Coconut Oil: Top Benefits For Your Skin

A lot of information is swirling around out there about the potential benefits and drawbacks of coconut oil. We get it. You want the best of the best for your skin, you want it to be natural, and it’s hard to sift through all of the information.

So, let’s break it down!  Why should you be reaching for coconut oil for skincare and household needs? Well, for one, because your skin and hair will sincerely thank you!

But let’s not leave it there. In this article, we’ll go into more depth about just how coconut oil benefits your skin and give you some pointers about how to start using it in your daily skincare routine.

All About Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a type of healthy fat that has been making waves within the last few years. At room temperature, coconut oil is solid, but it can be softened or melted when heated.

It is said to have many health benefits, namely maintaining and increasing the health of your skin and hair. That’s not all, though. It’s used in the kitchen, too!

So, before we get to coconut oil and skin care, let’s zoom out and take a quick look at its use in the kitchen.

Cooking with Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a healthy fat and adds a unique and delicious flavor to food! You can cook with coconut oil just as you would with olive oil.

Tip: experts recommend that if you are cooking with coconut oil, opt for extra-virgin coconut oil, as it is more refined and gently processed.

Coconut oil is high in saturated fatty acids. While fatty acids are good for you and essential to keeping your body running like clockwork, saturated fat has been linked to high cholesterol levels.

Don’t let that stop you from experiencing the benefits of coconut oil. Just like anything else, moderation is key.

Benefits Of Coconut Oil In Your Hair And Skin Care

For the rest of the article, we’ll focus on coconut oil for your hair and skin care — the benefits it provides and how you can start using it today!

Keep in mind that if you’re purchasing straight coconut oil, the extra-virgin variety is suggested when you are using it for your body and hair, just like when you’re cooking with it.

Now, before we get any further, let’s go over a few of the amazing skin and hair benefits that this oil provides.

Full Of Antioxidants And Vitamins

We mentioned that coconut oil is high in saturated fat and you should consume it in moderation.

On the flip side, moderation is not a concern when it comes to antioxidants! And lucky for you, coconut oil is chock-full of antioxidants and vitamins that can have a massive impact on both your hair and skin.

Coconut oil is rich in vitamins E and K and iron. All of these help to keep your skin and hair healthy and thriving!

Due to the antioxidants, coconut oil is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties, which can help combat acne.

Antibacterial

One of the fatty acids found in coconut oil is called lauric acid, and it can help fight off unwanted microorganisms! This is a big deal for your skin since there are several pesky conditions that are caused by bacteria and fungi.

Moisturizing

This is one of the huge benefits of coconut oil! It is extremely moisturizing and is especially useful for anyone with dry, sensitive skin, especially during the never-ending, cold winter months.

Coconut oil can also reduce eczema symptoms due to its moisturizing properties. How exactly does skin-moisturization work?

The water content in your skin is what keeps it hydrated. But without a protective layer on the surface of your skin, that moisture can evaporate away.

Your skin produces its own healthy oil to lock hydration in, but between hot showers, products filled with harsh chemicals, and run-of-the-mill dry skin, sometimes it needs a little help.

Coconut oil to the rescue!

Naturally Occurring

Coconut oil is natural. This might seem obvious, but to us at Babo Botanicals, it’s a big part of what makes coconut oil so great!

There are many ingredients used in hair and skincare products that aren’t actually good for you. Sulfates, oxybenzone, parabens, phthalates, dyes, synthetic fragrances, and more can all be found in the ingredient lists of common products.

These ingredients can irritate your skin at best and harm your body at worst.

That’s why we opt out of using these types of ingredients in Babo Botanicals products and stick to natural, plant-based ingredients — like coconut oil!

As always, when unsure of a product, make sure to carefully read labels. People have different standards for products they might use.

For example, some people only use a product if they can pronounce all of the ingredients or they know where the ingredients came from. Some people are less strict about their diet and skincare regimen, and that is OK, too!

Along with reading labels, if you have any other lingering questions, don’t be afraid to contact your dermatologist or health provider. That’s what they’re there for!

All of that being said, let’s jump straight into how to put coconut oil to work in your hair and skincare routine!

How To Use Coconut Oil In Your Skincare Routine

Moisturize And Condition Your Hair

Coconut oil can be used as a hair mask while in the shower to add moisture and shine to those beautiful locks.

Additionally, coconut oil can help tame frizzy, flyaway hairs — and admit it, we have all been there and know about those “messy bun” kinds of days!

While you can apply coconut oil directly to your hair, some people find it too heavy and oily. Using a conditioner that contains coconut oil is another great way to reap the benefits.

To smooth and detangle your hair, turn to Babo Botanicals Smoothing Detangling Conditioner. In addition to coconut oil, this conditioner contains evening primrose oil, provitamin B, and our exclusive Nutri-Soothe™ blend to moisturize and soften your hair.

Other coconut oil conditioner options include our Swim & Sport Conditioner and, for your little ones, Moisturizing Baby Conditioner.

Finding the right conditioner is important, but so is using it correctly! For tips on how to use conditioner, click here.

Apply It Directly To Your Skin

The beauty of coconut oil is that you can apply it directly to your skin as a moisturizer. Just remember that a little goes a long way and your skin may be oily for a bit after you apply it.

Use Skin Repair Nutri-Firm™ Treatment Oil

Speaking of applying straight coconut oil to your skin for deep moisturization, Babo Botanicals Skin Repair Nutri-Firm™ Treatment Oil is made of nothing but natural oils and plant extracts, making it a 100% natural advanced therapy for sensitive skin.

In addition to coconut oil, this lightweight and non-greasy oil is packed with revolutionary firming oils including kahai, argan, rosehip, and sea buckthorn oil. Plus, it’s loaded with vitamins A, C, and E as well as antioxidants.

All of that means that this oil can help improve the appearance and smooth the texture of stretch marks, scars, uneven skin tone, aging skin, and dehydrated skin.

Unfortunately, there’s no magic trick to do away with pregnancy stretch marks! However, we recommend that pregnant moms start applying this oil in the second trimester to areas that are especially prone to stretch marks.

And, of course, remember that the stretch marks you do develop are a testament to your amazing body and the baby it is growing!

Moisturize Your Hands

Our hands stay busy and can take quite a beating just with the daily wear and tear of life. Coconut oil is a great way to show them some love and moisturize dry skin!

Gently apply straight coconut oil to your skin or use a lotion, like Babo Botanicals Miracle Moisturizing Cream. Made with colloidal oatmeal, organic calendula, and, of course, coconut oil, this rich cream helps to soothe and protect dry, chafed skin.

Another way to ward off dry hands? Use a natural, moisturizing soap every time you wash up.

Contrary to what the name implies, Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Fragrance Free Foam Hand Soap is not just for the little ones of the family. It’s also for anyone with sensitive skin and dirty hands!

This lightweight, fluffy hand soap gently moisturizes and protects skin as it cleanses. It contains coconut oil as well as argan oil, shea butter, olive oil, aloe vera, and antibacterial manuka essential oil.

Speaking of kids and washing hands, if you’re looking for creative ways to get your little ones into this healthy habit, read our tips here.

Treat Your Lips To Coconut Oil

Don’t let your lips go unnoticed! They deserve to be cared for just like the rest of the skin on your body. And, yes, coconut oil is great for them, too!

For a lip gloss with natural ingredients, including coconut oil, turn to Babo Botanicals Nutri-Shine™ Luminizer Vegan Lip Gloss. Our EWG Verified™ lip gloss is vegan and free of dye, synthetic fragrances, mineral oil, petroleum, preservatives, and plasticizers.

And what about the good stuff it contains? Cocoa butter, coconut oil, and organic calendula, just to name three ingredients!

Use A Mineral Sunscreen With Coconut Oil

Last but not least: sunscreen with coconut oil and other moisturizing ingredients? Sign us up!

In addition to emitting harmful UVA and UVB rays, the sun is just plain drying to your skin. So, protecting yourself with an effective sunscreen that is also moisturizing is essential!

To protect your skin from the rays of the sun, many traditional sunscreens use chemicals like oxybenzone and octinoxate. Instead of these questionable ingredients, look for a mineral sunscreen made with zinc oxide.

Zinc oxide is an effective and non-chemical sunscreen ingredient that is gentle and safe. In fact, zinc oxide is so safe and soothing to even the most delicate of skin that it’s used in many diaper creams.

And what about the moisturizing part? We’ve got you covered with Babo Botanicals Clear Zinc Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30. It protects your skin from the sun while moisturizing with shea butter, coconut oil, and safflower seed oil.

Turn To Coconut Oil For Natural Skin Care

In this article, we’ve seen several of the benefits that coconut oil can provide when you work it into your daily routine: it has antioxidants and is antibacterial, moisturizing, and natural.
And the amazing thing is that you can use coconut oil in so many ways!

Apply it straight to your hair or choose products that contain this wonderful ingredient. For example, you can treat your hair to coconut oil by using Babo Botanicals Smoothing Detangling Conditioner.

And when it comes to your skin care, opt for coconut oil in everything from hand soap to sunscreen.

Care for your hands with Babo Botanicals Sensitive Baby Fragrance Free Foam Hand Soap and Miracle Moisturizing Cream, and keep your skin moisturized even in the summer heat with Clear Zinc Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30.

As you can see, it’s not hard to put coconut oil to work for you right away! We hope you love it as much as we do.