Coconut Oil for Body and Hair Care
Out of body lotion or body scrub? No problem, everything you need is in your kitchen!
Our skin is the biggest organ with many pores, so it's good to keep in mind that what ever you put on it will get into your body. My mum always used to say: "If you wouldn't eat it, why would you put it on your skin?"
Coconut oil has may benefits for our skin. The fatty acids it contains have anti-microbial and disinfectant properties, what that means is that it will clean your pores and let your skin breathe. It also contains vitamin E and saturated fats which will keep your skin moisturized and protected from the weather elements.
This oil is hard at room temperature, but it will melt when it gets in touch with your skin. If you prefer it to be more liquid you can add olive oil, hemp seed oil, avocado or sweet almond oil.
You will need:
This body scrub smells so good you'll want to eat it and guess what? You actually can! All the ingredients are 100% natural, edible and most likely are already in your kitchen. If you are in need of some pure grade Essential Oils, you can get them here. The ones that work best for this body scrub are On Guard, Wild Orange, Tangerine or Cinnamon. Now I've only made a half measure because there are so many different combinations out there and I'm a bit impatient and can't wait to try all of them.
For this body scrub you will need:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 4 drops On guard essential oil (or the oil of your choosing)
The procedure is super simple, mix the spices and sugar in a separate bowl, add coconut oil and essential oil. Stir until combined and store in an air tight container.
You might not have to melt the coconut oil (I didn't), depending on the room temperature and how easy it is to mix it. However if you find that the oil is too hard, heat it up slowly and make sure that the temperature doesn't go over 47 degrees. If you warm the coconut oil too much, the high temperature will destroy the nutrients and the sugar will melt completely.
Use this scrub 2 - 3 times a week. The best thing about it is that it will leave a layer of coconut oil on your skin, so there will be no need for body lotion. Just tap your skin dry with the towel and you're ready to go!
Nourishing body oil and deep conditioner
This is so simple to make and I guarantee you'll love what it will do to your skin and your hair.
Sounds crazy to be using the same product for both? Why? Your scalp has pores, just as your skin, they both need to be kept clean and moisturized. This oil will do just that and it smells amazing! I've used hemp seed oil, but if you don't have any you can use olive oil. You can find lots of useful information about Melaleuca (or Tea Tree) Essential oil here and if you're looking to buy some you can do it here.
All you need to do is mix 1 cup of coconut oil with 2 table spoons on hemp seed oil and add 3 drops of Tea Tree and 3 drops of Lemongrass essential oils. Scoop it up into an air tight container and that's it!
You can use it as body oil or as a deep conditioning hair mask. If your using it for your hair, massage it onto your scalp and put some on your ends. Leave it in for a few hours or over night. Wrap your hair into a towel or an old T-shirt because the oils will leave a stain on your pillow or on the furniture. Wash your hair as usual.
This oil is also great for massage because Lemongrass is great for reducing muscle pain and it will aid your fight against cellulite.
Important
Keep all of these products away from your eyes. Some people have sensitive skin and can be allergic to one or all of the ingredients. Always patch test it first to make sure there are no skin irritations. If you're not sure about using essential oils consult you doctor, especially if you're pregnant or nursing. Make sure you're using pure grade essential oils and remember, they are highly concentrated, so a few drops will go a long way.
There are many awesome ways of using coconut oil out there, combinations with essential oils and other products are endless. What is your favorite way of using it? Let me know in the comments.
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