-
What is Coconut Oil?
-
What are the benefits of Coconut Oil?
-
How to use coconut oil for skin?
-
When to not use Coconut Oil?
-
Conclusion
-
FAQ on Coconut oil for skin
For centuries, coconut oil has been considered a be-all and end-all solution for all skin, hair, and face problems. However, the dietary benefits have been time after time put under the limelight for its benefits. But luckily for us, the coconut oil benefits for skin have been proven over time. So today, we will be discussing the coconut oil used for skin and will answer the question once and all: is coconut oil good for your face?
What is Coconut Oil?
As the name suggests, coconut oil is an oil extracted from coconut, the superfruit. People in Asia have been using coconut oil for face, hair, food, and the fruit itself as a household decoration and building item for years because of its various benefits. Some of the coconut oil benefits for skin are because of the key ingredient present in the oil.
Lauric acid found in coconut oil has antimicrobial properties that add to the list of coconut oil uses for skin by helping kill bacteria and reducing inflammation. Moreover, coconut oil contains high levels of linoleic acid, an unsaturated omega-6 fatty acid that is used as a skin soother and emollient.
An interesting thing to note is that there are different types of coconut oil available that are classified according to their production processes. The two main types of coconut oils are virgin coconut oil and refined coconut oil. While virgin coconut oil is produced from fresh coconut and is generally richer in polyphenols and antioxidants, refined coconut oil is made from dried coconut meat.
Refined coconut oil goes through different processing steps such as machine pressing and might be processed using chemical solvents, deodorising and bleaching. Now that we understand what coconut oil is, let’s discuss the different coconut oil benefits for skin.
What are the benefits of Coconut Oil?
Coconut oil is a superfruit with several nutrients and properties, making it an excellent skincare ingredient. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of coconut oil for the face.
Antibacterial
Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, which provides it with antimicrobial properties. These microbial properties of coconut oil help in killing bacteria on the skin and reducing skin inflammation, making it a good antibacterial solution for common and mild skin allergies.
Exfoliation
Coconut oil has a coarse texture that is used for oil cleansing and skin exfoliation to remove the dead skin from your face gently.
Makeup Remover
While removing makeup with oil sounds ineffective, coconut oil is an excellent and effective way to remove makeup after a long day. The oil captures all the dirt buildup and also protects your skin as it is an antibacterial and anti-yeast agent.
Plumps the Skin
Applying coconut oil topically can help make your skin look younger by reducing fine lines. In addition, coconut oil is a wonderful anti-ageing moisturiser as it protects your skin from UV damage which causes free radical activity responsible for premature ageing.
Reducing Fine Lines
One of the benefits of coconut oil for the face is its ability to strengthen the connective tissues in your skin. Coconut oil is easily absorbed into the skin and connective tissues to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Soothes the Skin
Another benefit of coconut oil for the face is its ability to help your skin retain moisture while giving it a healthy and smooth look because of the presence of medium-chain fatty acids that locks moisture.
Eases Inflammation
Another advantage of coconut oil for the face is its ability to suppress inflammatory markers and increase the natural protection of your skin by improving the natural skin barrier functions. In addition, coconut oil helps to soothe inflamed areas on your skin.
Moisture Lock
Extra virgin coconut oil can increase skin surface lipid levels and significantly reduce TEWL (Transepidermal water loss) levels.
Other Benefits of Coconut Oil
Here are some other noteworthy benefits of coconut oil.
- Moisturising dry skin helps relieve skin conditions such as eczema.
- Reducing skin inflammation caused due to UVB rays.
- Promoting quick wound healing and keeping it clean from infection.
- Antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties.
- Strengthening the skin arrears for infants with low birth weight.
- Beneficial effect on genes.
These are some of the benefits of coconut oil. Now let’s talk about how you can use coconut oil for skin.
How to use coconut oil for skin?
As discussed above, coconut oil is an excellent solution for several skin woes and is completely natural, so it doesn’t have any side effects. Using coconut oil for skin will give you radiant, smooth and glowing skin naturally.
One important thing to note while using coconut oil for the face is to only use good quality coconut oil as low-quality coconut oil can be highly processed and can lead to skin breakouts and irritation. You should only use purified, cold-pressed coconut oil in liquid form for the best effect.
As Makeup Remover
To incorporate coconut oil for skincare, the secret lies in the application and quality. However, if you are looking to step up your beauty and skincare routine a notch, you can replace your body lotion and skin moisturiser with coconut oil, as it is a multitasker with various advantages.
- You can also use coconut oil as a makeup remover by simply rubbing the oil in your palms and massaging it onto your skin to get rid of any dirt and makeup residue.
- Rinse your face with warm water to have clear and smooth skin.
As a Moisturiser
One of the most common uses of coconut oil is as a skin moisturiser. The skin absorbs coconut oil readily and acts as an excellent moisturising agent.
- Take a small amount of coconut oil on your palm and massage it gently on your skin.
- You can also apply coconut oil to your hair for smooth and healthy hair.
As a Product
Alternatively, you can also use coconut oil-based natural skincare products that have the goodness of coconut oil along with other active ingredients from brands such as Pure Sense. Pure Sense is a completely natural and , parabens, sulphate, carcinogen, and toxin-free skincare, face care and hair care brand that offers a variety of natural products.
Pure Sense offers Macadamia Moisture Restore Shower Cleansing Oil, which is a unique two-in-one cleansing oil that cleanses your skin gently and restores its natural moisture. The shower cleansing oil is infused with coconut oil to pamper your skin by keeping it hydrated and nourished. Moreover, the cleansing oil is completely sulphate-free, paraben-free, non-carcinogenic and cruelty-free.
As the cleansing oil is enriched with cold-pressed coconut oil, it will help to soften your skin and exfoliate pores to remove dirt and grime while keeping your skin healthy and youthful.
When to not use Coconut Oil?
While coconut oil is generally safe to use and does not cause any side effects, you should avoid the oil if you have especially oily and breakout-prone skin. Coconut oil is safe for use for all skin types. However, if you have extra oily skin where your skin pores get easily clogged, you should avoid using coconut oil as it can cause acne breakouts and even more greasy skin.
You can still apply coconut oil to your body as the face tends to be more oily than other parts. Moreover, if you have a combination skin type where the T-zone and area around is oily and the rest of the face dry, you can selectively apply coconut oil.
Unless you have extremely oily skin prone to acne breakouts, you can use coconut oil without worrying. However, if you do have skin on the congested site, you should use alternative products such as hemp oil or rosehip oil.
Conclusion
Coconut oil has several benefits for your skin and face and has been used widely in India for centuries because of its known advantages. Apart from moisturised and nourished skin, coconut oil also helps in fighting infections, cleansing your skin naturally, protecting from sun damage, reducing premature ageing and more.
However, an important thing to remember while using coconut oil is to only use virgin cold-pressed coconut oil as refined coconut oil can contain impurities and is chemically processed. Alternatively, you can use Macadamia Moisture Restore Shower Cleansing Oil by Pure Sense, which is infused with the goodness of coconut oil.
FAQ on Coconut oil for skin
-
Is coconut oil good for skin?
Yes, coconut oil is excellent for skin and can help solve many skin woes. The known benefits of coconut oil include nourishing and moisturising your skin along with fighting infections, cleansing your skin naturally, protecting from sun damage, reducing premature ageing and more. You can also use coconut oil to cleanse your face of makeup while nourishing it at the same time.
-
How to use coconut oil for skin?
There are several coconut oil uses for that include fighting infections, cleansing your skin naturally, protecting from sun damage, and reducing premature ageing, along with the common use of nourishing and moisturising your skin. Coconut oil also helps in keeping your skin glowing and radiant throughout the day by acting as a natural sunscreen.
-
What are the benefits of Coconut oil for the face?
There are several benefits of coconut oil that include but are not limited to fighting infections, cleansing your skin naturally, protecting from sun damage, and reducing premature ageing, along with the common use of nourishing and moisturising your skin. Moreover, coconut oil is suitable for all skin types. However, if you have extra oily skin and are prone to acne breakouts, you should avoid using coconut oil as it can clog your pores and cause more breakouts.
