As a long-time sufferer of sensitive skin, I was at my wit’s end a few months ago when it seemed like no amount of high-end moisturizers or serums would cure me of my almost painfully dry skin. After weeks of my mother’s urging for me to turn to a more natural solution, I finally began cleansing my face with coconut oil.
Surprise, surprise – sometimes mother really does know best. As it turns out, cleansing my face with coconut oil has been the best skin decision I’ve made to date, and these are the main reasons why I love it so much.
It’s free of harsh chemicals and dyes
Photo by Claire Waggoner
Having spent my whole life washing my face with ‘non-comedogenic’ this and ‘good for sensitive skin’ that, I never realized that even the cleansers made for the most sensitive of skin were still too harsh for me. Coconut oil is 100% natural and won’t leave your skin irritated or rashy thanks to being chemical-free.
#SpoonTip: Be sure and use only 100% virgin, cold-pressed coconut oil. This ensures that absolutely no gunk creeps into your oil and you’re using only the highest quality oil on your skin.
It leaves your skin super soft
Photo by Claire Waggoner
Once you massage the coconut oil into your skin, rinse your face with water and pat your skin dry. When you wake up in the morning, the oil will have absorbed into your skin and left it ultra-soft (like, “why are hoards of attractive men not stroking my cheeks right now?” soft).
#SpoonTip: If you have really dry skin, you might have to put on additional moisturizer at night. Play around with your skincare routine and see what works best for you.
It breaks down makeup and oil without stripping your skin
Photo courtesy of Hanbyul on Flickr
Oil breaks down oil, meaning that coconut oil will unclog your pores without stripping your skin. Within a week, your blackheads will be a ghost of the past, meaning you’ll wake up #flawless every day.
It’s cost-effective
Photo by Claire Waggoner
One 14-oz. jar of virgin cold-pressed coconut oil is around $8, give or take. A single jar will take you upwards of three months to get through because you only need a small dollop of oil to cover your whole face. That means you’ll only be spending around $32 per year on face wash and moisturizer (provided you don’t need to apply an additional moisturizer at night).
#SpooTip: If you use your coconut oil in the shower, be sure and transfer the oil into a smaller, sealable container so you’re not constantly contaminating the larger jar with water and steam. Coconut oil can grow mold, so you want to store the larger jar in a cool, dry place.
It smells hella good
Photo by Claire Waggoner
If anything, you should try washing your face with coconut oil just for the experience. Your face is going to smell like a macaron at the end of your shower, which is an oddly pleasant experience.