I have been using coconut oil to cook with for some time, not for ever, but I did start to use it before it became as widely available as it is now. These days it’s as easy to source as ice cream by the seaside on a hot summer’s day as it has slipped into the river of mainstream and is sold in supermarkets.
I have a book called The Coconut Oil Miracle and I have read some of the avalanche of articles about coconut oil on the net so I was aware of its multitudinous uses. However up to recently I used it for culinary purposes only. Until I got itchy arms!
Now itchy are arms are not the most glamorous affliction and, yes, just my arms were itchy. I was anxious to get rid of the maddening itch so I googled itchy arms + natural cures. One of the results that Mr Google returned suggested rubbing coconut oil into the effected areas. This I did. It didn’t cure my itchy arms but it gave me temporary relief from the insanity inducing itch and after a week or so I noticed the skin on my arms looked healthier and had lost some of its dull dryness.
I then started using coconut oil on my face, slathering it on morning and night. There are no before and after pictures so it’s highly subjective to conclude my skin looks better. But I think it does. Much better.
I have used various unguents and potions on my face over the years and for the last decade or so my selection has veered mainly towards natural skin care products. The only problem is knowing which is the most natural. Much like the animals in George Orwell’s Animal Farm were all are equal but some were more equal than others I suspect that when it comes to natural beauty products some are definitely more natural than others. I am too lazy to do the research so one of the beauties, for me, of coconut oil (I use organic cold pressed virgin oil) as a moisturiser is that I know it’s totally natural.
Coconut oil is solid at 24°C which means it rarely liquefies in Ireland but once you dab some on your face it melts into your skin. My kitchen jar of coconut oil was a large one litre giant so for facial use I decanted some into the small blue glass jar you see in the image above.
I am not sure if coconut oil works for all skin types but it does for mine (dry).
Just Add Attitude 
I have psoriasis patches on my legs and coconut oil almost cured it, I use it every day and one leg and my elbow are completely clear and the other leg was clear but it came back and I am using the coconut oil again, I also use it as a hair moisturizer, It’s great stuff.
I am very pleased to hear that coconut oil had almost cured your psoriasis patches. And also sad to hear that the patches came back, I hope the oil can clear them fully this time. 😉 I agree it’s great stuff.
Excellent suggestion – it’s good to try something you already have available!
So true. I like when things have more than one use. 😉
We use it for cooking. Maybe I should try a little bit on my face. I have combination skin so I’m a bit nervous of having a shiny face especially around my nose and forehead. I’ll give it a try and get back to you.
Sadly I am no expert on how it works for different skin types but I do hope you will give it a try. 😉
Who would have known! Thanks for the tip. I’ll try it tomorrow and see how it works or if I fry!
I hope it works for you. I find it great and compared to the price of a regular moistruiser it’s excellent value. 😉
I use it for cooking now but haven’t tried it on my skin yet – except in the early 80s as suntan oil which I’m now suitably ashamed to admit!
I think we all have stories of daft sunbathing but that was before we realized how damaging the sun is for our skin. 😉
When I was a teenager on the Gold Coast I used to rub coconut oil on my skin and lie in the sun. I’m sure I fried my skin in the process but I sure smelled good. I haven’t used it for cooking, but I should try it.
Hopefully you didn’t to any damage. As a teenager I didn’t use any sunscreen as there wasn’t the same awareness of the damage the sun’s rays could cause. Times have changed.
That’s great that you have found such relief, using coconut oil.
Thank you, it was very soothing rubbing in the coconut oil. 😉
When I was visiting back home in Minnesota a few months ago, my mom actually gave me some coconut oil to use as lotion. I was somewhat doubtful and it stayed in the jar for a while but once I started using it I found that I love it! I completely second your recommendation 🙂
I am pleased to hear that you too love using coconut oil on your skin. And thank you for seconding the recommendation for it. 😉
What an interesting post, B.! I’m not exactly a beauty expert but I think it is great that you are able to use such a natural … ingredient, although I’m not sure it would work for someone who does not have dry skin as you said.
Have a great week!
F. Xx
Thank you Francesca. I am no beauty expert either so all I know is the coconut oil worked for me. Thank you for your good wishes and you too have a great week.
B xx
I cook with coconut oil and use it on my face and body too! Smells great and the most effective natural moisturiser ever!
I am delighted with the results of using coconut oil on my face so I agree it’s a very effective moistruiser. Thank you for your comment. 😉
Thanks so much for publishing this. I’ve never tried coconut oil as a moisturizer but now I’m going to give it a go.
Thank you so much for your comment. I find the coconut oil works very well for me as a moisturiser and I hope it does for you too. Take care.
That sounds really cool! I really want to try it! I’ve heard that coconut oil is anti-bacterial too, so I can see why it might be really good for the skin!
Thank you for your comment Stephanie. I too have heard that coconut oil is anti-bacterail. It’s a bit of a wonder oil even if only half of what’s claimed for is true. 😉
I use it as a moisturizer as well, and it’s great as a makeup remover. I like to use it as lip balm because I know it’s safe. Also, I read that it has a natural SPF of 4. Not high, but completely natural.
Coconut oil is my absolute Go To oil. I use it for cooking, teeth brushing and as a face moisturiser. I also use it to soothe insect bites and inflammation and give it to my son if he gets a sore throat. Couldn’t live without it!
Thank you for your comment. It’s good to hear it has so many uses. I often get sore throats but had never thought of taking coconut oil for them before now. Next time.