Coconut Oil for Your Skin? Cellulite, Age Spots and More

In the past, coconut oil had a bad reputation. Now, it is known for its extraordinary benefits. Coconut oil has one of the richest sources of saturated fat, with about 90% of its calories in saturated fat. It also has a plentiful amount of uses for your skin, all of which will help to preserve the glow of your natural skin.

Why You Should Use Coconut Oil on Your Skin Instead of Lotion

Those other commercial moisturizers make you feel as though your skin is nourished because of the water, but as soon as that water dries, your skin becomes dry and dehydrated. Many of these moisturizers contain petroleum-based ingredients that will, in the long run, suffocate your skin.

However, coconut oil can provide you with a deeper cleansing for your skin. It will help to strengthen your primary tissues. It can also remove any excess dead cells on the skin’s surface which can make your skin appear rough and scaly.

Coconut oil can solve plenty of skin issues. It can soothe bug bites, help with any rashes, get rid of flaky skin, easily remove any eye makeup, soften wrinkles, protect you from sun damage, and it can keep your tan in place for longer.

Lastly, it can heal skin faster. This is because coconut oil has medium chain fatty acids. It will quickly absorb into the skin where it will then be used for nutrition and energy. This process provides your skin with all the energy that it will need to heal and maintain itself.

Benefits of Coconut Oil

• Coconut oil is natural – there are no chemicals in it.
• Coconut oil has been proven to have antibacterial and antifungal properties.
• It can help with your acne by killing the bacteria causing the blemishes on the skin. Tip: Use in conjunction with apple cider vinegar. Put the apple cider vinegar on your face with a cotton ball and then rinse off after 20 minutes. Apply coconut oil after this. 
• Coconut oil can be applied as a deodorant and can be used to remove any body odor.
• Mixed with a few drops of bergamot essential oil, coconut oil can help to heal chapped lips and cold sores.
• The Vitamin E found in coconut oil is known to help soothe psoriasis and eczema.
• There are three fatty acids found in coconut oil: capric acid, lauric acid, and caprylic acid. All three of these acids can kill candida, which is a common cause of fungal infections in the skin.
• Coconut oil can be used as a cloth diaper cream. It can be used as a barrier to help prevent diaper rash.
• It helps prevent stretch marks when pregnant.
• It can help to improve the itch of chicken pox and poison ivy.
• Coconut oil, when placed on cuticles, can help nails to grow.

Age Spots

Coconut oil helps lighten age spots. Tip: You can also use apple cider vinegar daily (dilute if necessary) on your age spots. Put the apple cider vinegar on your face with a cotton ball and then rinse off after 20 minutes. Apply coconut oil after this. 

Cellulite

When used consistently on skin, it can help get rid of cellulite. Tip: add 10 drops of grapefruit essential oil to 1 tablespoon of coconut oil. Rub this into your thighs and buttocks after having a shower and exfoliating your troubled areas daily.

For Best Results

For your face, apply as you would with any other moisturizer. Only use a small amount and use about twice a week. Wipe off after two minutes. If irritation occurs, stop use. If no irritation occurs, start applying all over body and leave overnight. While it does have a greasy consistency, it is great at absorbing rapidly into your skin.

Has coconut oil worked for you? If so, what are your favorite uses for coconut oil?