Nearly everyone has heard of coconut oil. It’s used both for cooking and beauty care. Despite huge popularity, few people know about the coconut oil benefits. Do you know them?

If you want to make use of the benefits of coconut oil, you must know what it conceals. Knowing which coconut oil is the best and how to recognize it, you get an effective and full body care.

Coconut oil – extraction/ types

Generally, coconut oil is cold-pressed from the flesh of coconuts. If the method is different, the oil may provide less intense action. There are two basic types of coconut oil: refined and unrefined. The refining process deprives the oil of many valuable nutrients so the unrefined version makes a much better beauty choice.

Coconut oil – chemical composition

Coconut oil owes the title for the best oil on earth mostly to the content of fatty acids. Over 50% of the composition is made up of lauric acid (essential for skin, hair and nails) which is accompanied by smaller amounts of saturated acids e.g. myristic. Moreover, coconut oil is rich in a full set of precious vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C, K, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, folic acid, calcium, iron, potassium, sodium and zinc.

Coconut oil – consistency/ fragrance

Stores often sell a fragrance-free coconut oil but this version is strongly processed. A natural, cold-pressed and unrefined coconut oil has a buttery consistency and an intense coconut scent. A high-quality oil has a marbly (not smooth) formula.

Coconut oil – benefits

Due to a rich composition, coconut oil has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and soothing properties. It nourishes, smooths and moisturises. It indirectly affects the hair and skin hydration, reinforcing the natural hydro-lipid barrier which locks water in. Still, it’s not true that coconut oil is a hydrating ingredient. Interestingly, it is a natural sunscreen (SPF 4-5). This and other properties may bring interesting effects to your beauty routine.

• For hair: coconut oil is cut out for low-porosity hair which is heavy, thick, curl-resistant and exposed to the harmful sunlight; it effectively protects hair ends and works for scalp oil treatment – soothes and shields.

• For skin: coconut oil is mostly suitable for the problematic skin e.g. acne, eczema, atopic dermatitis. Actually, it hydrates all skin types yet may clog pores when used in excess.