About Unhealthy Cosmetics
Before we consider why you would want to use coconut oil for skin, let’s talk about what you would not want to use. In recent years pharmaceutical companies have gained such power over politics that they have managed to rig the market in their favor. Without government approval it’s not possible to make medical claims about a product, and this means natural products are at a marketing disadvantage.
Why does this matter? Many chemicals which are in standard cosmetics are considered a health risk, but they are considered “safe enough” to use. But what happens when you combine many of these suspect substances into a chemical soup? Take a look at the label on the right. How often do you read the label?
Not many people are aware that whatever soaks into the skin is absorbed into the body. This means anything toxic will enter the lymphatic system and cause neurological damage.
The answer of course is to use a skin cream that is made from food. If you can eat it, it hardly matters if it’s absorbed into the lymphatic system via the skin.
What is Coconut Oil?
Once the shell of the coconut has been removed what is left is the young, fresh coconut. This is cut into flakes, dried out and put through a press to expel the oil. A high quality manufacturer will do this at room temperature to avoid damaging the oil. A summary of coconut oil production can be seen here.
What Makes it so Good for the Skin
Coconut oil has some unique properties making it suitable for use on the skin. Here are a few:
- An excellent moisturizer
- Contains anti bacterial agents
- Contains anti fungal agents
- A natural treatment for acne
- Prevents flaking and dryness
- A powerful antioxidant
- An excellent massage oil
- A natural deodorant
Let’s go through these one by one to add a little more detail.
As a Moisturizer
Coconut oil contains mostly saturated fat making it an excellent way of preventing moisture leaving the skin. Unlike polyunsaturated fats, saturated fat does not become rancid nor hard with time, making it the ideal moisturizing oil. Have you ever noticed how polyunsaturated oils tend to cause hardened drops around the lip of a bottle as the bottle gets old? It’s exactly these properties that make them sticky in the blood, and dangerous for the circulation.
Antibacterial and Antifungal
Coconut oil contains Lauric Acid which is also found in animal breast milk. Lauric Acid has been shown to have antimicrobial properties [1] [2] [3] [4]. If you have allergies coconut oil may keep the microbes at bay which cause irritation and inflamed skin.
Dryness and Flaking
The moisturizing properties of coconut oil combines with its antimicrobial properties make it an excellent way to combat dry, flaking skin. Nobody knows for sure what causes dermatitis and psoriasis but whether it’s a microorganism or a lack of moisture, coconut oil has all the bases covered.
As an Acne Treatment
Coconut oil has the potential to keep acne at bay. Acne is believed to be caused by the Propionibacterium acnes bacterium, and coconut oil’s anti bacterial action eliminate then and prevent acne.[5]
As an Antioxidant
Coconut oil has powerful antioxidant capabilities [6] which reduces stress on the body, particularly the skin, which causes wrinkles. It’s believed regular coconut oil for both internal and topical use can reduce the effects of oxidation, and hence aging.
Massage Oil
Who doesn’t enjoy a great massage? We just threw this one in for fun. Such a skin healthy oil is an obvious choice for a massage lubricant.
A Deodorant
Because body odor is caused by the action of bacteria on the skin, it’s hardly surprising an anti-microbial such as coconut oil limits body odor. Apply twice per day to sweaty areas to enjoy its benefits.
Choosing Your Coconut Oil
As we outlined above, it’s very important to choose carefully what you put on your skin. After reading this if you’ve decided coconut oil is for you, there are a few more things to consider. Firstly, for optimal results you will want to use a virgin coconut oil, meaning it was cold pressed from the coconut flakes. All the studies we mentioned used pure, unrefined coconut oil and you will want to be sure to be using the same product. Additionally, refined coconut oil melts at a higher temperature than the pristine product making it unsuitable for skin use.
Finally, since you have gone the distance to choose the best possible moisturizer for your skin, it would be a shame to buy a spoiled product. Many coconut oils are delivered in a plastic tub. There is much research indicating that estrogen mimics leech into the oil from the plastic. We have elected to sell Organic Nutria coconut oil here because it meets our main criteria: It’s organic virgin, it melts at skin temperature, and it comes in a class jar.
