Healthy, glowing, vibrant, skin. Does that sound good to you? As a bride-to-be, I’m sure it does – and I’m sure that will sound good to your wedding photographer as well. It’s safe to assume that the days leading up to your amazing fairy tale wedding can be somewhat hectic. Things sometimes get complicated, so make your skincare regimen simple and minimal. Let me introduce you to my friend coconut oil.
Coconut oil is the new “Superfood”. Only it’s not new. Humans have been using coconut oil for thousands of years. So why has it taken so long for us to discover all the benefits? (Because, corn oil. We’ll get to that in Part Two.) The holistic whole foods movement as an approach to healthy living has catapulted coconut oil into the mainstream. It’s natural, inexpensive and effective.
Repeat with me, the trifecta of coconut oil: It’s natural. It’s inexpensive. It’s effective.
It’s natural. It comes from a coconut, not a lab.There is one ingredient in coconut oil: coconut. See how easy that is?
It’s inexpensive. Some things are better when you pay more. Cheese, floral arrangements, wedding dresses, DJs and vodka (to name a few). Moisturizer? Not necessarily. The price of some facial moisturizers are just plain insane. If that floats your boat, go for it, but just because you’re paying more does not mean it is more effective. You really shouldn’t pay anymore than $10 for 15 oz of coconut oil. Paying more will not bring more coconut oil benefits. Save that green for your wedding day bliss.
It’s effective. This is up to you. You’ll learn that from experience.
Here are just a few reasons why coconut oil is my bestie.
Facial moisturizer. Coconut oil improves the moisture and lipid content of the skin. Commercial facial creams contain lots of water, which makes you feel like your skin is being moisturized. As soon as the water dries, you know what happens? Your face dries up again. They also have petroleum-based ingredients that can suffocate the skin. There are dyes, fragrances and a bunch of stuff I can’t pronounce in a pretty container. In contrast, coconut oil provides deep and real moisture with just one ingredient.
Skin cleansing. This is the oil cleansing method, where you actually use oil to cleanse your face. The oil cleansing method relies on the theory that clean oil is the best way to draw out the dirt and “bad oil” that clogs pores. It also does not strip your skin of its natural “good oils”, which would trigger your skin to produce more oil overall, in turn clogging your pores and also creating an excessively oily face. It might seem counter productive to add oil to an already oily face but it has worked for me – and thousands of other for hundreds of years – marvelously.
Antibacterial. Coconut oil is naturally antibacterial and antifungal so it gives it a long shelf life.
Multi-functional. Can be used as a lip balm, massage oil, foot moisturizer and hair conditioner. Channing Tatum spread it all over his pregnant wife’s belly to keep her skin moisturized…and, it was Channing Tatum spreading oil on skin – extra bonus!
Choose coconut oil, which isn’t refined, fragranced or hydrogenated. There is no evidence to show that “extra virgin” is better than “virgin”. It’s usually just different labels for the same product and different prices for the same coconut oil.
It’s hard to separate the silliness from the science when it comes to the benefits. Google “coconut oil” and you get 17 billion hits. Be wary of lists like “217 Uses For Coconut Oil” I saw one that said “…when used consistently on skin it can get rid of cellulite…”, puh-leaze, ladies don’t be fooled, if it sounds too good to be true, it is.
Keep it natural: coconut oil. Keep it simple: one ingredient – coconut oil. Keep it healthy: you guessed it! Coconut oil.
Health is beauty. Healthy from the “Inside-Out”.
Don’t miss Part Two: The Inside!