Hello
beauties,
I
hope you are fabulous and enjoying the weekend. Today I thought I'd share with
you a beauty ingredient which could just change your life.
Whilst
coconut oil has been used for thousands of years in South America, Africa and
Asia, this miracle oil has only become a Western beauty staple within the past
decade. Reigning over the skincare and health realm, it is becoming
increasingly prevalent as the stellar ingredient of all our favourite moisturisers,
shampoos and conditioners. However pure coconut oil, which you'll find in
pretty much any supermarket or health store, is arguably the most
cost-effective way to reap the myriad of benefits both inside and out. Not only
does it smell delicious with its rich, exotic aroma, coconut oil has obtained
its status as a powerhouse of antioxidants and nourishing Vitamin E.
Suited
to a spectrum of skin and hair types, it has been proven to clear skin of
breakouts, tame the frizz, strengthen nails and even whiten that gorgeous
smile. So without further ado, let's jump straight into it: my top 18 coconut
oil beauty hacks.
1. Natural Deodorant
Simply
apply coconut oil to the areas you sweat most eg under arms. Alternatively, you
can make your own DIY deodorant stick.
What
You Will Need:
- 4 tbsp coconut
oil
- 4 tbsp baking
soda
- 2 tbsp shea
butter
To
Make:
- Melt the coconut
oil and shea butter in a glass bowl over a pan of simmering water.
- Once melted, mix
with the baking soda in a medium sized bowl.
- Allow to cool
completely.
- Put into an old
deodorant container.
- Store in the
fridge when not in use.
2. Eye Makeup Remover
Sometimes,
when you come in from a night out, the last thing you want to be doing is
faffing around in the dark, trying to take off your make-up. If that is you,
then coconut oil is the way to go. It's amazing at removing stubborn,
water-proof make-up as well as cleansing and moisturising your skin at the same
time.
All
you have to do is:
•
Take a little coconut oil using clean fingers.
•
Massage together to liquidize.
•
Rub the melted oil all over the face, focusing in on areas such as the eyes and
lashes.
•
Wet a muslin or cotton pad with warm water, and wipe all over the face. And you’re
done, all ready for bed.
Wearing
mascara every day can really take its toll on your lashes, causing them to dry
out and eventually fall out. Coconut oil moisturises the hair around the lashes
preventing them from falling out, whilst also stimulating growth.
By
routinely applying a little coconut oil in this way, you can say goodbye to
panda eyes and hello to thick, shiny lashes.
3. Send Those Bags
Packing
Good
news, you don't have to fork out for a 40 quid eye cream to erase those dark
circles. Applying coconut oil every night to the under eyes will help rejuvenate
the skin, banishing those circles and brightening dull complexion. Meanwhile,
its anti-inflammatory properties will help to reduce redness and puffiness of
the eyes.
4. Hydrating Deep
Conditioner
For
lustrous locks, try this intensely hydrating deep conditioner. Mix 2 tbsp of
melted coconut oil with 2 tbsp of pure aloe vera gel. When it's ready, apply
the conditioner to your hair, combing through the ends. Put a towel round your
shoulders and let the conditioner soak in for about thirty minutes, then rinse
thoroughly with warm water.
Another
great trick to have a go with is this diy, Kardashian-approved conditioning
spray. Fill a spray bottle with some warm water. Add a tbsp of sea salt, half a
tbsp of melted coconut oil and a few drops of conditioner. Shake the bottle
well, before spritzing your hair, focusing on the ends. Then blow-dry your
hair.
As
well as improving texture and shine, incorporating coconut oil in your haircare
routine will promote growth and the overall health of your hair.
5. Cuticle Cream
Coconut
oil helps soften and moisturise the cuticles whilst strengthening the nails.
6. Exfoliator
Make
this super easy coconut oil scrub for a dewy, glowing complexion. In a bowl,
mix 2 tbsp of coconut oil with 3 tbsp sugar, mashing with a fork to combine.
Apply to a clean face, moving in circular motions. Rinse with warm water and
pat dry with a towel.
7. Moisturizer
Coconut
oil is most widely used as a natural moisturiser. Bearing in mind a little goes
a long way, take a small amount of coconut oil in your hand and dot over the
face. With your fingertips, gently massage into the skin, moving in circular
motions to stimulate circulation.
If
you have oily skin, you might be thinking, really? Adding more oil to your skin
sounds like a recipe for disaster. However contrary to what you would think,
adding oil to your face does not clog the pores. While it varies from person to
person, experts have found that oil cleansing or oil moisturising slows down
the production of sebum, helping to prevent breakouts.
8. Coconut Face Mask
If
your skin's in need of some TLC, resurrect your radiance with this sumptuous
home-made face pack.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 avocado,
mashed
- 1 tbsp coconut
oil
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp oatmeal
Instructions:
- Melt the coconut
oil in the microwave for 15 seconds.
- Pour the honey
into the bowl and stir until the two ingredients are combined.
- Add the mashed
avocado and oatmeal to the bowl.
- Mix until it
forms a thick paste.
- Smooth the face
mask all over a clean face. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with
warm water. Gently pat dry.
As
well as coconut oil, honey and avocado are packed full of nourishing vitamins
and powerful antioxidants, helping to soften the skin. Moreover, the
anti-inflammatory properties of oatmeal help reduce redness and soothe
inflammation.
9. Sun Block
According
to experts, we should be applying sun block or some sort of SPF product to our
face every single day. This is because our skin is exposed to a surplus of
damaging UV rays and free radicals which can put us at risk of skin conditions
such as cancer and speed up the process of premature ageing. Whereas most sun
blocks can be very heavy and greasy on the skin, coconut oil absorbs without
leaving an oily residue. Just applying a little to your face before you go
outside, will help protect your skin from the sun whilst slowing down premature
ageing. With a SPF of 8, it's not by any means a sufficient sun block for a day
at the beach. That being said, particularly at this time of year when the
weather is turning cloudier, coconut oil will be perfect.
10. Natural Lip Balm
Now
that the months are getting colder, it's common to find that your lips get
chapped and dry. As if by magic, a dab of coconut oil heals cracked lips,
giving you a gorgeous pout.
11. Eyebrows on Fleek
If
your brows are a little patchy, then coconut oil is your saving grace. By
stimulating growth, coconut oil helps brows to grow evenly. Before you go to
bed, cleanse your face. Massage the coconut oil into your eyebrows until they
feel soft and moisturised. Within a week or so, you will start to see
miraculous results.
12. Natural Shaving
Cream
Before
shaving, slather on some coconut oil for incredibly smooth legs.
13. Highlighter
After
applying your make-up, take a teeny bit of coconut oil and warm it up on the
back of your hand. Gently pat the oil into your cheeks and the bridge of your
nose, taking care not to rub it. This will give a radiant glow.
14. Flyaway Tamer
To
put the flyaway days behind you, massage a little oil onto your scalp and
throughout the strands.
15. Makeup brush
cleaner
Are
your brushes and sponges looking somewhat worse for wear? I know mine are.
Cleaning your make-up brushes regularly is essential to prevent the spread of
breakouts. All you have to do is microwave a few tbsp of coconut oil for about
30 seconds and dip your brushes into it.
Rub the brushes on a paper towel to remove excess makeup, and then rinse
thoroughly under warm water. If it couldn't get any better, coconut oil has
anti-microbial properties. Therefore it will help keep your brushes squeaky
clean and bacteria-free. If you try this miracle method, your brushes and
sponges will look so glossy and as good as new.
16. Pearly Smiles All
Round
Coconut
oil helps to remove plaque and reduce bacteria in the mouth, in turn whitening
your teeth.
- Here's how to do
it.
- Start by placing
a teaspoon of coconut oil in your mouth.
- Allow to warm
until it liquefies.
- Swish the oil
around your mouth for 5-10 minutes ensuring it covers all the areas of your
teeth and gums.
- Do not swallow.
- Spit out the oil
in the toilet or the bin (don't spit down the sink because it may block
the drain). Rinse out your mouth with warm water and brush as usual with
toothpaste. Repeat a few times a week for best results.
17. Scar treatment
Coconut
oil is a rich source of vitamin E which is renowned for healing and fading
scars, giving you a clearer complexion.
18. Coconut Oil in
the Bath
I
don't know about you but I absolutely love a good soak in the bath, especially
before bed. Why not spice up your bath with these beautiful diy bath melts.
They're super easy to make and they will leave your skin silky smooth.
What
You Will Need:
- 1 Cup Coconut
Oil
- 15 Drops
Essential Oils eg Lavender
- moulds, muffin
trays or ice cube trays
To
Make:
- For a couple of
minutes, heat the coconut oil over a low heat until it is completely
melted.
- Remove from heat
and add essential oils.
- Mix well and
pour the melted coconut oil mixture into your moulds.
- Allow to cool.
Then place in the fridge to set.
- Once set, pop
the melts out of the moulds and keep them in a container.
- Store the
container in a cool place. Alternatively, you can store in the fridge.
- To use, run a
hot bath and drop one of the bath melts into it. Once melted, lie back in
the bubbles and relax.
Coconut
Oil Bath Salts
This
bath salt blend is incredible for relieving muscle pain and stress.
Ingredients:
1
big scoop of coconut oil
2
cups of Epsom salt
A few drops of essential oil (tea tree or lavender
work best)
To Make:
• Melt coconut oil.
• Mix all ingredients together and store in a jar.
• Add a few spoonfuls to a warm bath.
So there you have it: my top 18 uses of coconut oil for
radiant skin, hair, nails and more. Enjoy xx
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