At a posh dinner party the other week, a successful actress was seated to my right. We had begun discussing skin and how she keeps herself looking so fresh and radiant, when she leaned over and whispered her secret:
“I use coconut oil on my body and I love it.”
“I do too!” I exclaimed.
She elaborated that she doesn’t use the oil on her face like I do because it gets in her hair, but we were instantly bonded.
I soon noticed that to my left was a dashing man of about 45 years old. His skin was exceptional as well, and when I expressed my admiration he replied, “You’ll never guess: my wife made me try coconut oil and I never went back.”
So there we were the three of us, all dolled-up at a fashion dinner, chatting about the benefits of coconut oil for the skin.
The skin is your body's largest organ and is extremely absorbent, so stick to natural ingredients. Most commercial moisturizers contain petroleum-based irritants that suffocate pores, but coconut oil strengthens the tissue below the surface while removing dead skin cells.
I use coconut oil on my whole body including my face but those with sensitive, break- out-prone complexions might want to use something else for the face. Wherever you apply it, this little beauty trick will do wonders for your skin, hair and wallet. It’s a very affordable beauty regime, as even organic virgin coconut oil doesn’t break the bank (it sells for under $15 at Whole Foods, Amazon and Trader Joe’s).
Coconut oil is a healthy saturated fat, so it’s also great to cook with. It has a high smoking point, which means it’s much less susceptible to heat damage like many vegetable oils. I also eat it raw on salads and veggies and use in my baking. It’s cholesterol-free, trans fatty acid-free and has even been shown to help lower cholesterol levels because it stimulates thyroid function. The oil is also considered an antiviral, anti-fungal and antibacterial agent.
Whatever you use coconut oil for—whether it’s as a lotion for your skin, a cooking ingredient or to help regulate your cholesterol—you’re sure to derive great benefits.