Coconut oil as a moisturiser

YellowFeather

Hey all

I started using pure coconut oil on my hair a while ago (once or twice a week at night) and it's had great results, leaving my hair very smooth and shiny (even as a blonde).

I've been using it recently as a moisturiser at night (would be too oily for daytime) and, again, I'm finding it to be brilliant.

I was wondering though, is there anything that I could be missing that would be contained in the likes of the expensive creams from stores. Is there any reason that I should be going for an actual branded night moisturiser rather than coconut oil?

The same for Baby Oil too. I use that as a body moisturiser and I love it.

I'm just wondering what is the reason that proper creams are so expensive, whereas these guys seem to work perfectly.

Nope, sunscreen is the only addition worth adding.

http://www.alternet.org/story/148140/the_cosmetics_racket%3A_why_the_beauty_industry_can_get_away_with_charging_a_fortune_for_makeup

"Some skin-care products you can buy in Sephora cost about $2 to make, but then are on sale for $300. Other skin-care products can be made for 50 cents and are sold for $2," says Romanowski, whose many books include Beginning Cosmetic Chemistry. And although the actual percentages of the markups is a trade secret that companies don't reveal, "in general, these products are not using ingredients so expensive that they would warrant the cost. No anti-wrinkle cream is worth $150. In fact, any product over $25 is a waste of money.

Any dermatologist will confirm this. A cheap moisturiser that you like using will do much the same job as a very expensive one, a large portion of the cost of that expensive moisturiser is advertising. You're paying to look at ads of the cream, ads that promise vague results and ridiculous 'proof' like '8 out of 9 women agree...' to some unspecified statement, in some unspecified 'trial'.

I'd pay a bit more for a consistency that suits me and maybe even for a more attractive product, but I'd be under no illusion that $200 for a tub of cream is worth the money.

Amazingfun

It's great whipped as well

Just to add, rosehip oil is lovely to use and less greasy than coconut oil for the face. It's a 'dry' oil and if you massage it into damp skin it leaves your skin like velvet with no oily residue.

Marula oil is another great one, its oilier than rosehip and spreads easier (again, damp skin helps it absorb better), so it's great for dry skin.

Tilly

Candie wrote: »

Just to add, rosehip oil is lovely to use and less greasy than coconut oil for the face. It's a 'dry' oil and if you massage it into damp skin it leaves your skin like velvet with no oily residue.

Marula oil is another great one, its oilier than rosehip and spreads easier (again, damp skin helps it absorb better), so it's great for dry skin.

Where can you pick up these oils?

I use coconut oil when my skin gets very dry. I plaster it on in the evening and wipe it off before i go to bed and my skin feels great after. Only need to do this a few nights in a row and then i'm back to normal.

Tilly

Tilly wrote: »

Where can you pick up these oils?

I use coconut oil when my skin gets very dry. I plaster it on in the evening and wipe it off before i go to bed and my skin feels great after. Only need to do this a few nights in a row and then i'm back to normal.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wild-Harvested-Cold-Pressed-Marula/dp/B005F58QLU/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1420998410&sr=1-1&keywords=marula+oil

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Naissance-100ml-Rosehip-Oil/dp/B004RGMO8O/ref=sr_1_2?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1420998486&sr=1-2&keywords=rosehip+oil

Marula is more expensive, but you use it so sparingly so it'll probably last as long as the Rosehip. If your skin is mainly normal and occasionally dry, you'll probably find yourself using the rosehip daily and the marula when needed. My skin is one thing I'm complemented on constantly, it's even toned and clear and while it was always good, since I've been sticking to oils it's been perfect.

I also use Argan sometimes, for a change. It's also a 'dry' oil and works best applied to damp skin.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pure-Argan-Organic-100ml-Nails/dp/B004LYL4F6/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1420998658&sr=1-1&keywords=argan+facial+oil

My skin is usually normal/combination, and very occasionally dry if I've been swimming a lot. I will never go back to lotions and creams after seeing the results I've had over the last couple of years.

numbernine

Hi,

Im looking to start using coconut oil, where did you buy it? I see it comes in jars, bottles, tubes, could you recommend as to which one should i buy? Some are extracts of coconut etc.

Tilly

numbernine wrote: »

Hi,

Im looking to start using coconut oil, where did you buy it? I see it comes in jars, bottles, tubes, could you recommend as to which one should i buy? Some are extracts of coconut etc.

I use extra virgin and i get it in Supervalue.

beautybrain

Coconut oil can be comedogenic, meaning it can clog pores, but I suspect this would be more common in someone with a combination/oily skin type.

I'd agree with Candie's suggestion of rosehip oil - it really brightens the skin and can fade scars over time.

I use apricot kernel oil as a body moisturiser. It's cheap, contains lots of natural vitamin E and keeps my skin really moisturised - if you can I would switch your baby oil moisturiser to this, it's much better for the skin as baby oil is mineral oil which can't penetrate the skin and is a by-product of petroleum.

beautybrain

Coconut oil is highly comedogenic, meaning it can clog pores, but I suspect this would be more common in someone with a combination/oily skin type.

I'd agree with Candie's suggestion of rosehip oil - it really brightens the skin and can fade scars over time.

I use apricot kernel oil as a body moisturiser. It's cheap, contains lots of natural vitamin E and keeps my skin really moisturised - if you can I would switch your baby oil moisturiser to this, it's much better for the skin as baby oil is mineral oil which can't penetrate the skin and is a by-product of petroleum.

Amazingfun

numbernine wrote: »

Hi,

Im looking to start using coconut oil, where did you buy it? I see it comes in jars, bottles, tubes, could you recommend as to which one should i buy? Some are extracts of coconut etc.

I almost hate sharing this tip but.......Tesco has coconut oil on for 1.99 per 500g jar

stop animal cruelty

beautybrain wrote: »

Coconut oil can be comedogenic, meaning it can clog pores, but I suspect this would be more common in someone with a combination/oily skin type.

I'd agree with Candie's suggestion of rosehip oil - it really brightens the skin and can fade scars over time.

I use apricot kernel oil as a body moisturiser. It's cheap, contains lots of natural vitamin E and keeps my skin really moisturised - if you can I would switch your baby oil moisturiser to this, it's much better for the skin as baby oil is mineral oil which can't penetrate the skin and is a by-product of petroleum.

where can you get this?

beautybrain

stop animal cruelty wrote: »

where can you get this?

You should be able to find pure apricot kernel oil on Amazon and Ebay. There are also several online shops that specialise in soap and cosmetic making ingredients that stock it.

Naturally Thinking
Fresholi
Mystic Moments

gg2

When using as a hair mask - are you using it on damp or dry hair?

willow tree

gg2 wrote: »

When using as a hair mask - are you using it on damp or dry hair?

I cover dry hair with coconut oil, sleep with it & wash it out the next morning. Really shiny hair results.

milomi

Yes, coconut oil is great for your hair and your skin, it makes it very shiny and I really like it, because I love how coconut smells.

The problem is these days the oil is very hard because of the cold weather.