From the time I was allowed to wear makeup until a few months ago, I followed a traditional skin care regimen. I used the standard, harsh face washes and scented exfoliants religiously. I obeyed all the directions on the back of the bottles. However, it seemed like all I ever had to show for my dedication was dry, tight, flaky skin, blind pimples, and obnoxious whiteheads. Plus, it felt like no matter how much I lathered, rinsed, and repeated, my makeup was never truly removed and my skin was simply hurt from the effort. After several years of this without one sign of the perfect skin I was promised, I decided it was time to make a change.
So, I headed to the internet to search for natural ways to wash my face and found that some people were using coconut oil for cleansing. Everything I read about it alleged it was an excellent way to clean your face because it removed all dirt and makeup and moisturized your skin at the same time. That was exactly what I was looking for.
Here are just a few reasons making the switch has been great for me.
I enjoy the process of cleansing my face.
The process for cleaning my face with coconut oil is incredibly simple and has become a therapeutic moment during my most stressful days. To clean my face, I scoop about a half teaspoon of oil onto my fingers and rub them together to melt it. Then, I gently massage it on my entire face. My cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, and eyelids are covered in coconut oil by the time I’m done.
Once everything is covered, I run hot water over a washcloth, wring it out, and then lay it over my face for 30 seconds. I can feel the warmth from the cloth opening my pores so the oil can attach to more dirt and grime. Then I use the cloth to rub the oil off of my face. This gently exfoliates my skin without pain or dryness.
The immediate results are addictive.
After this is all done, my face feels silky, genuinely clean, and quenched. Since I wipe off the oil with the cloth, I’m not left with any residue, and the amount of makeup and grime on the cloth convinces me that I’ve successfully removed all the nasty stuff from my face. The first time I did this, I was in awe at how clean my face felt. It hadn’t felt that clean since before I put on my first swipe of mascara at 14.
My skin is already happier after four months.
It’s been four months since I first started this coconut oil life, and I haven’t once questioned my decision. I’ve had a pleasant time without a single blind pimple. My skin always feels perfectly moisturized. I also survived the summer without a single major peel after a sunburn.
I do still have a few whiteheads every now and then, but they’re never major, and they go away quickly. In fact, they only pop up in the areas where I frequently touch my face, like my chin. Another major bonus that I’ve noticed is my eyelash quality. I’ve had fewer lashes fall out from removing mascara, and I think the oil is actually removing the mascara more than the makeup removers on the market.
My wallet loves coconut oil too.
In addition to the improvements to my skin and lashes, coconut oil is cheaper to purchase than the litany of skin products on the shelves. I’ve saved a serious amount of money now that I don’t have to purchase a cleanser, toner, exfoliant, eye makeup remover, and moisturizer just to clean my face. A standard jar of coconut oil is around $9, and they can sometimes last you six months (unless you also use it to cook with). That feels ten times more economical than trying to purchase all of that other junk every month.
