Coconut oil - beauty master?
Yes and no.
Now, I have read hundreds of reviews on coconut oil, dozens of articles on its benefits, and I have used it personally for every use mentioned, and here is my two cents on the subject.
First of all, in my experience, you don't need the "special" coconut oil that is everything from cold- pressed, to super xtra- virgin, to organic, to only purchased at health food stores, etc. etc. etc. I have bought a ten dollar platic tub of coconut oil in Wal- Marts vitamin section ( which I can't seem to find anymore) and a ten dollar glass jar at my local grocery store's so called "organic" section (which is the only place that I can seem to find it) and they both have performed just as well. I will not pay more than ten dollars for a jar of coconut oil as there is truly no reason to (unless maybe its a gallon jug)
Coconut oil does have some pretty outstanding uses. It is very healthy to cook with and has all kinds of health benefits when taken internally but, we are talking beauty. It excells there also.
Coconut oil can be used as:
a makeup remover- melt a bit between hands, work into skin, wash off with regular cleanser
a facial cleanser- use a large amount, work into skin, tissue off or remove with hot wash cloth
a facial moisturizer- use a pea sized amount, smooth all over face after cleansing
an eye cream- very small amount, smooth under eyes and on eyelids, after cleansing
an eye lash treatment (have heard claims it helps lashes grow , haven't validated that though but probably couldn't hurt) apply a teeny-tiny amount to bases of top lashes
a pre- shampoo treatment - warm in hands, slather on dry hair from mid shaft to ends, and leave it in 20 min. before shampooing
a hot-oil treatment- melt in microwave, apply to hair while warm (not scorching hot ), again mid shaft to ends unless your scalp is dry also, leave on 5-10 min., shampoo out.
a hair conditioner- use in place of your regular conditioner (honestly, while some swear to this I say don't even bother- regular conditioner works better and is easier to rinse)
an overnight hair treatment- melt generous amount in hands, slather on dry hair before bed, work through mid shaft to ends again, unless scalp is dry, shampoo out in am.
a leave- in hair treament- use a pea sized amount, melted between palms, worked through wet hair, mid shaft to ends.
a hair styler- as in frizz treatment and split end mender- less than pea size amount, warmed on finger tips, applied to dry ends.
full body moisturizer- super good for dry legs- apply generously on dry skin, will take a few minutes to sink in and can feel greasy, I find its best used at night when wearing old pj's because it can transfer. Also is lovely on legs in the summer time when wearing sun dresses and shorts- gives a nice sheen.
Impressive right?, Now, lets get down to the nitty gritty. Coconut oil is much like any other natural plant oil. It is considered a "natural moisturizing factor". Guess what, so is olive oil , sunflower oil , corn oil , safflower oil, vegetable oil , almond oil, grapeseed oil , apricot kernal oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, palm kernal oil, soybean oil and every other plant based oil found on your plain old local grocery store shelves for pennies per ounce.
I am not saying coconut oil is not woth much of the hype. Some reports claim coconut oil is the only oil that can penetrate the hair shaft and prevent protein loss. I am inclined to agree. In my experiences coconut oil is the best for hair and if I wasn't as frugal as I am coconut oil would be my go to for that purpose, with the cavet that it does pull the color from my hair ( but so does olive oil, go figure.)
Coconut oil is a white semi- solid (no matter what brand you buy or how much it costs) that seems to melt effortlessly into a thin liquid that "spreads" beautifully when any kind of heat is applied, it feels much lighter than many of the oils I have tried (especially when to compared to olive oil )and it rinses out of hair easier than most. Depending on what brand you buy coconut oil barely has a scent, and if it does its a sweet, pleasing coconutty smell (some other oils really do have an "oily", un-pleasant or "foody" smell)
Coconut oil is much more luxurious feeling than many of the cheaper palnt oils but, in my opinion, they all perform pretty much the same. However, I too would rather cover myself with coconut oil than corn oil.
All in all, if you curious about oil as a beauty product, want to simplify your life, replace a bunch of different products , or just go more "natural" and if you have the funds, pick up a jar of coconut oil to try out. Coconut oil will not hurt you (unless maybe you have a coconut alllegy). If your on a much more limited budget try a $4.00 bottle of safflower or olive oil, in the end it will still do the same thing, be it less elegant.