Sharing a mini makeup haul that I filmed over on IGTV! All products are vegan, cruelty-free and from brands that I love :)
Read moreClean Beauty Secrets (That Don't Cost A Dime)
How we take care of our skin matters, just like the food we eat and how we exercise. And while it’s nice to invest in quality skincare, it’s not always totally necessary. So today I want to share some of my clean beauty secrets that truly make a difference and don’t cost a thing.
Read moreBoost Your Confidence, Boost Your Health (teeth whitening for sensitive teeth!)
I believe that building up our confidence generally is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves. Putting in the effort to feel good on the outside actually makes our insides dance a little happy dance! Check out how I stay feeling confident in my own skin through fun mani’s and smile brilliant!
Read moreMy Favorite Skincare Products Of The Winter
These products have been put to the ultimate, winter-weather test and some have now become a part of my daily routine, helping to keep my face smooth, soothed & soft— so I’m MORE than happy to share them with you guys!!!
Read more3 Beauty Products I'm Loving This Summer + Recipe For DIY Refreshing Face Spray
I've recently added 3 new products to my daily, all natural skin care routine and as promised, want to keep it as updated for you guys as possible! Our skin needs a little help adjusting to hot & humid weather. Here are my go-to skincare products of the Summer that will help protect, balance and refreshen your skin!
Read moreA Complete Guide To Essential Oils & My Favorite Ways To Use Them
Learning how to incorporate the use of essential oils in my daily life has helped me take giant leaps towards a more holistically healthy lifestyle. Not only have I replaced certain medications with a simple drop of oil, but I get to enjoy these health benefits while also filling my home with a blissful aroma. In this post, I’ve broken down the different was to use essential oils and a list of my particular favorites. Whether you’re looking for a natural alternative to skincare products, hoping to add some relaxation to your days or even just for the delicious fragrance, I’ve got you!
Read moreMy daily (and completely natural) skincare routine
The nicest thing we could do for our skin and ourselves is avoid using highly medicated, unnatural or harmful remedies on it. I finally have a skin care routine that only requires healthy, natural products and keeps my face feeling clean, vibrant and happy! So here is exactly what I use and how I use it!
Read more58 Uses & Benefits of Coconut oil
Coconut oil is being found everywhere nowadays. From frying pans in the kitchen all the way to hair and beauty products, coconut oil seems to be the answer to countless health and wellness questions. It doesn't hurt that it's totally affordable, either (I buy Trader Joe's coconut oil for about $6)! I use coconut oil in almost every aspect of my life. There's a jar in my bathroom for use in my daily skincare routine, a jar in my bedroom to use with essential oils, and in my kitchen for cooking and recipes!
Health benefits
There are countless health and beauty benefits just waiting to be used up in each jar of coconut oil. One of the most popular being it's ability to boost your metabolism and provide the body with clean, sustainable energy throughout the entire day. The concentration of beneficial fats in coconut oil also makes it a great aid for not only digestion, but also hair growth! It's natural antioxidant properties and abundance of Vitamin E makes coconut oil a perfect product to add to your skin/hair care routines and a warrior in the fight against wrinkles!
Nutrition Facts
Coconut oil is full of Medium Chain Fatty acids (or MCFA's). I know, the thought of saturated fats by any means has you ready to pass on the whole idea of coconut oil, but not all saturated fats are bad! These fats affect the body differently than the saturated fats we typically encounter because they are made up of short and medium chains, which are much easier to digest than the long chain fats. The medium chain fats found in coconut oil can do wonders for aiding in weight loss, increasing the amount of good cholesterol in the body, and lowering levels of bad cholesterol. These MCFA's are sent right to the liver for energy production, and since no bile or pancreatic enzymes are needed to digest it's fats, coconut oil is considered a healthy food for even diabetics. MCFA's have been proven to provide the body with instant energy and increase the metabolism. These are the main MCFA's found in coconut oil:
Lauric Acid- This makes up 40% of the fat composition in coconut oil. The body converts this acid into Monolaurin, which is beneficial for immune function.
Caprylic Acid- A healthy fat with antibacterial properties
Capri Acid- The body converts this to Monocaprin, which has immune boosting and antimicrobial properties.
All of these MCFA's have properties that are both beneficial to the body and easy to digest. The medium chain fats in coconut oil are not stored or digested in the same way as long chain fats found elsewhere, which is arguably why coconut oil is good for both weight loss, skincare and brain functionality!
You really can't go wrong investing in a jar (or 3) of coconut oil, as there are a million uses for this magic stuff! Let's see...
Coconut oil for skincare & beauty
Use by itself as a natural moisturizer
Combine with sea salt to create your own salt scrub face wash
Use to dilute essential oils before applying directly to skin
Mix with essential oils for a DIY massage lotion
Use by itself as a simple eye makeup remover
Use under eyes to reduce dark circles
Use as a natural option for shaving cream
Mix into any DIY lip balms or scrubs
Apply directly to chapped lips
Use alone or mixed with baking soda for a natural deodorant
Combine with sea salt to remove dry skin on feet or other parts of the body
Combine with baking soda to make a DIY whitening toothpaste
Apply to cuticles to help nails grow
Use for "oil pulling"- swish around your mouth for a couple minutes to reduce toxins in your mouth and also moisturize!
Coconut oil for your hair
Use by itself is a leave-in conditioner/detangler on damp hair
Use on dry hair to control frizz
Make a DIY hair mask using coconut oil, banana and honey (for deep conditioning)
Or a hair mask using coconut oil, egg and honey (to repair damaged hair)
Rub into scalp (when hair is damp) to stimulate hair growth
In the kitchen
Use to grease preheated skillets or baking sheets (in place of canola oil or butter)
Use as a replacement for canola or vegetable oil in baking
Spread on toast in place of butter for a simple, yummy snack
Blend into your coffee as a dairy-free replacement for cream and milk (yum)
Add to your smoothie for extra energy
Mix a tablespoon coconut oil with a tablespoon of chia seeds for an all-day energy boost!
Infuse with herbs to give them a special twist
Around the house
Use in homemade soaps
Add into homemade laundry detergents
Use a small amount to dilute essential oils
Use as lotion for hands after washing dishes
Combine with mint essential oil to create a homemade bug repellent
Natural Remedies
Use in foods or smoothies for some added natural energy
May help soothe eczema
Can reduce discomfort of mosquito bites
Use regularly to resolve acne issues
Melt a tablespoon into hot tea to soothe a sore throat (and speed up recovery from cold or flu)
Naturally clears up cold sores
Ingest daily to fight allergy symptoms
Can help improve cholesterol levels
Great for use of homemade toothpastes
Apply to speed up recovery from sunburn
Apply daily to help repair dry or cracked skin
It has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help to ease arthritis symptoms
Combine with apple cider vinegar for a natural Lice treatment
Use on skin to soothe itch and discomfort from chicken pox or poison ivy
Swish around mouth to soothe a toothache from an infected tooth or cavity
Pregnancy and babies
Use as a completely natural baby lotion
Use as a natural diaper cream (just rub on baby's bottom)
Nursing moms can take a couple tablespoons a day to increase milk supply and nutrients (usually add some Vitamin D)
Apply to skin to avoid stretch marks during pregnancy
Get rid of "cradle cap" on baby- Gently massage onto head, let sit for a few minute and rinse with warm water
For Pets (Quincy loves coconut oil!)
Add a tablespoon or 2 to entice picky eaters
Use as a supplement to minimize shedding hair
Apply directly to coat to moisturize (and also prevent shedding)
Apply to coat before putting a jacket on in the winter to reduce static
Apply directly to paws to soothe dry or cracked paw pads
Could reduce skin allergy symptoms when used externally
Brush your dog's teeth with coconut oil
There you have it. 58 uses of coconut oil, and I'm sure I've only scratched the surface of the health, beauty and household benefits that this versatile oil has to offer. I'll keep adding to this list as I experiment with my own daily routines and see where else I can sneak in the use of coconut oil!
What do you use coconut oil for? Leave a comment below!
Sending all love,
Kimber
Tips For Making Your Showers More Green (& Cruelty-Free)
In honor of Earth Month, I've put together a small collection of ways that we can go greener in our daily lives! These tips are all small, simple changes that are easy to maintain and will help to leave a softer footprint on our planet. The second part in this Earth-loving sequence covers everything you need to know in order to keep your showers both cruelty-free AND eco-friendly!
Read moreCruelty-free beauty products I'm currently obsessed with
I'm always on the hunt for more functional, affordable and environmentally nice beauty brands and I am more than happy to share my experiences with those of you ready to make a change for yourself, the animals and the world! Here, you'll find a list of some Cruelty-free brands, my favorite products, and also some brands who have not yet joined the cruelty-free movement. But let's start with the good stuff.
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