Go coconuts!
I am a fan of all things coconut! I love the distinctive flavor of raw coconut flesh & the nuttiness of dried coconut. I cant get enough of coconut water & coconut cream is my favorite ingredient to make a curry smooth & flavorsome. I also love cooking with coconut oil, which has become so popular as a culinary oil of choice due to its health benefits, light flavor & very high smoke point. But Coconut oil as a beauty product? You bet.
Clean, pure & unscented coconut oil is one of the most versatile beauty products you can buy as well as being one of the cheapest. It contains no additives or contaminants- so apart from being a great low cholesterol cooking oil its also perfect to use on your skin.
There is a long list of ways to use coconut oil, some of which you may have never thought of before….
Its a fabulous bath oil; all you need are a couple of tablespoons & your bath water becomes rich & moisturizing, yet never greasy. Its ideal during the winter months when your skin gets dry or scaly & its a fantastic conditioner for nails & cuticles too.
I love to use it in my hair as an intense moisture treatment & dry scalp cure. You can apply it to wet or dry hair, from the roots through to the ends & leave it in as long as you like. Its particularly effective for days at the beach as it stays put & locks in the moisture until you eventually shampoo it out.
Coconut oil is simply the best body moisturizer. It emulsifies in your hands & absorbs into the skin upon application, leaving a lovely light sheen. Try mixing it with some liquid bronzer for an instant tan, or over the top of an SPF30 sunscreen for a beachy glow.
Its also a great treatment for dry heels, feet & elbows, brittle nails & flaky cuticles. You can use it as lip balm, an eye makeup remover or a shaving lotion. Its a good nappy rash cream & stretch mark preventer, plus of course its the worlds greatest massage oil. (Remember that when the weather gets hot, your coconut oil turns from opaque & solid to a clear liquid, but it works exactly the same way)
I really like the Blue Coconut brand for cooking & skincare- it comes in a 400g plastic pottle & you can get it in all good supermarkets & costs around $10.
Suzy H Skin Nutrition also do a fantastic 100% organic Coconut oil thats excellent value at only $8.95 for a 250ml jar. Suzy loves to give back so all proceed from this oil go directly to Lifeline NZ & Beyond Blue Australia- buy it here.
You can read more about the benefits of coconut oil on the Blue Coconut Website, plus there are loads more ideas on how to use it.
