Coconut Oil as a Moisturizer

Years ago when I first got into natural health, I went out and replaced everything in my medicine cabinet with it's health food store version.

And I mean everything.

Toothpaste. Facial Cleanser. Facial Moisturizer. Lotion. Shampoo and Conditioner. Deodorant. You get the idea.

And if you’ve ever been in a health food store and seen the prices you KNOW that wasn’t a cheap shopping trip. With time (lots and LOTS of time) I learned that there are cheaper and even safer things that can be used as replacements. For instance, coconut oil makes a great moisturizer! When I heard about that I couldn’t wait to give it a try, and luckily I already had some in my pantry that I had been cooking with. So I ditched the health food store bought facial moisturizer and have been happily moisturizing my face for cheap ever since!

Coconut Oil as a Moisturizer

Remember, everything you put on your skin will be absorbed into your body and into your bloodstream. All those ingredients you can’t pronounce on your store bought moisturizer… Do you really want those inside of your body when you could use something completely natural that works just as well? (This is one of the main reason I started making my own deodorant) Coconut oil is not only moisturizing, it also “contains antioxidant Vitamin E, known to protect skin cells from damage over time.”* 

Coconut Oil as a Moisturizer

Here’s how I use it. I keep a small container of it in my bathroom cabinet and after showering I pour a tiny amount into my hands and just rub it onto my face and then into my hands. If my arms or legs are feeling dry (rare in my humid climate) I will apply some to those areas as well. After a few minutes the coconut oil completely absorbs into my skin and the greasy feeling is gone! You’ll also find me using it in the kitchen too, where I seem to always be washing my hands.

Coconut oil is temperature sensitive, so those of you in cooler climates will find your coconut oil will harden as the temperature drops, so you might want to keep it in a container with a wider opening so you can easily just scoop out a finger full as needed. Of course coconut oil isn’t the only alternative for all natural moisturizer. I have also used olive oil, jojoba oil and shea butter.  

9/19/2014 Update

Coconut Oil as a Moisturizer

Here is how I store my coconut oil. I buy my coconut oil a gallon at a time because I use it so much!  I keep a bigger container in my pantry that I use for baking.  I keep the easy pour container near the stove for easy access when I am cooking and to use I wash my hands.  I keep a small container in the bathroom (this one is plastic because my young kids also use it and glass + oil hands = slippery).  I keep a re-purposed extract bottle in the car (it’s always warm in a car in the Keys) just in case.  It actually helped with a jelly fish sting one time!

Have you tried coconut oil as a moisturizer? 

Did you notice any difference in your skin? 

Have you tried any other moisturizers from nature? 

My current favorite is a mix of shea butter, coconut oil and jojoba oil.  You can mix it up yourself, or you can buy it all ready to go in our store!  It's even available in a compostable refill, so if you have a container to put it in you can avoid more bringing more plastic in your home.

organic body cream 

 

 

*source: http://www.livestrong.com/article/176393-skin-benefits-of-coconut-oil/