I participated in this sponsored campaign for Palmer’s® on behalf of One2One Network. All opinions stated are my own.
Coconut oil is one of my favorite natural moisturizers. In fact, it’s long been known as one of nature’s “super” ingredients when it comes to long-lasting skin nourishment and hydration. It’s also incredibly versatile, not to mention very affordable! The best part? Unlike heavier oils, it absorbs quickly, feels non-greasy, and leaves the skin oh-so-supple with a soft, natural glow.
With the cooler weather approaching, now is the perfect time to start incorporating coconut oil into your beauty routine if you haven’t already. Here are just a few ways you can use it – from head to toe – along with some coconut oil-infused products that make for great substitutes when you’re traveling, or need a quick fix (because coconut oil can get a little messy sometimes!).
Makeup Remover
Oils are the main ingredient in most eye makeup removers. That’s because they do an excellent job at dissolving everything from creams, powders, liquids, pencil, and even waterproof formulas, making them easy to wipe away with even the gentlest touch. But you don’t necessarily need to grab a fancy store-bought formula – coconut oil can work just as well. It’s also much cheaper, and will nourish your skin the process!
You can use it all over the face as a pre-step to your regular cleanser. Or, use it on its own and simply rinse off with warm water when you’re done. Any remaining coconut oil will double as a light moisturizer. (Just be aware that coconut oil used as a moisturizer can cause breakouts for some, so experiment a bit first to see how your skin responds.) To remove more stubborn makeup around the eye area, soak a cotton pad in coconut oil and gently press it over the lashes and lids, then wipe around the eyes using light pressure. Use a cotton swab to clean up any leftover makeup around the lash line.
If you find your liner or mascara smearing halfway through the day, dab a little coconut oil on a cotton swab and wipe under/around your eye to quickly and easily clean it up. To prep on-the-go makeup removers, pre-soak a few Q-tips in coconut oil, then pop them in a zip-lock bag for travel!
Intensive Hair Mask (& Serum!)
Natural hair oil treatments tend to be the most effective when it comes to re-hydrating and repairing both your hair and scalp – the trick is to find the right one. The very first oil I tried was olive oil, and while it did add a noticeable amount of shine and smoothness, it was such a pain to remove. Even after 2-3 washes with shampoo, I’d still find myself leaving the house with greasy spots in the back where I didn’t rinse well enough. So I set out to find an alternative and discovered coconut oil.
Coconut oil is perfect for the hair because it’s lighter, thinner, and so much easier to distribute throughout your strands and scalp. It’s also a heck of a lot easier to wash out – it typically takes me one single shampooing. And yet it’s just as hydrating as other oils and has tons of benefits! Coconut oil nourishes the scalp, hydrates it, and encourages healthy hair growth. It also contains potent antioxidants and fatty acids that benefit the hair and scalp (by reducing hair loss and breakage, and nourishing the hair follicles), and has antibacterial properties. (Need to mask-up while traveling? Try these one-use packets!)
You can even use coconut oil as a post-wash serum to help tame frizz and smooth ends. Simply take a small amount (a few drops), work it into the palms of your hands, and then lightly smooth and finger-comb it through your hair.
Full Body Moisturizer
Coconut oil is one of the best natural body lotions. It helps increase hydration and reduce water loss in dry skin, and leaves it feeling ultra-nourished and smooth without any greasy residue. It also smells delicious! As with any oil-based moisturizer, it’s best applied as soon as you step out of the shower or bath – while your skin is still damp – for maximum hydration lock-down.
Coconut oil melts and thins out very quickly, and absorbs just as easily, so the tiniest amount typically does the trick. If, however, you don’t have a jar handy, or if you’re traveling, you can always use a coconut-infused oil instead, like Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Body Oil.
I’ve been a fan of Palmer’s deliciously scented cocoa butter lotion ever since I first stumbled upon a bottle in my grandma’s bathroom. While cocoa butter has been a signature ingredient of the brand for decades, they recently created a brand new full body care line that combines cocoa butter with the moisturizing and nourishing benefits of coconut oil. They use the ‘good stuff’ too – by that I mean certified organic, raw, extra virgin coconut oil (that’s also ethically and sustainably sourced). That means you’re getting all those naturally occurring fatty acids that are essential for keeping skin radiant and healthy looking.
In addition to raw coconut oil, Palmer’s added a ton of other natural oils and butters to their formulas – like Tahitian Monoï oil, Vitamin E, and cocoa butter, plus grape seed, macadamia and argan oils – which feed skin with extra nutrients and hydration. At the same time, they left out the nasty stuff like parabens, mineral oil, sulfates, phthalates, GMOs, dyes, gluten, and harsh chemicals. The most impressive thing is that, despite all the added nourishing oils, the formula feels extremely lightweight and non-greasy, and absorbs quite literally within seconds, leaving skin quenched with a soft glow!
And for a little extra help throughout the day, that’s where Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Body Lotion comes in. It contains rich, skin-conditioning coconut oil plus coconut milk. Between the two, you get an instant hydration boost plus deeply penetrating, long-lasting moisture.
Bath Oil
For even deeper hydration, try a simple coconut oil bath. The one thing to note though is that you don’t want to go overboard as it can create a very slippery tub. Instead, here are the steps I’d recommend following: Fill up your bathtub as usual, add 1/2 to 1 full tablespoon of coconut oil into the water, swirl it around to distribute it all throughout the tub, and then sit and soak for a good 5-10 minutes. To cover your shoulders, neck, and even your face, soak a washcloth in the tub water and then massage it all over your skin. When you’re ready to get out, step out of your tub carefully, then pat your skin dry – your skin will feel incredibly soft and smooth afterwards! Another plus? Coconut oil acts as a natural shave gel. It helps provide a super smooth, close shave, and soothes skin at the same time.
Lip Balm
Dry lips are a constant struggle of mine all year round, and they only get worse in the winter. If you have the same struggles, natural oils work wonders – coconut oil included. Dab just a few drops on and it will instantly smooth and soften your lips. And if you give it enough time to sink in, it’ll help lock in moisture for hours on end. I love to massage a little into my lips just before bed to avoid waking up to uncomfortably dry, chapped lips in the morning. And if I forget to do this the night before, I’ll dab a little on just before brushing my teeth (to avoid breaking the skin when I stretch open my mouth – it happens!).
Cuticle Oil
Our hands tend to take a real beating in the fall and winter, especially all around our nails. Need a quick fix to quench thirsty cuticles? Dab a drop or two of coconut oil! You can use a cotton swab and/or your fingers to apply it and then gently massage it in until it has completely absorbed. I do this every night and it works wonders, especially during the fall and winter when my hands tend to get very dry and chapped. Coconut oil is also an at-home mani/pedi must-have – it replaces both your cuticle oil and hand cream! And because it’s not super oily or greasy, it won’t linger on your nails and create streaks when it comes time to paint them.
For purse-friendly alternatives, Palmer’s multi-purpose Coconut Oil Formula Swivel Stick saves the day! It instantly smooths the skin all around the nail area, and also works great for moisturizing other dry bits on your hands (and face and body too!). The solid stick melts into the skin on contact and absorbs quickly for a non-greasy finish. It’s a wintertime purse essential!
I hope you found some of these tips helpful! If you suffer from dry skin, especially with the colder weather coming up, I highly recommend grabbing yourself a big ol’ jar of coconut oil – your skin will thank you! (Remember, the unrefined, virgin kind is best for your skin. And if it’s also organic, even better!)
And for when you need a quick fix, always keep lotions and creams handy when you need something a little more convenient. I always pop one in my desk drawer, on my nightstand, in my purse, and anywhere else a jar just doesn’t make sense to have laying around!
You can find Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula body care line at Walmart & Target!
Giveaway
I’ve teamed up with the folks over at Palmer’s to give away their new Coconut Oil body care range to 3 lucky winners! The set includes their Body Lotion, Body Oil, Body Cream, Hand Cream, and Swivel Stick/Lip Balm duo (M.S.R.P. $25/set). To enter, simply complete one or more of the activities in the Rafflecopter widget below! (Open to U.S. residents only.)
