Detox and Beauty Balms Using Coconut Oil

Try these simple tips for a little natural self care and soothing, all using a humble jar of coconut oil. Sri Lanka is famous for beautiful beaches and palm trees ; one of our biggest exports is coconut oil and it is widely used in our cuisine. Coconuts also have countless detoxing and beauty benefits, and these natural home made remedies will sooth mind and body.

Healthline shares a great article on what to check for when buying oil, make sure ingredient listed is simply coconut oil. If your skin is prone to spots then stick to the hair masks and drinks, and look for products that are:

• nonhydrogenated
• cold-pressed or expeller-pressed
• organic
• food-grade

1. Morning Wake Up Detoxifying Drink

Having hot water and a squeeze of lemon in the morning is common practice but adding a teaspoon of coconut oil and a slice of ginger really make a wake up zing and help to detoxify your body.

While we all remain indoors and have more screen time and less sun that we would normally, this drink is a great start to the day. I have been preparing this every days for a few weeks now as it also helps to balance out a bit of the tea and coffee being consumed.

Lemon water is a palate cleanser and it helps gently flush your kidneys and your liver of wastes and toxins.

Coconut oil behaves as a natural antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral tonic in the body, flushing out unwanted bacteria, and viral overloads and reducing stress on the body’s organs. Coconut oil can help detox the body of some of its most stubborn toxic waste.

Ginger also has a whole host of benefits and is a well known anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory.

Ingredients and Method

Squeeze half a lemon into a cup of very hot (not boiling) water. Take 2-3 thin slices of ginger root and a teaspoon of coconut oil and stir well until the oil has melted in. Drink before breakfast.

2. Digestif - A Soothing Drink

If you are not sleeping well because of indigestion caused by stress try this drink. Coconut oil is rich in various healthy fats and has anti-microbial properties. Adding it to a late afternoon drink is not only soothing but it will help calm acid reflux and aid digestion.

Delicious and effective, it also includes turmeric which is an anti-inflammatory, pepper which helps with the absorption of turmeric and honey which helps you sleep. I have also made this with just water which is lighter in taste and works well too.

Ingredients

2 cups coconut milk

1tbsp coconut oil
1-inch piece of sliced ginger/ 1 teaspoon ginger powder
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 tablespoon organic honey
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Method of preparation

In a bowl, mix the ingredients, except for the honey. Mix them well, transfer the mixture to a saucepan, and place it over low heat. Cook it for 5 minutes, and add the honey at the end.

This delicious and healthy drink is easy to prepare, and it soothes the stomach, enhances digestion and prevents acid reflux.

3. Coconut Oil Body Butter

Staying indoors and having heating on and off and not enough sunshine can leave us feeling a bit dried out, this body butter will bring a suppleness back to your skin and make you beautifully stroke-able.

This feels like a cheat because it is SO simple. Coconut oil is a great moisturiser and has anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties. While you can always rub coconut oil straight on your skin, creating a luxurious lotion is an easy way to use it.

You can leave out the essential oils if you want an un-scented butter and you can create variations using shea butter as an ingredient too.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
• 3 drops essential oil of choice
• 
  Directions:

Blend the ingredients together in a kitchen mixture for six to seven minutes until it has a whipped consistency. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.

4. Deep Conditioning Hair Mask

If you style your hair using blow dryers, use a lot of product in your hair or are out in the sun very often, it’s likely your hair has sustained some damage. If your hair is feeling a little rough, a hair mask can work wonders. This recipe includes honey, which helps repair hair follicles and coconut oil that moisturizes.

Sri Lankan women have historically used coconut oil to condition their hair. When I was a kid my mother used to smooth the oil in, tie my hair in pigtails and send me off to school. If you can do this treatment and leave it in overnight, it is well worth it, your hair will be super shiny and supple when you wash it out.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons raw honey
• 
  Directions

Mix the ingredients together in a bowl. Apply to your dry hair immediately. Wait 40 minutes, then shampoo and condition like normal. Discard leftover mask.