A beauty cosmetic composed of a single ingredient, simple, easy to find but powerful, we are talking about coconut oil, extracted from the flesh of the coconut. Nowadays you can find coconut oil, stored in glass jars, in every supermarket, ready to be used. Thus, in just a few steps, you can create your own valid skin care products for the face, such as moisturizers and even make-up removers. But let's try to better understand how we can use coconut oil.
Coconut oil for mature, but also dry and dehydrated skin
Coconut oil is a highly moisturizing product thanks to the triglycerides it contains in a percentage that is close to 95%, it is not irritating or photosensitizing and therefore can be applied both in the evening and in the morning (Varma et al, J Tradit Complement Med, 2019). Research has observed that regular use of coconut oil resulted in a 100% improvement in skin hydration in two weeks and a 150% improvement after four weeks of usage compared to before application, since coconut oil helps tissues retain water (Le Buu Pham et al, Cells, 2022). Not only that, coconut oil is anti-aging, in fact it contains anti-free radical compounds such as ferulic acid, and is also capable of protecting the skin from damage from the sun's rays (Varma et al, J Tradit Complement Med, 2019). Coconut oil makes the skin more elastic and helps to reduce wrinkles and expression lines (Le Buu Pham et al, Cells, 2022). As for the application, after spraying a floral water you can apply a small amount of product on the face, massage until absorbed.
Coconut oil in case of dermatitis, rashes and burns
Coconut oil is emollient, soothing and anti-inflammatory and has been shown to be useful in case of atopic dermatitis. Coconut oil also acts by restoring the correct functioning of the skin barrier, which is altered in case of skin diseases, such as dermatitis but also eczema and psoriasis (Varma et al, J Tradit Complement Med, 2019). In addition to this, coconut oil fortifies the skin, making it more resistant to sun damage and stimulates regeneration processes (Le Buu Pham et al, Cells, 2022). Apply a little product on damp skin and massage until absorbed.
Coconut oil and wounds
After having disinfected the wound or abrasion well, it is possible to apply coconut oil to stimulate and accelerate the healing processes. In fact, coconut oil promotes epithelial regeneration and collagen synthesis (Le Buu Pham et al, Cells, 2022).
Coconut oil as a make-up remover
Coconut oil is an excellent make-up remover, capable of removing even the most resistant mascara (Ng et al, Bioprocess Biosyst Eng, 2021). At the end of the day, when you want to remove make-up and cleanse your face at the same time, simply apply a little pure coconut oil on your face, slowly massage all over your face and eyes, then wipe with a cotton pad to remove the oil, makeup and dirt, rinse your face with water and dry it, your skin will be clean and bright.
Coconut oil, warnings
As for the choice of coconut oil, it is preferable to opt for virgin coconut oil which preserves all its properties. Then, as we have seen, coconut oil is beneficial for different skin types, both mature and irritated or dry. Be careful, however, in the case of oily and acne-prone skin, coconut oil can in fact worsen these conditions with a comedogenic effect. If you have never used coconut oil, the advice is to start by applying the product on small areas of skin in order to observe the possible presence of skin reactions. Finally, coconut oil is solid at room temperature but melts immediately as soon as it comes into contact with the skin.
