Virgin coconut oil has long been accepted for some time by the soap and cosmetic industries to have beneficial properties for human skin. When used correctly and regularly, it could help you keep your skin soft and smooth. It also helps prevent premature aging and wrinkling of your skin. The oil is divided into two major kinds; virgin and refined. Virgin oil is derived from fresh coconuts through several methods. Refined oil, which is often cited as RBD (refined, bleached and deodorized) is extracted from dry form of coconut, i.e. copra. It should be noted that unrefined coconut oil, derived from copra, is unsuitable for consumption and should be refined before its utilization. Virgin coconut oil is chiefly composed of lauric acid, capric acid, caprylic acid, linoleic acid, poly-phenols (responsible for the fragrance and the taste of the oil), fatty alcohols, vitamin E, moisture and minerals. Approximately 50% of the fatty acids in coconut fat are lauric acid, which is a medium chain fatty acid that has the additional beneficial function of being formed into monolaurin in the human or animal body. What does all that mean? The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin, which is antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal. According to the Coconut Research Center (CRC), coconut oil kills viruses that cause influenza, measles, hepatitis, herpes, SARS, etc. It also kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, gonorrhea, and disruptions with inflammation especially in channel gastrointestinal as colitis, boils, and hemorrhoids. This oil may also help reduce inflammation in the body such as multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and phlebitis. When applied to the skin, virgin coconut oil forms a chemical that protects the infected area from external dust, air, fungi, bacteria and viruses. The oil is also popular as an effective remedy against bruises as it speeds up the healing process by repairing damaged tissues, which makes it very effective in skin care products. Virgin coconut oil acts as an effective moisturizer on all skin types and is considered an excellent massage oil. The oil is a safe solution for preventing dryness, wrinkles, flaking and sagging by preventing premature aging of the skin. It is a very effective treatment against any type of acne and pimples, and an effective solution for infections or to help speed the healing of cuts and scrapes, because it is the source of antimicrobial agents. It is also an effective cure against several skin infections, and provides healing benefits to those suffering from psoriasis, dermatitis and eczema. Virgin coconut oil can improve the health of your hair with regular use. Healthy hair starts from the inside out, so try adding a teaspoon or two of oil into your diet each day. When applied topically to the hair, virgin coconut oil is an ideal conditioner. By adding it to the outside of the strand, it can leave a glossy shine. When massaged into the scalp, it will combat dryness and dandruff. By repairing and strengthening the hair from damage, it can prevent split ends and encourage growth. Adding virgin coconut oil to your daily diet can have a number of positive benefits on your health. It is easy to incorporate the oil into your eating routine. Simply take a teaspoon or two everyday on an empty stomach, or substitute coconut oil for vegetable or olive oil in your favorite recipes. This will add a subtle nutty flavor to your dishes, in addition to encouraging the health benefits listed below. Because of its antimicrobial lipids and acids, such as lauric acid and capric acid, which are antibacterial and antifungal agents, virgin coconut oil can have a strengthening effect on the immune system. Besides strengthening the immune system against future attacks, ingesting virgin coconut oil can help combat current infections caused by bacteria or viruses, like influenza or the herpes virus. Although virgin coconut oil contains saturated fat, it actually can be beneficial to heart health. The saturated fats, unlike those found in vegetable oil or canola oil, do not increase LDL levels, or "bad" cholesterol levels. This is because it contains lauric acid, which has been proven to actually reduce a number of heart conditions and reduce the possibility of cholesterol, high blood pressure, and arteriosclerosis. Because of its antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties, virgin coconut oil forms the basic ingredient of various skin care products such as body washes, soaps, lotions, creams, etc. So, indulge yourself and be sure to use products with virgin coconut oil or incorporate it into your own DIY skin care, as well as.
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Thou shalt not go to bed without first removing makeup. Gals, this is a major no-no. When the accumulation of dirt, oil and makeup is left on your face for more than 24 hours, you’re just begging for acne. Wash with a mild facial cleanser, tone, if desired, and moisturize. Thou shalt not ever leave the house without applying sunscreen. Sun is the number one skin-aging culprit. Worse still, harmful UV rays can lead to more serious skin diseases like skin cancer. Thou shalt never forgo water for soda. Drink 8 glasses (approximately 2 liters) of water per day to flush out toxins and re-hydrate the skin. Thou shalt not skip regular beauty sleep. We can’t always get 8 hours of sleep a night, but 8 hours most nights of the week will allow your body the time it needs to recuperate. You will awake refreshed and glowing. Thou shalt not allow stress to consume your life. Sure, we all get stressed out once in a while, but a life wrought with stress is a face wrought with wrinkles. Thou shalt not sacrifice beautiful skin for junk food. No doubt junk food is likely responsible for the majority of pimples. So nix the potato chips and French fries for some yogurt, granola and fruit. You don’t have to cut junk food totally out of your life, just enjoy it in moderation. Thou shalt not pick and pop pimples. Your dermatologist will agree, popping and picking at pimples only spreads oil and dirt around your face – causing more pimples. It can also result in acne scarring that will stay with you for the rest of your life. Thou shalt not use the same soap on your face that you use to wash your body and hands. Shower washes, body washes and hand soaps are too harsh for your face and continual use will lead to dry, flaky skin. Use a mild cleanser, especially made for the face. Thou shalt not refrain from moisturizing just because you are a male. That’s right men – listen up! Your skin collects oil and dirt, and it dries out just like the rest of us. So test out your mom’s, wife’s, girlfriend’s or sister’s facial cleanser and moisturizer to see if you like it…we won’t tell. Thou shalt not use heavy foundations if you’re prone to acne. Most teenage girls cake on the foundation in the hopes that they’re covering acne and blemishes. When in reality pancake powder and heavy foundations just block pores and create more acne. If you have acne-prone skin, choose a light foundation and wash your applicator sponge or brush after every foundation application. Got anymore tips you'd like to add? Quality skin care is a process of feeding our body and our skin the superior nutrients needed over time and keeping the toxin levels within the body as low as possible. When you use high quality, natural organic products, all the ingredients are active. They’re all beneficial and they all feed the skin. Exactly what is a natural active? First we must define natural. ‘Natural’ skin care is not always natural. There are two definitions of the word natural. The dictionary defines it as: “Existing in or, formed by, nature”. We adhere to the dictionary definition to determine the ingredients we use in our products and only use ingredients existing in or, formed by, nature. Unfortunately, many manufacturers in the cosmetic industry have strayed from that definition and consider natural to be: “Any ingredient derived from a natural substance”. Manufacturers commonly use the word ‘natural’ on labels, when the products are full of synthetic ingredients. We’re not saying that all synthetic ingredients are bad for you. In fact, there are natural ingredients, which may harm you as well. Poison ivy is natural, but would you want to put it on your skin?? Of course not. We place an emphasis on natural and organic ingredients that have a history of being good for your skin. Why use synthetics when natural and organic ingredients are truly effective? Consider coconut oil. For example, Cocamide-DEA is “derived from” coconut oil”. It may well be from coconut oil, but a synthetic chemical called diethanolamine is used in the extraction process. It is known to cause cancer. An ingredient is not really natural if it has been processed in this way. However, extra virgin coconut oil is a wonderful and truly natural ingredient pressed from fresh coconut meat (not dried copra like commercial grade coconut oil, which is not edible until refined). Other ingredients like CoQ10 or B12 are truly natural and can be also be used, because they are created through a natural fermentation process. Now that we understand what ‘natural’ means, we need to define ‘actives’. Active ingredients are those ingredients in nature that react with your skin to produce a positive effect. Ingredients that come directly from or exist in nature have more nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants and other beneficial properties – and are, therefore, more ‘active’. You find them in whole plant (and some animal) ingredients or plant extracted ingredients (such as herbs, essential oils, herbal tinctures/extracts, hydrosols, plant waxes, and unrefined carrier oils) . . . and they’re edible! Take a look at our Ingredient List to read detailed descriptions of the natural actives we use in our skin care products. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are derived from fruit and milk sugars. They work mainly as an exfoliant by causing the dead skin cells of the epidermis to slough off and allowing regrowth of new skin cells. By exfoliating, AHAs help stimulate production of collagen and elastin, which in turn can improve wrinkling, roughness and mottled pigmentation. Generally speaking, AHAs in skin care products work best at concentrations between 5% to 8% and at pH levels of 3 to 4. At this time cosmetic manufacturers are not required to provide concentration information on labels. If the AHA ingredient is listed as the third or fourth ingredient on the label, it more likely contains the proper concentration. The only way to know the pH of a product is to test it with a pH strip. Here are the 5 major types of alpha hydroxy acids found in skin-care products and their sources:
Applesauce Face Mask This at-home remedy works especially well for oily skin. Oily skin is caused by over-active glands, which produce too much sebum. Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands. It is necessary as it helps lubricate your skin and carries away dead skin cells. When the skin is oily, too much sebum is being produced. The skin becomes dull and greasy and pores may become clogged. Fruit acid masks are very effective in oily skin care. They remove the excess oil and dead skin cells, without stripping the skin of its natural moisture. You will need one apple cut into quarters plus 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 tablespoon dried herbs for oily skin, such as parsley, sage or rosemary -- or use other preferred herbs. The lemon juice will act as astringent, helping tighten large pores and brighten the face, while the malic acid from the apple will exfoliate your skin, sloughing off dead skin cells to make way for new skin. Heat the apple in a pot of water until it softens enough to mash the pulp. Remove apple from pot and mash. Strain liquid and set aside. Discard the pulp. Add the lemon juice and herb to the liquid. Mix well. Apply the mixture to your face. Wait 5 to 15 minutes. Rinse off the mask and apply a moisturizer to the face. Feel free to add your recipes for AHA skin care. Why is it still so hard to find truly pure skin care products? I'm taking about products that are free from parabens, fillers, petroleum, chemical preservatives, and who knows what else that may contain toxins? One would think with the movement towards green and clean, organic and natural, that more and more of the major companies would meet the demands of the public, but unfortunately, the majority do not. They continue to produce products with known ingredients, which are considered detrimental to our health. Why? Because it's cheaper and because they can. Let's face it -- not everyone chooses to go organic and natural, green or even cares what's in their skin care products. For those that do wish to use purer, greener ingredients, and are having trouble finding them or may not quite understand how to decipher the labels, rest assured there are formulators that care. We, at EdenSong Essentials, are among the latter group and our goal is to provide you the best and purest edible 100% natural organic skin care. We urge you, as the reader, to ask questions, get informed and educated about everything you are putting on your body, because we are what eat. What is your skin eating? We will be covering skin care ingredients in future blog posts, along with simple recipes you can make at home, as well as other relevant skin care topics - and some random subjects now and again. |
Contact UsAuthorWelcome! I'm Stephanie (Jo to close friends), founder of EdenSong. Aside from my university studies, I have a natural passion for all things organic. I enjoy living and learning about natural ways, all things health related, cooking, gardening with herbs and flowers, photography, DIYing, yoga, bicycling, ballet, traveling and being with family and friends. A quirk of mine is my near obsession of Asian culture, particularly Korean history and its language. Would you like to know more? Find out about us. Categories
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