Crazy for Coconut (Oil)!

The other day I mentioned to a friend that I use coconut oil on my face as a moisturizer. She looked at me in what I took to be a mix of surprise and slight admiration, “Oooh, that’s a good idea.” 

I can hardly take credit for this idea, it’s quite ubiquitous these days and I learned the trick from a myriad of healthy bloggers and natural lifestyle books. But the concept took a while to sink into my, well, skin!

We are inundated with products to buy that promise to smooth our wrinkles, zap our zits, or even out our skin tone. I shudder when I think about the hundreds of dollars I’ve wasted on these products over the years. It took me awhile to grasp the concept that our skin is an organ, and that it absorbs whatever we choose to slather on it.  That’s why nicotine and birth control patches work. Someone much wiser than me told me, “I don’t put anything on my skin that I wouldn’t put in my mouth.” Since then, I’ve been reading labels of beauty creams obsessively, often donning my reading glasses to make out the fine print to find unpronounceable synthetic chemicals.

I switched to coconut oil awhile ago, and my skin is doing great. Organic, cold pressed is the way to go. It’s perfect for the dry cold days of winter. It’s a solid in cooler weather, so I just scoop a small palmful out after my shower, rub my hands together, and slather away. It can sit a bit heavy on the face, so after I dress I blot off the excess.

For a lighter oil, jojoba is my preference. Organic, of course, no need to add pesticides to your beauty routine. Jojoba stays liquid, and is much lighter on the face. I’ll squeeze a bit of oil into my palm, add a few drops of lavender essential oil (lavender has anti-microbial and anti-oxidant properties) and one drop of frankincense essential oil (helps reduce age spots and sunspots). I love it, feels like a natural form of nourishment that sustains me.

I have noticed that I gets lots of compliments on my skin, which I attribute to genes (thanks, mom!), sun protection via lots of hats, and my use of both coconut and essential oils.

If you want more information, check out Kris Carr-she’s done tons of research and is my go-to resource, here’s a link to her site.