Coconut oil is the number one product for hair care but it is also excellent for the beauty of the skin and is also used in the kitchen .
Coconut oil in fact, in addition to protecting hair from dryness and lice, is an emollient and protective vegetable oil for face and body and an edible oil useful to replace butter and margarine ; let's look at all the uses of coconut oil .
Coconut oil uses for the skin
Thanks to its composition, coconut oil turns out to be an excellent natural remedy to soften the skin, fight dry skin and protect the epidermis from the action of free radicals.
To moisturize and soften the skin of the body, for example, just massage about a tablespoon of coconut oil onto damp skin after a shower. You can heat the oil directly in the palm of your hand, or work it first in a small container with a spatula to add a teaspoon of shea butter and two drops of essential tangerine oil.
If you have taken too much sun you can instead add a teaspoon of olive oil and five drops of lavender essential oil to a tablespoon of coconut oil: this will hydrate the skin and have a soothing effect on redness and mild burns .
Coconut oil can also be used as a gentle make-up remover by applying a small amount to damp skin with the help of a cotton pad to remove makeup residues and make the skin softer.
Coconut oil uses for hair
Coconut oil is a very useful remedy for dry, frizzy, dull hair or split ends.
To have softer hair and to fight frizz, work with a spatula a tablespoon of coconut oil with a teaspoon of shea butter. Add five drops of essential oil of ylang ylang and mix well. Apply to damp hair by spreading the product over the lengths and leave on for at least thirty minutes . Finally, wash your hair with shampoo to remove all oil residues.
In the case of dull hair, proceed in the same way adding to the coconut oil a teaspoon of castor oil instead of shea butter.
For an even more effective action, wrap the hair in a towel and leave the wrap on the hair overnight.
Applying a tablespoon of coconut oil on damp hair is also useful to protect the hair from the action of sunlight on the beach; in this case, remember to renew the application approximately every four hours or after the bath.
If you are looking for a natural remedy for lice prepare a mask with a tablespoon of coconut oil, a teaspoon of Neem oil and six drops of lavender essential oil.
Spread the product on damp hair and proceed with shampooing after an hour. For an effective action, repeat the application three times a week for three weeks.
DIY cosmetics for split ends
Properties of coconut oil for beauty
Coconut oil is extracted from the coconut pulp, the fruit of Cocos nucifera . It is a vegetable oil rich in saturated fatty acids, at room temperature it is solid, white and almost odorless.
Like all vegetable oils and butters, even coconut oil has an emollient and moisturizing action : it then softens the skin and causes the skin to keep water inside the cells.
In addition to fatty acids, coconut oil contains Vitamin E and Vitamin A, useful for fighting the action of free radicals and preventing the appearance of wrinkles.
Coconut oil can be used alone or mixed with other vegetable oils or butters and with essential oils ; before it can be used, the coconut oil must be softened with a spatula or heated in a water bath.
Thanks to its characteristics and its consistency, coconut oil is also part of the formulation of solid perfumes, massage candles, scrubs and lip balms; finally, I know it uses to prepare soap .
Finally, coconut oil helps make teeth whiter: rinsing your mouth with coconut oil helps prevent plaque and tooth decay.
Coconut oil can be purchased in herbal medicine and in natural or organic food stores; considering the environmental impact related to the production and transport of coconut oil it is preferable to choose an organic and fair trade product.
Coconut oil in the kitchen
In our kitchens the use of coconut oil is not widespread but in tropical areas it is commonly used for food purposes. The most important feature of coconut oil is the presence of lauric acid, a saturated fatty acid that appears to be able to regulate cholesterol levels, promoting its removal.
Thanks also to the resistance of coconut oil to high temperatures, the healthy kitchen sees coconut oil as a good substitute for butter and margarine, both for cooking in a pan and for preparing baked desserts, such as cakes and biscuits. .
