This Week I have Been: MAKING COCONUT OIL BEAUTY BALM

I have become a little obsessed with coconut oil of late so much so that I thought I would have a go at using it to make my own beauty balm.  If I'm honest I wasn't really sure how it would turn out; I have fussy skin that can be dry one moment and oily the next but my usual products weren't really doing the job so I set to it with some ingredients and crossed my fingers.

What I ended up with was an absolute miracle of a product.  I have ended up using it as both a cleanser and moisturiser and it's fantastic on longer hair to protect split ends whilst blow drying.  

Hero Product, bar none!  Here's how to make it!

WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH COCONUT OIL?

Coconut Oil is EVERYWHERE at the minute.  Nearly every health or beauty blog is raving about it and so I knew if was only a matter of time before I would succumb and try it out.

Having done some research, the best one to use seems to be Virgin or Raw, simply because the super cheap standard coconut oils get deodorized and bleached in processing which does away with, not only the amazing coconut scent but, natural proteins and minerals which are great for skin and hair,  namely :

Vitamin K -  Used to treat roascea, scarring, bruising, stretchmarks and spider-veins.

Vitamin E - an Anti-oxidant that protects skin from free-radicals and as a result - ageing. 

Coconut Oil is also naturally antibacterial and anti microbial and as it doesn't clog pores, it won't cause congestion like other oils can.  In fact, coconut oil is a pretty all-round beauty superstar.  It even gives the skin sun-protection of about SPF4.

HERE'S WHAT I USED -

40g Coconut Oil

10g Olive Oil
20 drops of pure essential oil (see below for some recipes)

Seriously - that's it!  Obviously you'll need a container (amber or blue ointment jars are good) or you can go for a silcone mold (like a cupcake one) and make massage bars instead.  I went for a 60ml container - simply because I wanted to be able to take it in my gym bag without any hassle or mess.

SO HERE'S WHAT I DID -

Melt the Coconut Oil over a very gentle heat (either in a double boiler or in a bowl of hot water).  Add the olive and essential oils and mix really well.  Pour into a mold or a container and leave to set until totally solid again.

Easy - peesy, right??

You can use your balm straight away by either rubbing your fingers over the top of it to allow the oil to melt before rubbing it in your skin, or you can scoop a little out and let it melt into your hands before using it.    

If you opted for making massage bars, you can use your moisturiser by rubbing the bar in your hands to melt the oils before massaging into the skin!   

SOME SKIN SPECIFIC RECIPES - 

NOURISH - A combination of oils for older or drier skins and amazing as an aftersun to replenish moisture levels.

12 drops Frankincense, 8 drops Lavender.

BALANCE - Wonderful for combination skins and those upset by wayward hormones.  Geranium balances excess sebum production and regulates hormones levels while Lavender calms and redness and inflamation and is naturally anti-bacterial.

6 drops Geranium, 10 drops Lavender & 4 drops Rosewood.

DETOX - a great combination of oils to shift fat deposits and help with the appearance of cellulite.  Massage well into the affected area working towards the heart.

10 drops Cypress & 10 drops Juniper 

Remember! Always do a patch test first, only use on adults and keep away from eyes.

What homemade cosmetics do you love making?