remember how coconut oil prevents transepidermal water loss? Well, this is good news for people who have dry skin all throughout the year.
Understand, people with near-constant dry skin often have poor skin barriers. This means that their body allows water to be lost more easily.
Of course, coconut oil prevents this from occurring.
At the same time, you do have to keep in mind that coconut oil isn’t great at being absorbed into the skin. So, you have to be careful about how you use it to moisturize your skin.
Thus, you should use coconut oil as a final layer to your skincare routine. Use a lightweight moisturizer that is readily absorbed by the skin.
Then, apply a thin coating of coconut oil on top to trap that moisture in and keep your skin smoother and softer for a longer period of time.
At some point, you will need to remove the coconut oil from your skin. If this is something you have tried before, then you know that it isn’t easy.
The issue is that if you are too forceful in removing the oil, you could end up irritating your skin or stripping it of any existing moisture.
Due to this, you must be delicate in how you remove the coconut oil. Use a gentle cleanser that is meant for oily skin. Massage the cleanser into your skin and gently wipe it off as instructed.
Now that you are aware of how to use coconut oil, let’s move onto selecting the right type for your skin.
You do need to be conscious of the type of coconut oil you use on your skin. This is especially true if you have sensitive skin that is easily irritated.
By opting for organic, virgin oil, you can ensure that the resulting product has been minimally processed. You then get a cleaner oil with more anti-oxidants as well.
In particular, you should opt for unrefined coconut oil for face as the skin here is often thinner and more easily aggravated.
Now, when you are shopping around for coconut oil, you may come across a number of different terms. One of these may be cold pressed coconut oil for skin.
This is a form of virgin coconut oil. However, there is no heat involved in the extraction process. Due to this, there are more nutrients available in the resulting oil.
If you want to maximize the moisturizing properties of this oil, find a brand that offers fractionated coconut oil.
This is where some of the fatty acids have been removed from the coconut oil. Thus, the oil can be more readily absorbed into the skin rather than sitting on the surface.
For the longest time, people have been using cooking coconut oil on their skin. So, is this is a practice you should continue or should you find one specifically meant for skin?
Technically, cooking oil should be perfectly safe for your skin, especially if it is organic and virgin.
At the same time, it is often better to opt for a skin-specific oil. For one thing, these tend to be thinner in consistency and won’t clog up your pores quite as much.
For another, these products tend to be tested ahead of time. As such, they are typically free of any ingredients that may cause irritation.
Last but not least, skin-specific coconut oils come in much more easy-to-use containers. These oils tend to be in bottles with spouts or other features that allow you to get the coconut oil out of the vessel without any fuss.
It’s finally time for the main event! These are the coconut milk brands that ticked all the right boxes…
Best Coconut Oil for Face
This is a coconut oil that meets all the criteria for an excellent oil for your face. It is also gentle enough to use on a daily basis.
In fact, this is an oil that can be used in lieu of many traditional moisturizers.
Best Coconut Oil for Body
In case you are looking for a formula to use all over, then Invivo Essential coconut oil will fit the bill perfectly.
In particular, we appreciate that this oil is quite nutrient-dense, ensuring that its beneficial results can be absorbed that much sooner.
Want a coconut oil for your skin that offers maximum nutritional impact? Then, this is certainly it.
Although this coconut oil is nearly identical to the food-grade versions, it acts just like any other lotion, making it easy to apply onto your body.
This Molivera coconut oil is a great choice for anyone looking for quick results. Whether you want healthier or more moisturized skin, this oil should do the trick.
It is also quite versatile and can be used by itself or in combination with other oils. So, it can be used as a carrier oil, massage oil, and more.
Whether you are looking for standalone coconut oil or one that can be used as a carrier, this Pura D’Or oil works well either way.
What’s more, since it is organic, you don’t have to have any qualms about using it on your skin.
There is a great deal to like about this coconut oil. Due to its many positive features, it can actually offer a wider variety of uses.
Thus, it can be used in every step of your skincare routine.
If you have very dry skin or a specific skin condition, this coconut oil just may be able to deal with it.
Thus, it may work well for anyone looking for an oil that does more than just moisturize.
This list should help you to find coconut oil that is perfectly suited to your skincare needs. If you decide to venture out on your own and shop for an oil by yourself, make sure to use our guide to find exactly what you require.
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