Forget the fruit smoothie. Today’s fashionably health-conscious gym bunnies sip coconut water after their workouts, before heading home to prepare a healthy coconut oil infused dinner.

Coconut oil is a perfect example of a healthy food that’s been unfairly demonised in the past, due to the fact its high in saturated fat, which scientists linked to heart disease. But new studies have shown there to be no association between the two, leaving us with a perfectly healthy, nutritious product that’s been shown to promote better heart function, boost weight loss, and lower cholesterol, among other things.

You may have already made the switch to coconut oil in the kitchen, but did you know the benefits of this wonder oil go way beyond putting it in your food? It’s also a fantastic, all round beauty multi-tasker.

Here are just a few ways you can incorporate coconut oil into your skin regime:

Cleansing

Many facial soaps and cleansers are made with harsh chemicals and an over-abundance of alcohol that strips your skin of its natural oils. This causes your skin to rapidly produce oil, resulting in skin issues such as acne and clogged pores. Coconut oil is the perfect cleanser for any skin type – even oily, as it gently washes away dirt and impurities, but not every last bit of your natural oils.

Your skin will feel soft and moisturised but with enough of your own oils left to stop your skin from going into panic mode.

Healing

Believe it or not, coconut oil + baking soda = a great remedy for skin problems. Baking soda is an amphoteric compound, so it’s able to maintain the proper pH level of the skin, which controls breakouts. Meanwhile, coconut oil’s antibacterial, healing and moisturising properties condition, nourish, and soothe the skin’s blemishes, redness and scarring. Being a much gentler product than baking soda, it balances out the baking soda’s harshness, making it a safe option for even the most sensitive skin.

Moisturising

Coconut oil makes a great skin moisturiser, either on its own, or with a blend of other oils. The key is to know how much moisture your skin needs, and the best combination of oils for the job. For example, oily skin may need drier carrier oils such as Argan oil or olive oil, while dry skin will drink coconut oil up.

Cold Sore Treatment

Prone to cold sores? Dabbing coconut oil on them can help speed up healing time, alleviate pain and reduce the risk of scarring.

Coconut oil contains three fatty acids – capric, caprylic and lauric acid – that possess both disinfectant and antimicrobial properties, helping to protect, and heal microbial infections.

Makeup Remover

Removing waterproof mascara and eyeliner can be one of the most irritating tasks to do at the end of the day, and good waterproof makeup removers are pricey. Not only that, but if you take look at the ingredients list, you’ll find a plethora of ingredients that you can’t pronounce and definitely wouldn’t eat. So why let your skin eat it? Coconut oil, however, will wash off even the most stubborn, clingy, waterproof makeup with ease.

Body Scrub

Here’s a little DIY beauty secret: You can make your very own body scrubs with ingredients you already have in your kitchen!

Melt ½ cup of coconut oil at very low heat. Pour it over one cup of brown sugar or salt, and stir well. If you have some on hand, add in five drops of your favourite essential oil, or pure vanilla extract, for an all natural scrub so fragrant you’ll want to eat it.

Apply your DIY face scrub a few times a week for maximum effect.

Of course, if you don’t want to go down the DIY route, call Castle Thai Spa now on 0131 357 6453 and book one of our refreshing facials or body scrub treatments.