Coconut oil is perhaps the most iconic natural beauty product and, for many, the favorite oil for the face, hair and body. It is used both for beauty at home and on the beach on vacation by ardent adherents of Ayurveda and those who advocate scientific progress and innovation in cosmetology. A versatile soldier who seems to be able to handle any problem. But is this really so?
I tested on myself 17 popular beauty recipes, where the main ingredient is coconut oil, and now with full responsibility I can share my REAL reviews on using coconut oil at home, and also tell you how to choose the right coconut oil, because its quality will largely determine impressions depend on use.
The benefits and harms of coconut oil
Coconut oil is a vegetable oil that is obtained from copra (the dried, oily meat of coconuts). Until the 21st century, this oil was traditionally used in soap making, for the manufacture of cosmetics and in the production of margarine.
Benefits of coconut oil
This oil not only has a recognizable and very pleasant delicate taste and aroma, but is also rich in calcium, phosphorus, as well as vitamins A, C and E, useful for preserving beauty and youth.
And most importantly, coconut oil contains a lot of valuable fatty acids, which determine the miraculous properties of this product.
- lauric acid - 39-54% - in the body this acid is converted into monolaurin, which actively fights pathogenic bacteria and fungi, promotes tissue regeneration and heals damage.
- myristic acid - 15-23% - promotes the absorption of beneficial substances by the skin
- Oleic acid – 9% – helps skin retain moisture
- palmitoic acid – 10%
- caprylic acid – 6% – normalizes the acid-base balance of the skin
- linolenic acid – 3%
- stearic acid – 5%
- capric acid - 5-10% - supports lauric acid and enhances its antibacterial effect.
Coconut oil has no cholesterol and therefore it is recommended for nutrition by people at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases; in addition, the fatty acids in the product increase the level of “good” cholesterol and lower the level of “bad” cholesterol, also have an antioxidant effect and this reduces the likelihood of developing vascular diseases and hearts.
Coconut oil improves immunity, and with regular use reduces the likelihood of cancer and restores thyroid function.
The energy value of coconut oil per 100 g of product is 862 kcal.
Harm of coconut oil
People started talking about the dangers of coconut oil not so long ago, and I believe this is due to the super popularity of this product.
The same principle works here as in the yellow press, news about Brad Pitt is interesting to more people than news from Uncle Vasya, a plumber. And you can hype Brad Pitt much more.
This means that, in defiance of a large number of supporters, coconut oil was simply bound to have scientists-haters who, in order to draw attention to their person, suddenly discovered the “harmful features” of this product, telling everyone that this vegetable oil is extremely harmful and helps raise cholesterol levels in the body even more than animal fat. In general, pure poison!
But... Research by other scientists suggests the opposite.
Who to believe? In my opinion, the key point is not to lose common sense and focus on your own feelings; if it is possible to completely replace animal fats (the harm of which has been proven in relation to bad cholesterol) in the diet with coconut oil, you can try to do just that and compare your cholesterol levels “ before and after". It might be worth a try. The main thing is to maintain a sense of proportion, which, however, will work for any NATURAL product.
Despite all the ambiguity of Elena Malysheva’s expertise, I recommend watching a fragment of the “Live Healthy” program dedicated to this very topic, where they examine the benefits and harms of coconut oil, in this case, they still do not agree with the hater scientists.
The benefits of shea butter for hair and masks at home
What exactly is the benefit of shea for hair and what is it connected with? Shea fruit extract is based on a lot of nutritional components that have a positive effect on the structure of curls. The composition of this element is represented by useful vitamins, microelements, fatty acids and protein.
Photo: shea butter (karite) for hair
Together, all these components have a beneficial effect on the structure of curls and strengthen it. The systematic use of masks based on the main ingredient allows you to soften the strands and protect them from the negative effects of the environment.
What exactly are the beneficial properties of shea butter (karite) for hair?
The benefits of shea butter for hair lie in its unique composition. The ingredient is based on beneficial vitamins and microelements. They have a beneficial effect on the scalp and the condition of the curls. This component is rich in a high content of amino acids, which give the strands shine and silkiness.
The benefits of shea butter for hair have been confirmed by many cosmetologists. Professionals recommend using masks based on it to improve the condition of curls. Especially in the cold and hot seasons, when strands are exposed to the negative effects of unfavorable environmental factors.
Shea butter properties and use for hair is the most relevant information for girls who are just beginning their acquaintance with this drug. The component has a beneficial effect on the strands and protects them. It is necessary to use products based on shea extract if you have strands prone to dry ends. Systematic exposure will restore their structure. Reviews from cosmetologists
Photo: hair masks with shea butter
The main properties of the extract are:
- eliminating dandruff;
- strengthening the root system;
- getting rid of excessive dryness;
- removal of chemical burns from the scalp;
- nutrition;
- smoothing strands;
- eliminating split ends.
The benefits of shea butter for hair do not end with the properties described above. Regular use allows you to completely restore the structure of the strands. In the future, the frequency of use of the product decreases; it must be applied to the skin less often, for the purpose of prevention. How to use shea butter for hair depends on the problem that the girl suffers from. In most cases, the product is used in its pure form or appropriately combined with other useful components.
Shea butter for hair reviews photos before and after
Shea butter for hair - reviews of before and after photos are filled with admiring and positive comments. This is due to the naturalness and nature of the main ingredient. The absence of chemical elements and impurities makes shea extract the best preventive and therapeutic agent.
Shea butter for hair: reviews, before and after photos
How to properly apply shea butter to your hair
To obtain the correct therapeutic effect, you need to know how to properly apply shea butter to your hair . The product is ideal for girls with curly hair. By their nature, they are porous and dry; proper exposure will allow them to saturate the strands and make them more manageable. Surprisingly, women with long curls will also need the effect of the extract. Most often, the roots and a few centimeters from them are in good condition, while the tips require additional treatment.
Photo: shea butter (karite)
Hair restoration with shea butter is necessary for the fair sex with dry and colored curls. It is recommended to use the product for split ends. As an additional protective element, the nutritional component is applied during rest. Its effect allows you to protect from aggressive sunlight and sea water.
There are not many ways to use the product. It can be used in its pure form or in proper combination with other nutritional components. A good option is to combine the main ingredient with other components. You can add the extract to shampoo, conditioner and ready-made masks. The course of therapy is 10-15 masks.
Coconut oil for hair
Legends are made about this hair oil and odes are sung to it from every iron.
Coconut oil is the first of all oils recommended for restoring, strengthening hair, restoring shine and for treating split ends.
I’ll tell you the most popular homemade recipes or how to use coconut oil for hair and what my “before-after” results were.
Let me remind you that my hair is very problematic. Thin, capricious, greasy at the roots, dry and brittle at the ends. At the moment, I don’t paint them so that they periodically “please” me with their loss and generally behave absolutely inappropriately for the amount of money and time that I spend on them.
1. Coconut oil hair mask is perhaps the most popular recipe in the coconut hit parade.
Recipe: 1 tablespoon of coconut oil+yolk of 1 egg+1 teaspoon of honey+2-3 drops of Bay oil
Apply the mask to the roots and entire length of the hair, put on a plastic shower cap on top, and wrap a towel on top to allow a thermal reaction to occur. This hair mask “hits” on all fronts at once, coconut oil nourishes and restores hair, lecithin from the yolk and vitamins from honey saturate the hair shaft, bay oil enhances hair growth.
My reviews - the mask is not bad, it helps in the fight against dandruff and itching and solves most possible hair problems, but I use it very rarely, because... firstly, I try to wash my hair in the morning, but in the morning I never have those 20-30 minutes before washing my hair. Besides, all this fuss with kneading, washing hair... is not for the lazy.
2. Oil hair wrap
So coconut hair oil is most often used to restore brittle and dull hair, 100%
Massage the scalp and entire length of hair with coconut oil. You can add essential oils for an additional effect (lavender - soothes, rosemary will help reduce oiliness, bay - promotes hair growth, rose, neroli - moisturize hair.
With or without a cap is optional. We wait as long as we have enough patience and time. You can leave the oil wrap on for half an hour, but some leave it on all night.
My reviews - I do not recommend using oil ON your scalp if you have a tendency to get oily, or at least do it very often. Personally, long-term use of this oil led to clogged pores, and the ends of my hair eventually became even drier.
I don’t know if this is just a coincidence, but I don’t do any more such experiments with long marathons using the same oil. I remember the advice and recommendations of trichologists, who advise ALTERNATING different oils and NOT using them more than 1-2 times a week.
3. Express hair mask
And this is what I and all those who do not have the time or desire to bother with masks, hats and towels do.
Mix a spoonful of coconut oil and add 2-3 drops of essential oil to a portion of your shampoo. If desired, wash your hair again with just shampoo without additives.
My feedback - recently I personally replaced the oil wrap with this format. The effect may be lower, but the pores do not have time to become clogged. Of the minuses, the hair becomes more vibrant, shiny, but... lighter and airier, dandelion-like. This is not very comfortable for me.
I still like amla oil and bhringraj oil for hair more than coconut oil, because they thicken the hair shaft and visually they look somewhat thicker.
4. Repairing split ends
As a remedy for dry split ends
Distribute coconut oil in a thin layer over your palms and apply it to the ends of your hair with light movements like a special cosmetic silicone oil.
My Reviews - This recipe did not work for me. Perhaps for those whose hair roots are not prone to oiliness, for those who do not touch them from morning to evening, this recipe is suitable. But for me, using oil in this way immediately kills the volume, and besides, if you have medium-length or long hair, there is a high risk of staining your clothes with oil. I don’t know how those who recommend this recipe cope with this problem.
5. Sunscreen for hair
Protection from the scorching sun, hair-drying sea water, and chlorinated pool water.
Apply coconut oil to your hair, tie it in a braid, bandana, or walk along the beach with the “wet hair effect.”
My reviews - if you don’t want to return from the sea with a pathetic washcloth instead of hair, you should take this recipe into service. In addition, the “wet hair effect” from an oil mask on the beach looks very organic and stylish.
Well, if you are planning to treat your hair with oil, I recommend watching the video of Dr. Amina, a professional trichologist, with her rules for choosing and using hair oil.
Harm
Like any other product in cosmetology, coconut oil can not only be useful, but also cause harm, albeit minor. For example, cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, before use, be sure to test for individual intolerance. To do this, apply a little substance to the thin skin of the wrist or the inside of the elbow and wait 15-20 minutes. If redness, burning, swelling, itching and rashes do not occur in this area, then your body is quite loyal to all components of the oil.
However, allergies are not all that coconut squeeze can harm you. Thus, some cosmetologists warn women with oily skin to overuse this oil, as it is highly comedogenic. Or, simply put, it clogs pores, which can cause disruption of the sebaceous glands. Because of this, acne and seborrhea may appear on the face, which will have to be treated.
Coconut oil for face
In general, I personally DO NOT recommend using coconut oil OFTEN in facial care (as well as for the scalp), much less completely replacing all care with it. Because it belongs to the group of so-called “hard oils” and like other oils in this group (for example shea butter, it can cause blockage of the sebaceous glands on the face and leads to inflammation), besides, nutrition and protection are not all that is needed for the skin, especially for problematic, aging skin and wrinkles.
But sometimes QUALITY natural cold-pressed coconut oil can be an excellent cosmetic aid in facial skin care.
My characteristics: I have combination skin, prone to oiliness in the summer and to clogged pores all year round, the first signs of age are present.
6. A product for removing eye and face makeup, even the most persistent
Coconut oil is used as a hydrophilic oil or a biphasic makeup remover.
Moisten a cotton pad moistened with water (or hydrosol) with coconut oil and remove makeup using blotting movements.
My reviews are that this is a very effective and natural way to remove makeup; if cosmetic two-phase solutions cause irritation (and in my case it’s every second one), then you should at least try replacing it with coconut oil. One downside is that you have to be careful not to get the oil into your eyes, especially if you wear contact lenses, as this can even ruin them.
7. Natural lip balm
Like in some horror story where a woman eats 3.5 kg of lipstick in her life (which is obviously exaggerated), but nevertheless, we eat a lot of lipstick in our lives, so let’s at least have some lip balm 100% natural
Apply coconut oil to your lips.
My reviews are a super product and a guaranteed natural lip balm. Alternatively, you can use an empty container from a store-bought balm and pour coconut oil into it, then you will always have it at hand, and not just in the kitchen. Just don’t overdo it and don’t apply this oil balm too often, remember, coconut oil is a very high-calorie thing!
8. Lip scrub
Lip scrub can also be made from coconut oil.
Mix butter and brown sugar 1:1, add a little honey
My reviews - a natural lip scrub - salvation from chapped and flaky lips on which no lipstick will fit properly.
In general, use a coconut scrub and your lips will become soft again and without any unpleasant flaking. The main thing is not to eat the scrub in the process.
9. Facial massage
Facial massage with coconut oil is a real spa ritual at home.
Rub the coconut oil between your palms until it is completely warm. Apply using blotting movements to dry, cleansed facial skin, including eyelids, neck and décolleté. Perform a light acupressure or relaxing massage along the massage lines. Remove excess oil after massage with a hot towel.
My reviews - I am skeptical about the effectiveness of this oil, despite all its advantages, in my personal hit parade of the best facial oils there are much more effective products. But I completely accept it as a massage oil, but I rarely use it myself.
10. Tanning and sun protection product
You can and even should use coconut oil while tanning, but you shouldn’t place too much hope on it.
Apply coconut oil to your face for sun protection
My reviews - A dangerous recipe that is only half true. In addition, for the face on the beach, I personally do NOT use it because of the threat of clogging the pores. But for the body and hair - with great pleasure.
Coconut oil is, indeed, capable of forming a protective layer on the skin that prevents the rapid evaporation of moisture from the skin, which means it slows down the aging process, and the tan goes on smoother and more beautiful.
But it doesn’t protect it from the sun and you can get very burnt if you rely on it and don’t use anything else (this has happened to me). This myth was finally dispelled in 2020 by the International Journal of Cosmetic Science, the SPF filter of coconut oil is 1, and this is not enough to replace a full-fledged SPF cream.
11. Cleaning makeup brushes and sponges
Wash brushes and sponges with shampoo, add coconut oil, and wash again with shampoo. Rinse well in running water.
My reviews - if you don’t know how to clean a beauty blender, and don’t want to buy expensive specialized products, take the recipe into service.
12. Restoration and growth of eyebrows and eyelashes
Apply coconut oil to the tips of your eyelashes and eyebrows
My reviews are another dummy recipe. Of course, coconut oil for eyebrows and eyelashes is BETTER than none, because eyelashes and eyebrows also need additional care, but there are much more effective working products, for example, now I really like Zeytun eyelash and eyebrow oil.
13. Face and eye cream
Apply melted coconut oil to the skin of the face and eyelids, remove excess oil with a napkin.
My reviews - any facial oils are NOT able to completely replace full-fledged cosmetic care, because... in addition to nutrition and restoration, they cannot fully provide, and especially help against wrinkles, where more advanced formulas are required than an effective, but rather simple natural product.
Personally, I use ANY oils only in combination with SERUM (according to the problem), so the effect is bomb! But instead of a cream, especially for the day, I personally do not recommend it; for wrinkles, especially around the eyes, coke oil is not only useless, but can even be harmful. Below I will publish a video with a detailed explanation from a cosmetologist about why facial oil can even be harmful.
Hair balm with shea butter: recipes
Photo: preparing hair balms with shea butter
- Hair balm with shea butter can be prepared at home. To do this, add a few drops of the main extract to any cosmetic product. All this is mixed and applied to the strands for 1-2 hours.
- Shea butter hair balm can be supplemented with a few grams of olive or coconut extract. To begin with, it is recommended to apply the mixture exclusively to the ends. Exposure time is from 3 hours, all components are harmless.
- Hair masks with shea butter (karite) for clean hair after washing can be prepared from different ingredients. The most acceptable option is to combine the extract with other components, in particular castor. To prepare, 200 grams of the main ingredient must be heated with 5 tbsp. spoons of castor oil. Additionally, add 10 drops of ylang-ylang and lemon. The resulting product is applied to the strands for a couple of hours. This is a real first aid for damaged curls.
- Hair balm spray with shea butter is a good option for getting a quick effect. You can prepare it yourself. To do this, the main ingredient along with olive extract is sent into a special bottle with a sprayer. It is recommended to use the product after washing your hair.
- Hair spray with shea butter can be prepared using castor oil and olive oil. These components have good nutritional properties. All elements are taken in equal proportions.
- Shea butter hair spray can be made with avocado and coconut. All ingredients are taken in equal proportions and used as an auxiliary restorative agent. It should be applied only to the ends, without additional rinsing.
Hair masks with shea butter (karite) are widely popular. This is due to the positive properties of the main ingredient and its compatibility with other equally useful components. Many girls are interested in the question: is it difficult to wash shea butter out of their hair? In fact, there is nothing complicated about it. Simply rinse your hair twice with plenty of shampoo.
Shea butter gained popularity several decades ago. It is widely used both at home and in cosmetology. Affordable cost and excellent properties increase the popularity of this component and make it the most in demand.
Information sources
Coconut oil for body
Coconut oil for the body is one of my favorite ways to use it. I mainly use it at sea, as a means of maintaining healthy skin on the beach, but in the winter season I also use this product quite often.
14. Nourishing product after bath and shower
Apply melted butter to damp body skin.
My feedback - if you remember the advertising of the early 2000s, where Johnson & Johnson baby oil was recommended to be applied to damp skin after a shower, you should know that this life hack is much more effective if you replace the mineral Johnson & Johnson from petroleum with any NATURAL vegetable oil, for example, to coconut. On damp skin, the oil is absorbed faster and penetrates deeper into its layers. I use it all over my body - from neck to heels. After use, the skin remains velvety, elastic and soft for a long time.
It nourishes the cuticles of the nails, softens rough areas on the elbows, prevents the appearance of stretch marks, massage oil for cellulite is also a good solution!
15. Body scrub
Medium-ground sea salt + coconut oil + a few drops of your favorite essential oils and voila - a great body scrub.
My reviews are that the effect is no worse than that of my favorite but expensive salt body scrub from Collistar. And even after rinsing off, you don’t need to use any cream or body milk. Saving!
16. Shaving cream
Apply coconut oil to the body, use a razor
My reviews - although I switched to laser and this recipe is almost not relevant for me, I can confirm that the razor goes not just like clockwork, but really like clockwork. There is no irritation after shaving,
17. Teeth whitening and breath freshening
For me, this recipe was the most unusual in terms of how coconut oil can be used at all. More precisely, there are even two recipes:
Use melted coke oil as a mouth rinse.
Toothpaste – mix a tablespoon of coconut oil and baking soda
My reviews - coconut oil is a natural breath freshener and antimicrobial agent for the oral cavity, thanks to its composition, it has antifungal and antibacterial properties. Long-term rinsing with coke oil is one of the most popular Ayurvedic recipes, helping to fight bad breath, inflammation and stomatitis.
Toothpaste with soda is a recipe that helps whiten teeth, but you should use it with caution if you have sensitive teeth. After all, soda is a rather aggressive ingredient.
Oil efficiency
Shea butter is also called karite. It contains many vitamins, acids, and nutritional components necessary for the normal condition of skin, nails, and hair. The product penetrates deeply into the hair, saturating it with useful substances.
Beneficial properties include:
- restoring the water balance of hair after curling, coloring, using a hair dryer, straightening, curling iron;
- protection of curls from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation and high temperatures;
- improvement of silkiness, natural shine;
- protection against split ends, hair loss, fragility;
- elimination of dermatitis and eczema.
Cosmetologists advise using karite in its pure form, as well as in a mixture with other esters. In any case, it has a beneficial effect.
How to choose, how to store, where to buy and the best brands of coconut oil
But all these recipes make no sense if you buy the wrong coconut oil or violate the rules of storage or use. It's especially offensive
How to choose natural coconut oil
In order not to bother and experiment, I recommend taking the shortcut right away - i.e. choose a trusted brand in a reliable store.
If you are standing in front of shelves with coconut oil in an exotic country and see unknown brands, then I recommend paying attention to the special signs of natural coconut oil, which confirm not only its authenticity, but also its high quality.
- Glass transparent packaging is an ideal container for storage
- Does not contain mineral oil (look at the composition, in case something is written in the composition, and if there is something, then mineral oil is definitely not the best addition for a natural product)
Markings on the packaging of good coconut oil
- Organic - organic
- Extra Virgin - cold pressed
- Unrefined - unrefined.
Refined coconut oil is only suitable for cooking and cosmetic purposes; it is less effective.
- Coconut oil has three physical states (for clarity, I will show them all in the photo):
A white dense mass similar in consistency to animal fat. It is easy to scoop with a spoon. Moreover, coconut oil does not need to be frozen to harden.
Coconut oil hardens at temperatures below +25 degrees.
A tender fat mass is a borderline state when the oil has just begun to harden.
Melted butter has a very liquid consistency and is absolutely transparent. There may be a slight yellowish effect, this is normal and only indicates that the copra was ground together with coconut husk. This does not affect the quality of the oil.
How to store and use coconut oil
Coconut oil should be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator door.
Freezing in the refrigerator or overheating the oil in the microwave is IMPOSSIBLE, so as not to disturb its structure and the oil does not lose some of its beneficial properties.
It is not afraid of direct sun rays, but if you overheat it, the oil can quickly deteriorate and go rancid.
To melt coconut oil, just hold the bottle under running hot water, or simply hold the broken piece in your hands; body temperature is quite enough to melt it completely.
Quality Coconut Oil Brands
So, which coconut oil manufacturers should you pay attention to?
It is believed that the highest quality real coconut oil of the highest purity is produced in Sri Lanka, followed only slightly by Thailand and India.
Oils that can be used both in food and in cosmetology:
- Aroy-D
- Baraka
- Jarrow Formula
- Nature's Way
- Nutiva
- Tropicana
- California Gold
- Now Foods
Good quality cosmetic coconut oil
- Dabur
- Parashute
- Hemani
Where to buy coconut oil and its price
Definitely, you should not buy coke oil from cosmetic brands (Avon, CSN, etc.) because at best, these products contain coke oil in small quantities, I also do not recommend buying coconut oil in pharmacies (usually you can only buy cosmetic oil there, unless you come across proven reliable brands), and you should NOT buy it on Aliexpress either, yes, there is also coconut oil, but the Chinese are masters at counterfeiting, but a natural product should definitely be natural, so don’t take the risk.
iHerb
Of course, it’s better to buy on iherb (the ideal combination of price/quality/store service), and there are also regular discounts and promotions. If you have never placed an order on this site using my promotional code ZVV540, you will receive a -10% discount on your order (can be combined with other promotional codes and promotions on the site).
Popular brands and prices for coconut oil from iherb - Jarrow Formul a (620 rubles for 423 grams), Nature's Way (763 rubles for 478 ml.), Nutiva (1624 rubles for 1.6 liters, there is coconut oil creamy flavor 495 RUR for 414 ml.), California Gold (525 RUR for 473 ml and 1051 RUR for 1.6 l.), Now Foods (886 RUR for 591 ml.)
4fresh
Russian stores, for example, 4fresh , also have coke oil, the choice is really smaller and the prices are higher, plus paid delivery, but if it is important to shop in Russia, then I recommend the brands
Aroy-D (583 RUR for 480 ml.) Baraka (1050 RUR for 500 ml.),
Black Friday 2020 scary profitable Black Friday promotions
10 best facial oils and 7 rules for their use / My personal rating 2019 (TOP 10)
How to choose the right oil?
There are simply a huge number of sellers and manufacturers of coconut oil now. But not all of them place the quality of the product at the forefront. Therefore, you need to approach the choice of facial products as responsibly as possible.
- First, remember that there are two types of coconut – refined and unrefined. So, for combination and dry skin, it is best to choose the second option, and cold-pressed one, since it is the most beneficial. And for oily people - the first one, because such oil goes through several stages of purification.
- It is best to buy the finished product in pharmacies or specialized natural cosmetics stores. Since all products there are marked. This means you are less likely to stumble upon a low-quality product.
- Natural, unspoiled coconut oil for skin should not have a strong or unpleasant odor. A light coconut aroma is what you should feel. As for the color, it can vary from milky in the solid version to pale yellow in the liquid.
Interesting! Manicure – spring French 2020
