Testing a Theory : Coconut Oil and Beauty

I have heard so many wonderful benefits of using coconut oil. Its uses span from cooking and supplements to skin care and hair conditioning. I have only been using it occasionally since November of last year. I decided that I was going to test the theories of this magic oil.

I'm sure many of you have already heard of (or tried) coconut oil for one of many uses. If you have I would love to know what you use it for and the results! In the meantime here is my plan. I am going to stick to this for the next several weeks and will give you all a full update on the results.

Hair

In one of my recent posts I told you how I started using coconut oil for my hair. I just want you to know it is truly amazing! All you do is slather a decent amount into your hair and let it soak in. I usually leave it in for my entire shower and then wash as usual.

In addition to my research on the benefits of coconut oil I came across several hair care and beauty tips that I found super helpful! For years I have thrown my hair in a towel after getting out of the shower. Of course I know this isn't the best method for soaking up excess water, but I didn't really think about the damage it was causing my hair.

When you twist your wet hair into a towel or hair tie you cause breakage in the hair shaft. That can lead to further damage of hair and unmanageable locks. My new plan is to steer clear of this! It is also important not to harshly brush wet hair! Try to use a wide tooth comb to get out any tangles. I also use a heat protect spray before blow drying or using any heat styling.

My new plan is to use coconut oil regularly ( every other shampoo) and to absorb excess water I will separate my hair into about three small sections and lightly squeeze with the towel making sure not to twist and pull my hair! I have also been taking a biotin supplement which is know for aiding in hair and nail growth, as well as improvement of skins appearance.

Skin


I have combination skin. This means I have some areas that are normal and my T zone is a bit on the oily side. As a teenager I had very oily skin, but it has evened out. In my late twenties I started noticing frequent breakouts, and have still not found a miracle cure! I have tried everything on the market, so I decided that since none of those options worked it wouldn't hurt to try out this!

There have been several articles and blogs written about using coconut oil as a skincare product. I was a bit confused by this at first. Why would anyone with oily skin want to put oil on their skin? While reading up on all the facts I found that this oil is quickly absorbed and is a good oil. It does not leave your skin feeling "icky" or greasy. I tested this out for the first time yesterday, and guess what...they were right! Ha! I was quite happy about that.

In addition to this I read several articles on other skincare methods. My entire life I have washed my face at least twice a day, once in the morning then once at night. Several doctors and skincare specialists say that you shouldn't do this. Again I was blown away. The reason they say this is because if your skin is washed/cleansed before you go to sleep you will rejuvenate all your natural oils. This plumps skin and naturally fills wrinkles. Morning cleansing should just consist of splashing water of the face then patting dry. After that you should apply your moisturizer ( a dab of coconut oil is a wonderful moisturizer too) and makeup.

I really didn't know how I was going to feel about not washing my face in the morning. I hate the thought of oily skin. I tried this out yesterday and today. So far, so good. The water worked fine and I didn't have any excess oils. My husband also made a comment about how great my skin looked. In the two days I have done this I haven't had any new breakouts, and the ones I had are already going away.

For the next several weeks I will be using coconut oil with a dab of baking soda as my nightly facial cleanser. I am putting a hold on any other skincare products ...even my regular spot treatment creams. I am also skipping the morning scrubbing and will just stick to the water.

I have only done this for a total of two days, so I am quite curious if this is going to work. I want to see first hand if there are any improvements in my skin and hair. I've been on a mission to change several things in my life and this happened to pop up on the list. I'm excited to let everyone know how it turns out!

Xoxo,

Brandi