10 Skin Benefits of using cold-pressed coconut oil for cooking:
Coconut oil extracted from the mesocarp, endocarp, and the endoplasm of the coconut is a type of edible oil. The initial step in coconut oil extraction is drying the coconut shells. Coconut oil extraction is conventionally done using a mechanical press that extracts the oil contents without the application of heat or temperature. This type of coconut oil is referred to as cold-pressed coconut oil. Cold-pressed coconut oil without any vigorous refining process is best recommended for domestic use. There have been multiple alternative uses of coconut oil prevalent for quite a long time. The following are ten benefits of using cold-pressed coconut oil for your skin.
- Coconut oil for hand care:
Cuticles are very sensitive regions with a constant supply of blood from nearby blood vessels. Any abrasion of the cuticles will result in bleeding and infection of the nails. To avoid such issues, coconut oil can be used on the cuticles before a manicure and a pedicure. Coconut oil can also be used as a hand cream to moisturize dry hands. The sweet smell of coconut oil makes it a great fit as a hand cream. Also, coconut oil is widely used as an ingredient in hand soaps.
Generally, coconut oil is not recommended for consumption due to its high saturated fat content of around 80%. The lauric acid and myristic acid present in coconut oil increase both HDL (High-density lipoprotein) cholesterol and LDL (Low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol contents. Therefore, it is not a suitable edible oil. In many countries, coconut oil is still used as cooking oil for shallow-frying and deep-frying. Cold-pressed coconut oil for cooking is highly not recommended as prolonged usage might cause cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and so on. Cold-pressed coconut oil for cooking is to be avoided, but cold-pressed coconut oil can very well be used as a skincare and haircare agent.
- Coconut oil as a moisturizer for the face:
Different skin types have different textures. Dry skin is characterized by a dry, oil-free, and flaky appearance. In order to rejuvenate dry skin, moisturizers are generally recommended. Moisturizers tend to lock the water content on the skin without letting it evaporate. Instead of using synthetic moisturizers, coconut oil is a natural skin rejuvenation agent. The fatty acids in the oil are highly beneficial for the skin cells. Coconut oil is also a key ingredient in most facial skincare products. It is generally not recommended for excess oily skin. In that case, excess oil might lead to blockage of pores. Therefore to avoid such instances, it is always recommended to use any kind of oil only after a good face wash to remove the dirt particles on the skin surface.
- Coconut oil as a skin smoothening agent:
Coconut oil is recommended not just for application on the face but also to arms and legs. Frequently our skin undergoes external environmental exposure, which leads to dullness, hardness, and pigmentation. To smoothen out these problems, coconut oil is the best solution. A weekly massage with coconut oil will help to retain the skin’s natural shine. Also, coconut oil, along with a couple of other ingredients like turmeric and yogurt, will do wonders for your skin. Coconut oil acts as a barrier when applied to the skin surface.
- Coconut oil for wound healing:
Coconut oil is a great wound healer and skin barrier. It can be directly applied to wounds, abrasions, and cuts. The fatty acids of the coconut oil increase the rate of epithelialization. Thus the formation of new skin cells over the wounded or damaged skin is much faster than conventional pathways. Coconut oil can be used as a household first aid cream for wounds and cuts. After washing the affected area with soap and water, coconut oil can be slowly applied to the surface of the skin. With its barrier action, coconut oil won’t allow the entry of other microbial compounds via open wounds. Coconut oil is recommended for people of all age groups. Kids are especially vulnerable to such skin injuries. Coconut oil is very well suited for the skin of kids. Even coconut oil is applied to newborn babies as a massage oil to enhance bone alignment.
- Coconut oil to reduce wrinkles:
The primary reason for wrinkles and fine lines on the skin is due to aging and loss of collagen compounds. Other causes for skin wrinkling could be the exposure of skin to external harmful Ultra-violet radiation. To prevent the onset of wrinkles and fine lines from a younger age, coconut oil is a great remedy. Frequent massaging of coconut oil on the face following proper guidelines of facial massages will help to overcome the problems related to wrinkling and aging of the skin. Coconut oil is a wonderful solution for skin aging to revive the skin’s natural glow. Excess UV radiation might also lead to redness, skin irritation, sunburns, and other skin-related disorders. Coconut oil can very well be topically applied to treat such skin problems.
- Coconut oil as an antimicrobial agent:
Coconut oil has a barrier effect on skin that doesn’t allow the entry of external particles. Apart from this, coconut oil also has antimicrobial properties by inhibiting the proliferation of some bacterial species like Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Protectionism aces. These bacterial species are primary causative agents for bacterial acne and related skin conditions. Therefore, the application of coconut oil as a night cream will reduce the incidence of bacterial acne caused by bacterial species. Also, the application of coconut oil in hair is also recommended by dermatologists and trichologists. Coconut oil also has antioxidants that boost the health of the skin.
- Coconut oil as a lip scrub:
Coconut oil is a very well-known moisturizing agent and rejuvenating agent. During the winter months, dried skin and chappy lips are very common. Sometimes, overdrying of chappy lips may lead to profuse bleeding if not treated properly. Therefore the application of coconut oil on lips as a light lip scrub will reduce the dryness and brittleness of lips. Also, coconut oil can be applied daily as an alternative to lip gloss due to its shiny finish. Hyperpigmentation is another major problem in lips. Coconut oil, along with sugar, is an excellent light lip scrub to reduce hyperpigmentation of lips. Coconut oil can also be used as a lip balm by the addition of beeswax, which is a common ingredient in lip balms. Also, colours can be added to create tinted lip balms.
- Coconut oil as an exfoliant:
Our skin has a number of open pores, and these pores are often accumulated with dirt and dust. An exfoliant is very necessary to remove such dirt particles in the pores. Coconut oil is a great exfoliant when paired with a few other ingredients. A coconut exfoliant face mask can be prepared by adding gram flour and yogurt. Coconut oil with coffee powder is also a great exfoliant to cleanse the skin. The oil content of these masks will remove the underlying dirt particles. Coconut oil can be included in your daily skin regimen by adding it as a body scrub. Commercial body scrubs contain microplastics and other harmful abrasive agents. Therefore, these natural exfoliants are way better body scrubs than synthetic body scrubs.
- Coconut oil as a natural makeup remover:
Removing makeup is a tedious job with makeup wipes and harmful cleansers. Instead, coconut oil can be used as a natural makeup remover. Coconut can specifically be used to remove eye makeup like eyeliners and mascara. The sticky nature of eye makeup, if not removed properly, will lead to many complications like dark circles, puffy eyes, and under-eye pigmentation. To avoid such issues, coconut oil can be used to remove the last traces of this eye makeup. Also, coconut oil can be used as an eye cream to soothe eye puffiness.
- Coconut oil as a foot cream:
Coconut oil can be used to treat cracked heels and dried soles. Cracked heels are generally a result of excess friction of the skin surface against the ground. It results in skin peeling and flaky texture on the heels. Cracked heels are very difficult to treat, even with ointments and other medicines. Cracked heels are very persistent and difficult to treat. It might be prevalent for a long duration. The coconut oil application on cracked heels will help in the reformation of new skin over the damaged and peeled skin. With its barrier action, coconut oil will seal the affected region.
