We spend a lot of money on fancy creams that promise to give us the skin of a new born baby, but how often do they actually live up to their claims? Once your tub of expensive cream has run out, you’re missing a lot of money from your bank account and yet, your skin shows no sign of improvement. One of the best natural treatments for your skin, also comes with a very low price tag. Coconut oil is nature’s skin elixir that has been used by women in tropical regions for centuries. Their youthful, glowing skin despite the harsh sun they’re exposed to, is testament to just how well this oil works. Here are five ways you can incorporate coconut oil into your regime for flawless skin.
1. As A Skin Moisturizer
Coconut oil is packed with fatty acids and vitamin E, which work wonderfully to combat skin dryness. Always make sure you use organic, cold-pressed, virgin coconut oil to make sure it has all of its nutrients intact. The oil is solid at cooler temperatures, but melts as soon as it comes into contact with body heat. Using too much can make you feel greasy, so a little goes a long way. If you have dry skin, wash your face, dry it gently and apply a little coconut oil while the skin is still damp. If you have oily skin, apply a good amount over your face after washing it, leave it on for about 15 minutes and then rinse off with warm water.
2. To Remove Makeup
You spend about 20 minutes everyday putting on your makeup, but how long do you take to remove all of it? If you simply use a face wash to get rid of makeup, then you aren’t getting rid of it completely. Makeup can sink into your pores, make them appear large, accelerate skin aging and give you severe bouts of acne. To make sure you’ve removed every bit of makeup, use coconut oil as a natural makeup remover. Rub coconut oil over your face (before washing it), in gentle circular motions so your makeup disintegrates. Then wipe off with a paper towel (or a warm, wet towel) and wash with your regular face wash.
3. To Fight Acne
If you have a bad acne problem, it might seem like rubbing oil on your face is the last thing you should be doing. However, coconut oil can actually help fight acne breakouts. The main component of coconut oil is lauric acid, which is a healthy fat. Lauric acid is important because it’s a strong natural antibacterial agent. When it comes into contact with acne-causing bacteria, it kills them before they can worsen your acne. Coconut oil also cures your acne because it can rebalance your sebum production. Too much sebum can give rise to whiteheads, which get infected and become acne pustules. Using coconut oil often can bring your sebum secretion to an optimal level and control your acne.
4. To Delay Aging
You don’t need to splurge on expensive procedures and products to fight skin aging when you have coconut oil. Premature ageing is brought on by two main factors: a dip in collagen production and the effects of harmful free radicals. Collagen is the substance that keeps skin supple and prevents it from sagging. As we grow older, our body produces less collagen and our skin becomes less taut. The triglycerides in coconut oil penetrate deep into the skin and trigger collagen production. The moisture this oil provides also plumps out wrinkles and fine lines, to make you look younger immediately. Applying coconut oil on your skin can even give you a layer of protection against dust and pollution which make you age faster. So add this oil to your regime if you want to beat the clock without emptying your wallet.
5. To Protect You From Sunburn
While it can’t replace your sunscreen, coconut oil does offer some protection against the sun. It’s most effective when it comes to preventing and treating sunburn. Apply some coconut oil under your sunscreen for added protection against the sun’s harmful rays. If you still burn despite your best efforts, moisturize the affected area with coconut oil until it heals. Because of its ability to deeply moisturize your skin, it can help you recover much faster.
