You may be familiar with using coconut oil in cooking if you’re a culinary queen/king, but have you ever tried coconut oil for beauty/cosmetic purposes?
Coconut oil in the beauty industry is used as a highly moisturizing product for the skin and hair, adding hydration and shine in even small quantities. It is the base for many skincare/haircare products including lip balms, shampoos, and moisturizers, however, it can also be used alone or with essential oils for other beauty applications.
In this article, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know when it comes to coconut oil for the beauty industry. This will include how coconut oil is made, its uses and benefits, some potential alternatives, and even some storage/shelf life tips!
What is coconut oil made from?
Coconut oil is made by extracting the oil from coconut meat via different pressing methods. Coconuts typically grow on palm trees in the tropics, in warm areas with plenty of sandy soil.
Extraction of coconut oil can be carried out in three ways as listed below:
- Cold-Pressing – this involves pressing coconut meat at a temperature of no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit, ensuring nutritional value is maintained and vitamins/minerals are not degraded.
- Expeller-Pressing – with expeller-pressing, the coconut meat is exposed to heat which may be more efficient than cold-pressing, however, some nutrients may not be maintained when using this extraction method.
- Centrifuge – this is considered to be the extraction method that provides the highest purity of coconut oil, and involves spinning coconut milk at super-high speeds in a centrifuge to separate the oil from the other milk components.
Once the coconut oil has been extracted, it is either sold/used in its raw form (otherwise known as unrefined coconut oil, virgin coconut oil, or extra virgin coconut oil), or it will go through a refining process in a factory to remove impurities.
Refined coconut oil is still considered to be highly beneficial, however, it’s important to choose refined coconut oil that is expeller-pressed to avoid lots of additional chemicals in your coconut oil.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that there’s no difference between virgin coconut oil and extra-virgin coconut oil – both of these products are the same, it’s simply a marketing term!
Uses for coconut oil
There are many uses for coconut oil within the beauty industry, including as a body moisturizer, facial moisturizer, and hair mask/finishing oil.
It can also be used to soothe bug bites and burns due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
We’ve compiled 100 uses for coconut oil that you may want to check out if you’re interested in all the different uses for this popular carrier oil!
Benefits of coconut oil
Here are a few of the key benefits of coconut oil to help you decide if it’s the right carrier oil for you:
- Highly moisturizing
- Absorbs easily into the skin
- Provides a good base for products such as lip balms and deodorants
- Highly nourishing when used in the hair and on the skin
- Gentle and therefore suitable for sensitive skin
- Plumps skin, therefore, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines
- High in antioxidants which can help to repair the skin if damaged
- Can be mixed with other carrier oils to provide further benefits
Appearance and scent of coconut oil
Raw coconut oil is almost transparent in appearance, whereas refined coconut oil is likely to have a golden yellow color due to bleaching that may occur in the manufacturing process.
Coconut oil will be solid at room temperature and will start to melt upon application to the skin.
Unrefined coconut oil may have a nutty, coconut scent, however, other ingredients are often added in the manufacturing process which may make the scent more neutral or add other scents entirely.
Substitutes for coconut oil
While coconut oil is very popular, it does have a comedogenic rating of 4 which may be offputting to those who have oily skin, as this could increase the chance of skin break-outs/clogged pores.
Here are some typical substitutes for coconut oil if you’re looking for an alternative with a lower comedogenic rating that provides similar benefits:
- Argan oil (comedogenic rating of 0)
- Avocado oil (comedogenic rating of 3)
- Jojoba oil (comedogenic rating of 2)
- Grapeseed oil (comedogenic rating of 1)
- Almond oil (comedogenic rating of 2)
- Sunflower oil (comedogenic rating of between 0-2)
Shelf life and storage of coconut oil
When stored correctly, coconut oil should last up to 18 months if unrefined or even up to 5 years if refined.
Coconut oil should be stored in a cool, dark space that is away from direct sunlight. You can store coconut oil in the fridge if you like it to provide a cooling effect, however, refrigeration won’t generally increase the shelf life past what you’d expect from storing it in a cupboard or other dark area.
Take a look at these tips for storing coconut oil if you want to know more!
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions that will give you more of an understanding of this popular carrier oil!
Coconut oil is generally considered good for the skin as it is highly moisturizing and provides anti-inflammatory benefits as well as potential anti-bacterial properties.
It may be bad for your skin if you have an oily skin type, as coconut oil has a high comedogenic rating of 4 and therefore may increase the chance of skin breakouts/acne.
There are a few different pros and cons to using coconut oil as a cosmetic product.
Some advantages of coconut oil include intense moisturization for the skin/hair, potential antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and gentle nature making it suitable for sensitive skin.
However, a disadvantage to coconut oil for beauty purposes include its high comedogenic rating of 4 which may make it unsuitable for those with an oily skin type. It’s also heavy in consistency, which may not be suited to everyone’s preferences.
Coconut oil can be used every day to help keep the skin nourished and hydrated. It is worth bearing in mind that it may lead to clogged pores if used every day on the face, as it has a comedogenic rating of 4. If you have oily skin you may want to reduce the amount of coconut oil that you use on your face or stick to using it on the rest of your body only.
It can also be used regularly on the hair as a finishing oil or hair mask.
There are many benefits that coconut oil can provide to your face. These include helping to improve your skin’s natural barrier, ensuring moisture is retained and skin is kept soft and hydrated.
However, coconut oil does have a comedogenic rating of 4 which can cause it to lead to breakouts on the skin. For this reason, you may wish to avoid using it directly on your face if you have oily skin.
Beauty-grade coconut oil is a high-quality virgin coconut oil that is considered to be the best for your hair and skin. It’s typically made using younger coconut fruit and is generally unrefined.
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