Coconut oil has been hailed as one of the biggest beauty must-haves, a firm fixture in the bathroom cabinet of every beauty aficionado.But while you might be aware of some of the more common uses of the antioxidant-packed product, there are a host of secret beauty boosting purposes you need to incorporate into your regime.
Coconut oil brand Vita Coco and celebrity beauty expert Liz Taw gave their top multi-tasking tips...
Make-up remover
Use it to gently remove the day's make-up and leave the skin feeling clean and nourished. "To gently melt away your base, eye make-up and lipstick residue, taking a teaspoon of the oil, warm it in your hands to transform it into a liquid and gently massage it into your face and neck," says Liz. "Use a flannel and hot water to gently remove and rinse and repeat until your skin feels squeaky clean."
Nourishing hair mask
Make this a weekly ritual and your hair will thank you. This treatment adds shine and silkiness to your locks, helping to keep it bouncy and healthy.
To create at home, Liz advises to "warm solid coconut oil to liquify and add a couple of drops of sandalwood and rose essential oils. Apply to damp hair, combing through to distribute, before wrapping in a hot towel or shower cap and leaving to penetrate for an hour. "You can also leave the remedy on overnight for an intensely hydrating treatment. Rinse, shampoo twice and condition as usual – I prefer to use a fragrance free shampoo and conditioner to maintain the gorgeous scent of the mask.
Make-up brush cleanser
Make-up brushes are a haven for dirt and bacteria, but the anti-fungal and conditioning properties of coconut oil make it a perfect brush cleanser. "Massage the oil onto your make-up brushes, then rinse off excess product with a gentle cleansing shampoo," says Liz. "The result is soft, clean tools that will improve make-up application and help keep skin clear."
Lip balm
Use Vita Coco as an on-the-go lip balm. "Blend a heaped tablespoon of coconut oil gently on the hob and adding a teaspoon of baobab powder – a delicious, antioxidant rich, vitamin C-packed super fruit – and a drop of orange oil. If making this at home, mix well, pour into a little glass jar/decanter and leave to set."
Body scrub
Effectively buff away dead-skin cells and achieve a gorgeous glow by making a body scrub with your coconut oil. "Melt about three tablespoons of coconut oil gently on the hob until it's liquefied," instructs Liz. "Remove from the heat and add two tablespoons of coconut milk, three tablespoons of sugar, a teaspoon of lemon juice and a tablespoon of lemon zest. Mix thoroughly until all the ingredients are well-combined and transfer into a glass jar. To use, massage into dry skin, shower and rinse."
Flaky scalp treatment
If you suffer from a flaky scalp, give this a go. "Melt about three tablespoons of coconut oil gently in a saucepan," says Liz. "Allow to cool, add five drops of tea tree oil and stir until fully blended. Apply the mixture to your scalp and massage well. Cover your hair with a shower cap or plastic wrap and leave for a couple of hours, before rinsing and shampooing with a gentle formula two – three times to ensure all of the oil has been removed. Apply conditioner from mid-length to ends and rinse as usual."
Vita Coco Coconut Oil is available nationwide.