We all have heard stories from our grandma’s time on the several benefits of coconut oil on skin and hair. This oil’s importance and vital features for girls and young women are stressed a great deal. But do you know how and what this oil’s advantages are on the skin? The oil is spoken of and lauded enough for its health-promoting properties. This wonder oil works like magic for all women who have both beauty and skincare concerns. With fatty acids, minerals, and nutrients, coconut oil is miraculous for skin problems and hair health.


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If you are still wondering about this oil’s application methods, dosage, and how it works for different skin concerns, this guide is for you! Today, let us go about exploring the unknown benefits of coconut oil application on the skin every day.

What is Coconut Oil and What are Its Properties:

Coconut oil is something that has a multitude of benefits for both health and skincare. It contains heavy saturated fatty acids extracted from raw or dried-out coconut kernels(1). The oil is used for cooking and health concerns, such as skin and hair. With its richness in saturated fatty acids in general, the oil also has good polyunsaturated fats and other micro-nutrients(2).

  • Lauric acid 49%
  • Myristic acid 18%
  • Caprylic acid 8%
  • Palmitic acid 8%
  • Capric acid 7%
  • Oleic acid 6%
  • Linoleic acid 2%
  • Stearic acid 2%

Subsequently, pure coconut oil compromises saturated fat, with around 90 percent within it(3). With the highest proportion, the lauric acid in it works wonders with its rich antibacterial and antiviral properties(4).

Advantages and Benefits of Coconut Oil for Skin:

With these immense rich nutrients and fatty acids, coconut oil proves to be of utmost significance to aid us with several benefits for skin, hair and health. Here are a few health and skincare benefits of applying oil on the face and skin.

1. Helps in Healing Wounds:

Several studies have proven that treating injuries with coconut oil significantly helps in healing. With proper collagen levels, antioxidants, and antimicrobial properties, the oil helps heal wounds and reduce infections around them(5,6). The importance of coconut oil in healing wounds on the skin is a popular ancient remedy too.

  • Firstly, clean the wound neatly. Clear the area and pat it dry.
  • Apply the oil in and around the wound.
  • Cover the area with a cloth.
  • Reapply the oil 2-3 times a day for good results.

2. Skin Hydration and Moisturization:

Suffering from that dry and cracky skin? All you need is pure coconut oil to get out with better looks. The coconut oil benefits hydrating even deep on dry skin. Its mineral components help moisturize the skin and maintain skin integrity(7). The oil deeply penetrates the surface layers and provides long-lasting hydration.

  • After having a fresh bath, just apply the coconut oil to the dry areas of the skin.
  • Re-apply it again as required.
  • That is it; you will see shiny and moisturised skin in no time.
  • Given the importance and benefits, you can go ahead in apply the coconut oil on the face overnight as well.

3. Treat Acne:

Coconut oil, with its dense fatty acids, helps to keep bacteria at bay and reduce infections. The oil’s anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties help treat acne, reduce redness and swelling, and prevent its growth(8).

  • For best results, wash the face regularly.
  • Pat it dry and apply coconut oil on the areas where acne is present.
  • Alternatively, you can steam your face with hot water so the pores open up, remove dead skin and clean up pores, and then massage coconut oil to benefit your skin.

4. Reduce Inflammation:

From the case of skin infections to inflammations, coconut oil helps a great deal to reduce such concerns. The oil is beneficial in treating skin infections and disorders such as eczema and dermatitis(9). Applying it works wonders in reducing inflammation, redness, and pain, given its antioxidant properties and fatty acids(10).

  • Besides taking regular medication for the affected area and skin concerns, apply fresh coconut oil.
  • Massage it well to let it go into deep skin layers.
  • Re-apply as required any number of times.

5. Coconut Oil as Natural Sun-Screen:

Sunscreen plays a significant role in caring for and protecting the skin from the harmful UV rays falling from the sun(11). Do you know that coconut oil comes in a great deal to reduce the effect of the sun falling directly on the skin? With its natural ingredients, coconut oil can help you naturally protect the skin from rays without the help of any counterfeit products.

  • All you need to do is use extra-virgin coconut oil on the face.
  • Apply a thin layer of it before you head out from home.
  • Thus, coconut oil can reduce the effect of harsh sun rays on the face and skin layers.

Also Read: How to Use Coconut Oil for Dark Circles

6. Makeup Remover:

With stubborn makeup products around the corner of markets, we love to get dressed up and look beautiful. But removing makeup by the end of the day is equally important. It can also be the most challenging task to accomplish, with stubborn traces being left around our faces. But do you know coconut oil is a natural makeup remover? Why use market-based products if this oil can help clean your skin easily?

  • Take a bit of coconut oil on a cotton pad and massage well around the face.
  • Remove the stubborn eye makeup and traces quickly with this oil.
  • Coat it thoroughly a couple of times for the best results.
  • Wash face with cold water and pat dry.

7. Reduce and Remove Stretch Marks:

Stretch marks are most commonly seen in today’s world due to several reasons. Whether due to pregnancy, weight gain sudden weight loss, or muscle building, these marks are not something we all want. But do you know that the anti-inflammatory properties can heal the marks well? The oil helps hydrate the skin naturally, with its lauric acid absorbed deep into skin layers to affect collagen production positively. This, in turn, improves the appearance and reduces marks.

  • You can directly apply the coconut oil on stretch marks and massage well.
  • Alternatively, you can mix oil with lemon juice and massage on onto the skin.

8. Soften The Skin:

We all dream of having soft and glowing skin from within. But pure coconut oil can make your wish come true in no time! With its proper collagen and vitamin E levels, coconut oil can help immensely soften the skin tone, lighten the marks, and bring in the natural glow from the skin effortlessly. It also improves blood circulation when massaged and brings a natural glow to the face. Be it the case of dry or oily skin, the benefits are equal and immense.

  • Add on few drops of coconut oil on the face and skin.
  • Massage it well around the skin every night before you sleep.
  • Alternatively, you can add coconut oil, rose water, lemon, and turmeric as a face mask.
  • You can even go ahead with applying the coconut oil overnight on the face to bring in a subtle glow and soft skin.

9. Reduce Wrinkles:

There are strong beliefs among many that coconut oil is good for face and skin wrinkles. While the scientific evidence seems limited on this one, some studies mention that this oil is more effective than other essential oils in toning down the skin and reducing such concerns(12). The extraordinary amount of collagen in the oil helps create skin elasticity and makes it firmer.

  • Use the oil as a serum and apply it the dry skin.
  • Massage it well.

10. As an Under-Eye Cream:

Are you suffering from dark circles? Do you want to have bright and clear eyes, just like divas? Forget about spending extra bucks for all those market under-eye products and using natural oil to reduce puffiness and spots. The coconut oil works great as a cream to reduce puffiness, dark circles, and lines near the eyes.

  • Just massage and rub a bit of pure coconut oil between your fingers.
  • Warm it up and pat it under your eyes.

11. As Lip Butter for Chapped and Dry Lips:

While the moisturizing properties of coconut oil are already well established, it helps significantly as a dry lip remedy, too. If you have dry and chapped lips, the oil can help hydrate skin, heal cracks, and reduce wrinkles around the lips.

  • Applying the oil to lips is quite a straightforward remedy.
  • Store the oil in a small container and use it handy to rub it over lips, as and when required.

12. Body Scrub:

We bet you haven’t thought about using coconut oil as a body scrub. Did you?! With its excellent properties in fatty acids and vitamins, the oil can help remove dead skin cells, tone down the skin, and bring a smooth texture to the face and the body. It works as a natural scrub.

  • Mix coconut oil with coarse salt to create a natural scrub.
  • Exfoliate the skin well with the scrub before you have a bath.
  • Use it regularly for the best results. Prefer using raw coconut oil on the skin for the best benefits in this case.

13. Cracked Heel or Cuticle Oil:

Do you have cracked feet and cuticles? If you are under the assumption that having cracked feet and heels is natural, you are wrong. It is due to our common lifestyle factors, such as running around in schedules and not caring enough for our heels or nails. Regular pedicures/manicures aren’t just therapy; you need something more substantial to protect your cuticles.

  • Use coconut oil as a cuticle or feet oil.
  • Apply and massage it every night before you sleep.

14. As a Hair Mask:

Be it the case of frizzy or damaged hair or dry hair, are you aware of the miraculous benefits of this oil to bring in shiny and healthy hair? Studies have shown the immense benefits of coconut oil in reducing hair fall, bringing in proteins to thin hair and balancing the natural oils within the follicles(13).

  • You can apply coconut oil before having a hair wash. Let the hair soak in oil for a couple of hours before you head to wash the hair.
  • Alternatively, you can use this as a serum on wet towelled hair or post-hair wash. Apply a tiny bit of coconut oil to the hair strands mixed with essential oil

15. For an Overall Healthy Face and Skin:

Overall, we now know that coconut oil helps maintain and bring back healthy, moisturized, shiny skin layers. Apply the oil as cleaner, scrub and moisturiser to tone down the natural oils, hydrate the surface layer, and bring in glowing skin effortlessly.

  • Use the oil in the palm, rub it between your fingers for better application, and warm it up.
  • Use it every day and regularly for better results.

Also Read: Coconut Oil Benefits for Babies

Which Type of Coconut Oil is Best?

Coconut oil isn’t pure everywhere when we find it in the market. It can be dry or wet in processing. With several types within, such as refined oil, unrefined oil and extra-virgin coconut oil, not every kind is suitable for application directly on the skin and face.

Refined oil is best for cooking, and virgin coconut oil is best suited for skin health and care benefits. The latter fares better in antioxidants and minerals and works wonders for better skincare and overall health (14). This also prevents oxidization and neutralises free chemicals, helping reduce rashes, infections and inflammations. However, organic coconut oil is also popular for skincare remedies.

Overview:

We have seen the immense number of benefits of using coconut oil for the skin and face. One cannot stress the importance and significance of this ancient remedy even in today’s world for better skin and looks. Try this natural remedy instead of going for market-based products and check out the results yourself. Let us know your thoughts!

Suvarna

About Suvarna

Suvarna is a freelance content writer with over 8 years of professional writing experience. She specialized in developing research-based content on Beauty, Skin, and Hair Care. Suvarna believes that beauty is one of the key factors for every personality. She always strives to bring more authenticity and credibility to her articles.
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