My Deserted-Island-Pick...

Malaysians call the coconut tree "the tree of a thousand uses"...

The other day, someone asked me, out of the blue, that proverbial question: "If you were stuck on a deserted island and could have only one beauty product with you, what would it be?" Strangely, even though I have no plans to ever get stuck on a deserted island, I had a ready answer: coconut oil.

"Really?" the inquirer responded. "Mine would be mascara."

I'm not sure what good mascara would be on a deserted island. Now coconut oil, on the other hand, would be infinitely useful. First, it's a very stable oil that doesn't go rancid quickly unlike some of my other favourite oils (olive oil is great, but goes "off" very easily). Coconut oil is perfect for island life since it requires no refrigeration and will "keep" for a couple of years (hopefully I'd be rescued long before then, but just in case...).

Second, it has so many uses. It's an excellent skin moisturizer that is easily absorbed, and has antioxidant qualities that help fight free radicals. It offers some low SPF protection, and its antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial properties can help ward off skin infections and act as a sort of natural deodorant. It's wonderful for the hair; it can pinch-hit for lip balm and mascara (leaves a lovely glisten on the eyelashes)... and if you do have that tube of mascara with you, it makes the best make-up remover ever. Plus it has a subtle exotically-tropical scent that would fit right in with the island-ambiance. And if things got desperate, you could eat it. No wonder the coconut tree is referred to as "kalpa vriksha" in Sanskrit, which means "the tree that provides all the necessities of life". 

Here's how to use it. Coconut oil is solid at temperatures below about 24 degrees Celsius (76 degrees Fahrenheit). But put a little in your hands and it starts emulsifying immediately. After a shower, while still damp (very important so that the moisture can be sealed in), take a bit of coconut oil, emulsify it in your hands and smooth it over your face and body. Don't be put off by what can at first feel slightly "greasy" -- the coconut oil will sink in quickly. If you still feel too "slick", cut back on the oil -- it's very rich and a little goes a long way.

Coconut oil also provides a fantastic, deep-conditioning treatment for the hair. For centuries Indian women have been using coconut oil to keep their hair lush, thick and silky. And it's not folk-lore: scientific studies have shown that coconut oil is similar to hair's natural lipids and that it's one of the few oils that will actually penetrate the hair shaft. It's especially helpful for dry, damaged or chemically-processed hair. Apply between a teaspoon to a 1/4 cup of coconut oil to dry hair. (The amount depends on the length, thickness and texture of your hair. If you're trying this for the first time or if you have fine hair, I'd recommend starting off with a tiny amount to see how your hair responds). Massage into the hair and scalp (which is really beneficial if you have a dry, itchy scalp/dandruff). Cover your hair with a shower cap or plastic wrap. Then wrap your head with a warm, damp towel, to help the oil penetrate and condition. When the towel cools, re-warm it. Keep the oil on for about an hour (or longer) and then wash your hair. (You probably won't need conditioner after using this treatment).

You can find coconut oil at any good health food store -- but only use  organic, cold-pressed, virgin oil. If you try it, let me know what you think. It's one of my top favourite things -- definitely my deserted-island-pick.

Comments

[MM]

Thanks for the info! Do you recommend using coconut oil over using olive oil or any other oil for that matter as a facial moisturizer?

[BeautyCosmopolite]

Hi MM, thanks for your question. I'm a big fan of oils to moisturize and feed the skin. Contrary to popular myth, they do NOT cause acne or clog the pores -- and their smaller molecular structure means they can be more easily absorbed than creams. With regard to the type of oils, I find that depends largely on your skin type and what feels and works best -- it takes a bit of experimenting.

There are so many wonderful different base oils you can use, olive oil and coconut oil being a couple of great choices. I lot of people absolutely love olive oil on their skin. I've tried both, and my skin type reacts best to coconut oil. If you know anyone who uses it already, see if they'll give you a small sample to try out -- I've given out lots of samples to friends (they usually end up really liking it)! If you decide to buy some, it's not a huge investment -- and if you end up not liking it for your face, you can use it for an excellent body moisturizer.

I'll do future posts outlining more information on various oils and their properties. In the meantime, hope this helps!

[Sue]

I've just tried some and so far so good, I think I like it! At first it seemed a bit greasy, but like you say it sinks right in and my skin feels soft and moisturized. The coconut oil sure is cheaper than the moisturizer I was using so I'm going to keep using it and see how it goes!

[Jennifer]

I started using coconut oil a few months ago and I would never go back! It feels greasey at first, but it soaks in and keeps my skin soft. My husband likes the scent too!

[BeautyCosmopolite]

Thanks for your comments Sue and Jennifer -- sounds like you're liking coconut oil as much as I do...it's absolutely one of my favourite face and body moisturizers!

[smg]

I absolutely love the coconut oil! I've been using it as a face and body moisturizer and surprisingly on it's own as deodorant. This afternoon I'm going to use it to deep condition my hair. I now have cleared off my bathroom counter of all the different products I used to use and just have the coconut oil sitting there (well, along with the jar of manuka honey and my neti pot). Thanks again for introducing me to these natural products!

[BeautyCosmopolite]

That's great, SMG! Let me know how you like it for your hair -- sometimes it can take a bit of experimenting to determine exactly how much is needed (the first time I did a coconut-conditioning treatment, I used too much and it took me a couple of washes to get it all out). Thanks for your comment!