Skin Care with Coconut Oil Gets You Ready for a Great, and Beautiful, Summer

• Core Facts

Summer’s on its way again and it’s time to look for natural skin care products that will help us look our best – from the top of our head to the soles of our feet. Wouldn’t it be great if we could find one product that would take care of it all – strong, shiny hair, smoother, younger skin with fewer wrinkles, beautiful bare legs that show off a light tan, and feet that look great in sandals? Well, here’s the news: While there isn’t just one product that does it all, you may be able to get away with only two. One is coconut oil, and the other is a new breakthrough skin care product called shielding lotion.

What can coconut oil do for you? Whether used in a salad dressing, a smoothie, or for cooking, coconut oil is one of the most beneficial foods available. It has zero cholesterol, is high in essential fatty acids, and contains no polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats and no trans-fats. There are several brands on the market: Choose an unrefined extra virgin coconut oil that has not been hydrogenated, bleached, refined or deodorized. Also look for brands that are cold-pressed and made from fresh, not dried, organic coconut meat. The health benefits are numerous:

• It’s great for the cardiovascular system – zero cholesterol, lots of good fats and none of the bad ones.
• It’s a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals whether used as a food or as a skin care product.
• It speeds up the metabolism so nutrients can get to the cells more efficiently.
• It has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties to help prevent disease and infection both internally and on the skin.
• It helps prevent dry skin by boosting the thyroid.
• When used topically, it helps soften the skin, helps prevents sagging, wrinkles and age spots, and provides relief from psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis.
• Used as a hair conditioner, coconut oil leaves the hair smooth and silky, without being stiff or greasy. Use it sparingly. It will also help protect the hair and scalp from sun damage.

However, there’s one thing coconut oil doesn’t do – keep out the harmful household and environmental chemicals that often cause our skin problems. And that’s where shielding lotion comes in. A good shielding lotion bonds with the outer protective layer of the skin to form a new layer that keeps out chemicals and pollutants.
 
Coconut oil could replace several of the skin care products on your bathroom shelves, and you would be wise to also use it to replace your cooking oils. Give it a whirl, but don’t forget the shielding lotion. No matter what other skin care products you use – including coconut oil – no skin care regimen is complete if it doesn’t protect you from chemicals.

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