With its sweet and sweet scent, this oil has many virtues. It nourishes the skin and hair without greasing them, has purifying properties and even delays skin aging … Zoom on the beauty benefits of coconut oil.
Coconut oil (you will recognize it by the name Cocos nucifera oil on the INCI list of your cosmetics) is a first cold-pressed oil made from coconut pulp. The fruit, picked from the tree, is harvested at maturity, when its shell turns brown. The flesh is washed, grated and lightly dried in order to be dehydrated. It is then pressed into a paste (called cake), from which coconut oil is extracted.
A virgin oil not to be confused with coconut oil (the one found in monoi), a refined oil also coming from coconut, but obtained by extraction at high temperature. “To distinguish them, just smell them: coconut oil has an exotic solar odor, coconut oil has a neutral odor “, specifies Didier Thevenin, director of international training Melvita. Coconut oil freezes below 25 ° C, which also allows it to be used as a balm. Otherwise, it must be passed under a stream of hot water to thin it.
An oil in affinity with the hair
Rich in saturated fatty acids (lauric, palmitic and myristic acids), coconut oil is in perfect affinity with the hair. This one, which takes up to 50% of its weight in water when wet, undergoes a yo-yo effect from being regularly moistened and dried. He is subject to what is called “hygral fatigue”. The thicker the hair, the more it is subject to this phenomenon.
“Coconut oil promotes repair of the hair fiber against this fatigue and helps smooth the scales of the hair. It easily penetrates the fiber and reaches the cortex, thus limiting the absorption of water and the loss of keratin hair “, explains Didier Thevenin. It can be used alone, or incorporated into shampoos, masks or hair care products. It can also be applied as a detangler, just on the lengths, to facilitate brushing.
- In anti-lice care: it is formidable for these little animals which it suffocates. It is applied all over the hair, like a poultice. Put on a swimming cap (or a charlotte) and let it act all night. We rinse with hot water in the morning, before doing one or two shampoos.
An oil in affinity with the skin
The best oil is obtained by cold pressing of fresh coconut pulp. It is extra virgin, unmodified, preferably organic. It can be used all over the body to soften, cleanse, nourish, and on the face to preserve the youthfulness of the skin. It therefore easily replaces daily body milk. Its softening action can also work wonders on dry cuticles.
Solid below 22 ° C, it liquefies when passing the bottle under hot water. Concentrated in lauric acid (fatty acid) and non-comedogenic, it cleanses oily skin and limits the proliferation of pimples, thanks to an antibacterial action. In the evening, apply a few drops of oil by massaging, on the previously cleansed face.
- In lip balm: in our regions, coconut oil is most often solid: it is therefore a very easy butter to apply to the mouth. The texture melts on contact with the lips and forms a delicious and very comfortable emollient film.
- By cleansing: its oily texture overcomes all make-up, including the most resistant (waterproof, high hold). It does not sting the eyes and strengthens the eyelashes. Take a few drops in the palm of your hand and massage the face to loosen all the impurities. Rinse off with lukewarm water or lotion.
- In anti-aging oil: rich in vitamins E (antioxidant) and A (restorative and anti-free radical), coconut oil is valuable for limiting the damage caused by free radicals in the skin while preserving tissue elasticity. It can replace or supplement day care, depending on the nutritional needs of the skin.
- As an after-sun: after exposure, it repairs skin that is heated and dehydrated by UV rays. It can also be applied to soothe mild sunburns, as well as redness.
A bactericidal oil
It is for its bactericidal properties that it is used as a mouthwash in Ayurvedic rituals. It rids the mouth of bacteria, cleanses the gums, teeth and freshens breath. Just put the equivalent of a tablespoon in your mouth and gargle for about 5 minutes before spitting it out.
This ritual would also have a beneficial effect on the intestinal flora, via saliva, in particular reducing stomach and intestinal problems. Because this oil has an antifungal and antibacterial action, some women do not hesitate to use as an intimate hygiene product.
