When I learned that coconut oil can help with acne and clear skin, I was super excited. Nourishing your skin with coconut oil is just so simple and quite cheap. Here’s what I learned about how to use coconut oil for acne.
Coconut oil for acne was at the top of my list of posts to write about for getting clear skin.
Here’s why:
While I don’t agree with outright food worship, I have to admit that coconut oil deserves a lot of the attention it gets.
When it comes to promoting clear, healthy skin, coconut oil is definitely just what the doctor (dermatologist?) should be ordering.
(This is my favorite coconut oil to use.)
You can use coconut oil for acne in two primary ways:
How to Use Coconut Oil for Acne
1. In Your Body
Coconut oil is brimming with medium chain fatty acids like lauric acid and caprylic acid which are metabolized into potent antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal agents in the body.
Why are these fats important?
They work to fight some of the underlying causes of acne such as candida overgrowth, autoimmunity and inflammation.
Recently I’ve been considering the times I’ve had exceptionally clear skin during the past few years, and one factor that keeps popping up is that whenever I had really clear skin I was also eating a lot of
coconut oil at the time.
I’m still not sure whether or not eating more coconut oil is a determining factor in my acne, but it’s certainly worth experimenting with.
And so I’ve renewed my commitment to eat at least three tablespoons of coconut oil every day, the
minimum amount recommended by Bruce Fife in The Coconut Oil Miracle, as well as Mary Enig and Sally Fallon in Eat Fat, Lose Fat.
2. On Your Body
I know what you’re thinking: Coconut oil on your skin? Won’t it make you break out?!?
…At one point in time I too was terrified of putting anything oily on my skin. Using coconut oil for acne sounded ludicrous.
I figured that acne is caused by oil so the best thing to do is kill it with dryness.
Well, you know 
what’s worse than acne?
Acne and dry skin at the same time! (And let me tell you it’s no picnic trying to apply makeup to dry, flaky skin.)
My exploration in the world of real food and natural living led me to realize that oil is not your skin’s enemy. After reading what Kat James had to say in her book The Truth About Beauty, I was struck by the realization that I had been stripping my skin of everything it needed to protect and replenish itself.
I was punishing my skin for having acne, and it was most definitely backfiring on me.
Here’s what I do instead:
So I’ve tried to use gentler methods for cleansing, toning and moisturizing my face. Coconut oil is a regular part of my regimen. And believe me, my skin is oh so grateful.
Why is coconut oil good for your skin?
The same antibacterial and antifungal properties in coconut oil that work wonders in your body can do the same on your skin as well. It is far more gentle than chemical antibacterial agents and yet surprisingly effective for many people.
Because it consists primarily of short and medium-chain fatty acids, coconut oil is also absorbed easily through the skin and provides moisture without leaving your skin feeling greasy. The lauric acid especially can have a positive effect on acne (from this study).
Tip: If you are left feeling like an oil slick after applying coconut oil, consider scaling back on the amount you use. A very small amount goes a long way. I get much better results working a small amount into my skin rather than slathering it on too liberally.
There is always a jar of coconut oil in my bathroom now (I use it for oil pulling too).
I don’t personally use it on my face every single day, but whenever my skin feels the need, I reach for my jar of coconut oil without hesitation. It has yet to produce anything but positive benefits for my skin.
I also like to add essential oils to my coconut oil to promote healthy skin. Lavender, orange, and the special Purification blend from Young Living are some of my favorites. Learn where I shop for therapeutic essential oils online.
Do you use coconut oil for acne? How has it benefited your body and your skin? Share your thoughts and tips below in the comments!
Looking for a great coconut to use? This is my favorite.
More of our best posts:
- Refined vs. Unrefined Coconut Oil
- 40+ Coconut Oil Skincare Recipes
- Coconut Oil for Weight Loss
- Coconut Oil Fudge
- Easy Coconut Oil Body Butter Recipe
- Craving Peanut Butter? Here’s Why
I have to say that the idea of using coconut oil on my face really freaks me out because I tend to have oily skin. I use tea tree oil every night, in a small amount of aloe gel, as an astringent but tea tree is not an oily oil. I do know that I had huge splits in my heels recently and I tried everything but nothing healed them. Then I started putting coconut oil on them every night for a week and suddenly the huge crevices just closed and healed. Incidentally, I just did a product review on a really good coconut oil that I love to use: http://tiny.cc/8c3r1
I don’t blame you for having reservations about putting oil on your face. If you want to try it out, I recommend just starting really small–just a dab of coconut oil. You can even just do it once or twice a week at first and then use it more often if you find that it works. I know a lot of people have mentioned that once they started moisturizing their skin, their oil production seems to calm down a bit, too, possibly because the skin doesn’t have to work so hard to restore all the moisture that was stripped away.
Is it normal to break out more when you start using it for acne?
Occasionally it can bring everything out of the skin at first, but keep an eye on it. Although coconut oil works very well for some, it’s not for everyone.
https://wellnessmama.com/7569/oil-cleansing-method/
I highly recommend reading this article if you’re interested in using oil on your face. It explains a lot, and helped me in my oil cleansing journey. To answer your question in short, yes, there will probably be a week or two week adjustment period, but STICK WITH IT. And make sure as time goes on you adjust your oil combinations to meet your needs.
I’ve had a love/hate experience with oil cleansing. I know a lot of people who do really well with it. Maybe I just lack the patience, haha. I can do it a couple times a week, but more than that and my skin seems to rebel like crazy.
I was the same way, Deanna! I had a TERRIBLE time with my skin. I used Proactive until it stopped working, because my face was producing too much oil. Then I switched to The Body Shop’s Tea Tree Oil line. Even that stopped working eventually. After ready a similar article, and in a last ditch effort, I started dabbing the tips of my fingers into coconut oil and putting it on my face. Acne GONE in less than a week. My face had a healthy glow to and even my skin tone was starting to balance out. I recently ran out of coconut oil and so I haven’t been using it for a couple of weeks. My face is a disaster zone!
I’d recommend giving the coconut oil a try.
What if I use coconut oil for TEENAGE acne?
I’m a teenager, and YES I’ve had/have acne, and this coconut oil works!! After my awkward years of acne-riddled middle and most of high school, I’m finally learning more about skin care. I hope you try it ☺.
What do you wash your face with? After you wash is when you put he coconut oil on?
i don’t wash my face at all! take a small gob and rub it all over your dry face, then get a washcloth wet with water as warm as you can get it and be comfortable putting it on your face.. sit the wash cloth on your face for 20 seconds or so then fold it and gently wipe your face off.. no rinsing required, it made my face very soft and glowy! No new zits the next day, either!
Thank you so much for that last bit of information, Brandy! I was so lost about how to actually apply it. I’m completely new to this coconut oil treatment and I was hoping for more specific instructions 🙂 I really appreciate it!
Hello I have a question how exactly do you use coconut oil to help get rid of acne? Do you remove your makeup with it or when exactly please help I will be in a wedding soon and my skin is a disaster I would really appreciate your answer thank you
As someone with naturally oily skin (especially in a dry climate), I’ve found that moisturizing it like crazy actually has helped me the most. Giving your skin consistent moisture tells your pores that they don’t need to produce so much oil. I use Neutrogena creamy face wash, coconut oil and sometimes witch hazel. And my skin is the best it’s ever been. I don’t even have to use makeup anymore; I just powder myself in the morning.
I’ve noticed the same thing! When I keep my skin moisturized and don’t strip it with harsh cleansers, it tends to calm oil production down quite a bit, and my skin looks so much better.
elizabeth,
Why do you use expeller-pressed organic refined coconut oil on your skin and in your meals? I am reading mixed articles about cold-pressed being better… can you explain any advantages you have seen with one or other?
thanks!
Sure thing! I wrote about it in this post: https://livingthenourishedlife.com/refined-vs-unrefined-coconut-oil-3/
Try oil cleansing with the coconut oil. Rub it in with your fingertips, let it sit for a few minutes, and then rinse with warm water and wipe your face with a hot steamy cloth. I used to have really oily skin, and struggled with acne for years, but this stuff really works!
Alicia,this is exactly what I do. I am in my 50’s and have always had problems with oily skin and acne. A year ago, I started cleansing my face with a small amount of coconut oil and rinsing with warm water and now I rarely have breakouts and my oily skin has balanced out beautifully. I also have soft and even skin for the first time in a long time. I don’t use anything else on my face. (A tiny amount can be used on dry spots as a moisturizer if needed.) I also put coconut oil on my hair before washing. Just give it a try and you will be hooked.
I was terrified but then thought about it. I have horrible skin.Ever since they stopped my birth control its gotten worse. Its so had that my self esteem has plummeted. I thought to myself “I have nothing more to lose.” I tried it under my jaw area first to see if I had any allergic reaction or if my acne worsened. So about a week later I went for it. For 2 weeks I OCM morning and night. My acne lessened and skin plumped and softened. Then I cut back to once a day. Now I do every other day. I do not regret it.!!!
Wow, that’s good to hear! I’m so nervous to try it.. since I once totally ruined my skin with jojoba and almond oil.. Now that I have clear skin (using a soap-free cleanser, Benzoyl Peroxide 2x a day, a great moisturizer, and honey masks) I’d like to try to eliminate chemicals in my skin care routine.. But again I’m TOTALLY afraid to ruin my skin..
How did jojoba affect your skin negatively?
OCM.?
I actually sell coconut oil in my store, and I’ve been using it for a year. My facial skin used to be pretty dry and flaky, but now it’s soft and smooth.
I was told by a lady from India to take off my makeup with coconut oil. She said it’s what the women there use since their eye makeup is so heavy. I rub it all over my face and then wipe it off with a dry washcloth. It cleanses and moisturizes in one step. Also, I’ve noticed that my fine lines have gotten better in the eye area. I get a lot of compliments on my “glowing” complexion.
Yes, I do this too! It really does take the makeup right off.
I use it to remove my makeup also. I love it!!!!
I use it to take off my eye makeup, too, and I’ve been using it in place of a moisturizer for the past six months. My fine lines are getting “finer” and my adult acne has cleared up, too.
Do you wash afterwards, or just leave it on? I tend to wash after makeup removal because I find something is often left behind.
I typically wash it away with a wash cloth and hot water. This seems to get everything. Sometimes I go over my face with witch hazel after just in case.
I use Tropical Traditions extra virgin coconut oil for just about everything: my face, my body (even tricky areas), my lips, my teeth (and for oil pulling when I remember), my babies (who used to have troublesome eczema patches), my eggs in the morning, my spinach, my curry, my fudge, my cookies, and even, once, when I didn’t have lesser oil around but wanted to try out a tip, on my stainless steel to make it shiny (worked great). I talk it up and give it away so much that my friends call me the queen of coconut oil. But it is just so amazingly useful, I can’t help myself.
I could write the exact same post! I used lower quality coconut oil for a while and decided to get the expeller pressed organic coconut oil from Tropical Traditions and it has made a HUGE difference in a day…less than a day! I had a cut on my finger that was really painful and as soon as I put this coconut oil on it…no joke…it healed it over. My adult acne and scars are healing up too! I try to put it in all of my food too!!
I recommend the book they sell about the coconut oil as well. It talks about how the Philippinos who eat it every day have no problems with skin cancer despite the fact that they are in the sun all day every day…interesting info.
PS For those who wonder about the results of being the queen of coconut, I feel compelled to add that I have good skin (not perfect, but I am not consistent) and wear a size 4 (well, these days–why does sizing keep changing?).
I have a question… when you say you eat 3T a day, how do you eat it?
There are a lot of ways. I usually have a tablespoon or two in my tea, I cook with it, I make fudge with it. You can also get coconut fat by using more coconut milk and dried coconut.
I know coconut oil is suggested to give the metabolism a boost (weight loss) but what would happen if a person who needed to GAIN weight ate 3 TB of coconut oil a day. I want to try this for my 18yo super skinny son who has a moderate acne problem. He does use it topically by the way.
Thanks!
I can attest to this. I was quite under weight (108-110 and 5′ 4″) when I started using coconut oil 5 years ago. Gradually I gained to a healthy weight of 120-122, have held there for 2 1/2 years, and feel so much better. I ate like a horse when I was thin, too…now I have a good appetite but don’t seem to feel hungry all the time. I also shoot for 3-5 T per day…some days I’m more successful than others, but I keep it as a goal before me all the time and most days I get what I need.
Also use it as a total body moisturizer after showering. If I’m still “greasy” after a minute or two (rarely) I keep a dry washcloth just for the purpose of blotting. My dry heels are also ancient history. 🙂
Just so everyone knows, even though coconut oil is good for your skin ,acne, etc. It really is not a healthy oil. It is better than butter in terms of cholesterol but is a highly saturated fat. These are not the good fats and because they have single carbon-carbon bonds they are more likely to stack up in arteries etc. So just take caution when using them in foods, unsaturated oil is a lot healthier due to the double carbon-carbon bonds has kinks in it and prevents the stacking that saturated oils do. Information came from college organic chemistry class and nutrition for nursing class
That is a very incorrect hypothesis. Saturated fat IS good for you! http://www.marksdailyapple.com/saturated-fat-healthy/#axzz2XulRCzjX
Amanda,
The problem of fat-clogged arteries actually stems from consuming pasteurized, ‘fortified’ dairy in conjunction with highly processed fats.
Calcium phosphate, found in cow’s milk, binds to fat. This isn’t too much of a problem for human consumption when the milk is raw/unpastuerized and all the original milkfat is present.
Reducing milk’s fat content and/or heat-treating milk leaves a higher concentration of unbound calcium phosphate, which then binds with any available fats we digest alongside it – so where those fats later travels in our bodies, the improperly added calcium can also travel and cause bloodstream plaque by attracting cholesterol and gluing it to one spot.
I appreciate that you trust and value what your curriculum has taught you, but I have two RNs and a med-tech in the family and have seen for myself how damaging their nursing-school ‘knowledge’ is to human health.
Even a certified nutritionist’s learning course contains information that contradicts a nurse’s nutritional learning, which my family found out after my RN mother befriended another homeschooling mother who was a nutritionist. They finally stopped discussing health matters because they couldn’t agree on what they’d been taught in comparable courses.
Stick to the peer-reviewed studies, preferably the ones without biased funding. Love and peace.
Umm, wouldn’t hurt to do more research on your own……sorry, just cuz someone teaches….doesn’t mean they.re an expert….
Amanda you are years behind in research. Including some of the top
research hospitals and medical schools in the world Taking 2 to 4 tablespoons of coconut oil per day has made a major drop in my cholesterol, dropped pounds, greatly improved my memory and made my skin that of a much younger woman. I am 77 and am mistaken for my son’s girlfriend! Research before you sound off.
you do realise that coconut oil is liquid at 77 degrees farahanheit dont you? Sitting in a chemistry class and just taking everything at face value without further thought is irresponsible and you shouldnt be making such posts. Please expalin to me how something that is liquid at body temp can clog your arteries? Gavin
Just so everyone knows. Amanda is right. Coconut Oil is not healthy when consumed in large amounts. Like she said, it is a saturated fat and is on the same level as regular fat dairy products, fatty meats, and palm oil. All these fats raise LDL or “bad fats” in your body. If you’re questioning my education, I am a Licensed Pharmacist with 8 years of education.
If you don’t believe me, here are my sources:
Whitney, E. N., and Rolfes, S.R. (2008). Understanding Nutrition (11th ed). Belmont, CA: Thomson Higher Education.
or
Dropper, S.S. (2012). Advanced nutrition and human metabolism. (6th ed). Belmont, OH. Cengage Learning.
ooh! how do you make fudge with coconut oil?! (just curious)
This is the recipe I use most of the time: https://livingthenourishedlife.com/2010/09/tropical-traditions-coconut-oil-and
I am a licensed esthetician and the only moisturizer I use for myself and my clients, is coconut oil. Even if one has oily skin, it will soften and heal while balancing oil production – that’s my experience with it. If your skin is oily and you are using regular liquid or cream foundation – I would recommend switching to mineral make-up along with the coconut oil. I apply the coconut oil to damp skin – not too much, a small amount goes a long way, wait 15 minutes then blot any excess with a damp cloth – lusciously soft glowing skin is the result. It is a miracle moisturizer for the entire body and healthy. Eat it every day too.
Great suggestions! I do notice that if my skin is a little damp (like right after a shower) the coconut oil does seem to absorb more easily.
I use coconut oil in my bath and my children’s baths all the time, I love how soft our skin is! My children are bi-racial and their skin tends to dry out, I had tried many different expensive lotions and oils but nothing worked until I discovered coconut oil! I also brush my teeth with it, cook with it when ever possible, and I do the oil pulling. I don’t know what I ever did without it!
I mix equal parts coconut oil and baking soda and add a few drops of peppermint essential oil. Great toothpaste. My drntustvsays my teeth and gums look great.
I use coconut oil on my skin everyday. I am older so I need lots of help! I use it in my toothpaste, in my deodorant, I use it to cleanse my face, and I use a little tad to moisturize, and of course, I use it for cooking. If I have a cut or a burn (yes, a burn!), I use coconut oil. It is my go-to product for any type of skin ailment. I buy it by the gallon when we are in the states, but we are in the Philippines right now. Wouldn’t you think I’d be able to get virgin coconut oil cheaply here in the land that it’s produced? Nope! It’s hard to find and expensive, but I still bought some as what I brought with me was about to run out. Can you tell I LOVE coconut oil?
So funny! I’ve heard the same thing about coconut oil and tropical fruit being hard to find and expensive in Hawaii, too. Strange, isn’t it?
I am from the Philippines. The reason why you will have a hard time finding cheap virgin coconut oil here is because a truly native Filipino does not go the grocery to buy it. We make it ourselves at home, more specifically our grandparents do it regularly. Guys from Manila may not be used to it. But, Manila is just one area of the Philippines and has probably the least number of coconut trees in the whole country since the place is mostly commercial areas. So, to get the authentic virgin coconut out from the source, try going out of the city to the provinces where all the trees and beaches and forest are at. We don’t buy and sell them. we make them fresh and naturally like we have been traditionally for generations at home.
If you are the Philippines now. Rather than going to the grocery store and looking for packaged virgin coconut oil in Metro Manila which I assume you are housed. Try finding a wet market (you might know them as the local farmer’s market) where fresh produce are sold. They are not as fancy as grocery stores, but you will find the freshest produce in the city from these places (most families actually shop from them rather than the grocery stores because the produce here are sold for half the price in comparison). They also sell fresh picked coconut (not copra) very very very cheaply. You can make fresh coconut oil at home or ask your maid to do it for you since most Filipino women that still maintain ties to their home provinces are familiar with making their own coconut oil. In some areas of your city, you can also find travelling peddlers who sell fresh picked coconut. But the best places to get them are from your friends who might gift you some from their own personal stock which their grandmothers made for them. Their grandparents usually stay in their ancestral homes and have nothing else to do but make traditional natural goodies which they use for themselves or gift to their loved ones who work in the cities. They get their coconuts fresh from the trees in the forests behind their homes and make the oils and other goodies not with the intent to sell them but to use it themselves or give to loved ones. So, you would definitely NOT find cheap ones in a grocery store aisle where Filipinos go to buy imported Pringles from.
I’ve recently had a kidney transplant and I’m using coconut oil to help my body heal. The immuno-suppressants I must take to prevent organ rejection wreak havoc on my skin and hair. Coconut oil helps calm the swelling and redness on my face and neck. Smoothing it on my hair helps tame the dryness. Rubbing it on my large incision has helped it to heal quickly. My doctor’s are impressed with my progress but won’t give credit to the oil – go figure!
Yes, some people just won’t admit that food can heal no matter what the evidence says! At least you know better. 😉
My oily skin makes MORE oil when I try to dry it out and LESS when I apply just a tiny dot or two of coconut oil. All I can figure is that being to dry makes it freak out and over react. I do love coconut oil!
Yes, that’s correct, if you use harsh products on oily skin in an attempt to make it less oily, it will react by producing more oil to compensate. Coconut oil will help balance the skin’s production of sebum.
I LOVE coconut oil. First I use it in almost all of my cooking to replace other cooking oils. I have also used it in a facemask I make at home using raw honey. My sister in law CURED her dandruff applying VCO to her scalp! I used it on my baby’s cradle cap and dry skin.
I really enjoyed this post and also the comments on other uses for coconut oil! I also consume up to 3 tablespoons daily myself!
Did your sister-in-law apply it to her scalp and leave it for a while? Did she shampoo it out? Can you give a little more info? Thanks!
I have used coconut oil exclusively as my facial cleanser for about 2 years. I generously apply it all over my face (I wear minimal makeup), then wet a washcloth with warm water and hold it on my face for a mini-sauna before wiping my face gently. Every bit of dirt and makeup is gone, and my face is silky smooth! Love using coconut oil as an all-over moisturizer, cooking with it, oil-pulling, and eating it by the spoonful! With what I save on facial products, I can more than afford coconut oil!
Agreed!!
I tried to use it as a moisturiser and it made me break out a little bit, here and there. I had to give it up. I use castor oil now instead. It isn’t terribly pleasant (very viscous), but it does the job beautifully.
I do use coconut oil for eye makeup removal thought. Works really well.
Ruth @ http://ruthsrealfood.blogspot.com
I’ve heard castor oil can be good for acne prone skin, too. I haven’t tried it yet, though.
And yes, coconut oil can take off mascara like nothing else I know!
That’s what I thought at first. I used it for quite a while before I gave up. Either is just doesn’t agree with me, or I didn’t try long enough.
Yes, I think some people experience an initial breakout while their oil production adjusts.
I noticed a huge difference when I switched to extra virgin cold pressed instead of expeller pressed. I wash my face with just warm water then dab my fingers in the coconut oil for under my eyes and usually what’s left is enough to rub toether for the rest of my face. I couldn’t use the lower quality CO without the breakouts, but don’t seem to have a problem with the extra virgin.
A dermo I saw a few years ago asked when I had last washed my face, and I said,”About an hour before I came here.” My face was an oil slick. She couldn’t believe it. Needless to say the antibiotics and topical stuff made me burn, itch, and ended up with a yeast infection. So I decided to try coconut oil. I don’t know what it is, but I used the extra virgin first cold press “Now” coconut oil and I broke out, got red, and itchy. I have very very oily sensitive skin. I can use coconut oil internally which hasn’t seemed to help much, but when putting it on my skin, my skin doesn’t like it very much. Maybe my body’s PH is all messed up and that is why I’m reacting to it being on my skin.
Some people find virgin coconut oil to be irritating to their skin, perhaps because their skin is sensitive to the coconut compounds left in the oil. In this case, refined coconut oil can be helpful. But in the end, I’ve found some skin just doesn’t get along with coconut oil–if that’s the case, then definitely use something that works better for you.
Bethany,
If you can’t use the oil, might I suggest a brand name product for you to try? I recently started using Mario Badescu products, and found they are some of the most gentle and effective I’ve used on my skin ever. And believe me when I say, I have tried everything. Every.Thing. Including coconut oil on my face, which just does not work for me.
I use MB’s Seaweed cleanser daily, and it so so gentle.
If you go to their website and fill out the skin questionnaire, they will send you good sized samples of all the products they recommend for you.
Just thought you might want to look into that.
(this may be TMI, but I’ve had blackheads/whiteheads on my face for over 20 years that nothing ever got rid of, including Rx from a dermatologist. After using MB for three weeks, they are gone from my nose area and almost gone from my chin.)
And, no, I don’t work for the company or get any kind of perk from them. 🙂
I was reading reviews on expeller pressed. i think they said itwas good and wouldnt clog your pores. which is it? does expeller or cold pressed the bet to use for unclogged pores?
im enjoying all these comments by the way. i have the dr bronners expeller pressed co now but im afraid to put it on my fce for fear it will clog and break out. i just use it on my skin for now & oil pulling. amazing stuff, my mouth has never felt so clean (sad but true lol)
oh and i was reading some stuff about ‘cleaning toning then moisturizing’ the co pretty much does 2 & 3. do i need to tone still? if i cleanse (especislly with makeup on) with co then tone with like acv, i guess i put co back on again?
I make a mixture of 30% Castor Oil and 70% Sunflower oil for my oil and acne prone face. I usually add a little tea tree essential oil to the mix as well since it helps with breakouts. I use it once a day, and although the first week it got worse, by week 2, my face looked better than it had in years. I’ve been using it for about a month now and although I never thought I’d say it, I actually like my skin now.
I’ll definitely be trying coconut oil now too!
What quality CO did you use for your skin? I have acne prone skin and used the cheapest VCO because I didn’t think it would make a difference. It didn’t do much for me. I literally JUST go expeller pressed organic CO from Tropical Traditions and it’s sooo much better. It is healing my acne scars visibly in a day. Just a thought 🙂
For cleansing and makeup removal I use 50/50 olive and castor oil with a few drops of tea tree for its antibacterial properties. If I need extra moisturising after that I use jojoba oil.
I find coconut works great as a deodorant though!
coconut oil is the best sunscreen! i work on a couple local organic farms and i can stay out in the sun for a few hours without getting burned if i slather it on my skin. i also use it regularly as a whole body and facial moisturizer. i love it!
I have been using monoi oil (coconut oil infused with gardenia flowers) on my face for moisturization and really love it. Coconut oil is said to be a ‘dry’ oil – it’s lighter and less greasy than other oils.
where can I find tooth soap?
There are a number of places that sell tooth soap. Many online supplement stores have at least one or two brands available. You might find it in local health food stores as well. I personally prefer to use the essential oil brushing blend from Orawellness: http://www.orawellness.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&product_id=2&aff_id=11
I am a smoker, breakout at the slightest thought of chemicals on my skin, so I don’t figure the rest of my body likes chemicals either.
I use a mixture of equal amounts of sea salt, baking soda, and use about a tbs in a 1/4 c of hot tap water ( I use and old apple sauce individual cup) and let it cool. The heating of the baking soda changes it to help rebuild minerals ( turns into a calcium). I pull it through my teeth for a few min. and then put a small amount of my wet toothbrush (enough to coat bristles)and use the anti bacterial properties to swab my upper gums and below my teeth (space behind lips). My guns are good, and I don’t have any cavities.
At 55 this is the BEST thing I have ever put on my skin & into my body! Seriously, I use it for everything!!
I tried using coconut oil as a moisturiser (I don’t have acne) and it made me break out a little. It is a great eye makeup remover, though.
When you use coconut oil in soap making does it change the beneficial factors?
I think it can somewhat, but I’ve heard many reports that using coconut oil soap still resulted in benefits, so I don’t think all the healing factors are lost in the process.
I’ve read that using coconut oil in soap increases lather, but too much coconut oil in the soap can cause drying of the skin.
I agree, it depends on how the soap is made.