How to Choose the Right Coconut Oil?

If you’ve ever read my previous post about how I used coconut oil to cure my eye wrinkle, you may know how I rave about this oil. In fact, coconut oil is the only thing I apply to my face every night. I simply can’t do without it! In this post, I will tell you how I choose coconut oil for skincare. But before this, let’s have a look at the oil first.

An Overview of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the kernel of the coconut. The oil is heat stable. So unlike other kinds of vegetable oil, it can be used in cooking methods that require high temperature. Because of its stability, it doesn’t go rancid easily and can be kept at room temperature for several years.

According to the label shown on my Omega Nutrition’s Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, coconut oil melts at 24 degrees Celsius. When the temperature gets colder, the clear oil turns to solid white.

Use of Virgin Coconut Oil for Skincare

Coconut oil can cleanse and moisturize our skin. There is more than one way you can use this oil for skincare purposes. For me, I use it on my damp face every night as a moisturizer. If you read other sources on the web, you will find almost all of them are telling you the same thing ― coconut oil reduces wrinkles like a miracle. But for me, it can only PREVENT the dehydration lines under my eyes from becoming fine lines and wrinkles. For deep wrinkles, sorry, coconut oil can’t help you. You may experience different results from mine. However, be sure that you set a realistic expectation, and don’t get disappointed.

I don’t mean coconut oil is useless to reduce wrinkles, but one must know the limit of the method. With that said, let’s move on and do some shopping!

Choose Your Own Coconut Oil

Not all types of coconut oil are created equal. If you want to be a smart buyer, be sure to look for the following things when buying your coconut oil.

1. Is it organic?

Organic coconut is grown in a natural environment where pesticides and artificial fertilizers are not used. Oil extracted from organic sources is the best kind you can apply to your skin.

2. Is it unrefined?

There are two major types of coconut oil: refined and unrefined. In some other cases, “refined” can be good. It leaves the best behind, but this concept doesn’t apply to coconut oil. Refined coconut oil is stripped off the nutritional value that is supposed to be present in the oil. When buying coconut oil, always opt for the unrefined one.

3. Is it cold-pressed?

A low heat technique preserves the flavor and nutrition in coconut oil. Cold-pressed coconut oil is thus of a higher quality.

4. Is it virgin coconut oil?

Virgin coconut oil is produced from the fresh mature kernel of coconut by mechanical or natural means with or without the application of heat. Such methods don’t lead to alteration of the oil. Although there is no industry standard as to what virgin coconut oil means, the term usually means the oil is not bleached, deodorized, or refined.

Coconut oil is an all-purpose beauty treat. Its fragrance is simply refreshing to sniff at. Do you use coconut oil in your skincare regime? What criteria do you have in mind when shopping?