The Properties of Coconut oil

In recent years coconuts have broken out of their fairground-prize and chocolate bar mould and onto the shelves of Holland and Barrett. Coconut oil is definitely en vogue at the moment. In fact, according to consumer research group, Kantar, UK sales of coconut oil have risen from around £1 million 5 years ago to £16.4 last year. You may have noticed that a large proportion of our products are coconut oil based. This includes our soaps, hand creams and foot balm. We wanted to put the spotlight on the oil and really explain why it so beneficial and why it is here to stay.

The unique fat composition of coconut oil means it is a great nourishing treatment for skin and hair. It also contains vitamin E for silky hair and smooth skin. For centuries, a teaspoon of coconut oil in wet hair left to soak overnight has been used as an effective and conditioning hair mask. Furthermore, it has been claimed that coconut oil can prevent dandruff, hair whitening and hair loss. The nourishing properties of coconut oil are also incredibly beneficial to your skin. The oil also contains antioxidants (from its saturated fats like Capric Acid, Caprylic Acid, Caproic Acid, and Myristic Acid), making it a good anti-wrinkle product whilst also combating skin irritation. These can convert into antimicrobial and anti-fungal agents when in contact with the skin making coconut oil a preventative of issues such as Atlhete's Foot, rashes and dermatitis among others. Sounds good to us!

Coconut oil has also been promoted as a healthy oil in cooking. However, these types of studies focus on the short term impact and therefore could be subject to change upon the results of longer studies. In the short term, coconut oil lowers levels of bad cholesterol therefore reducing the risk of heart attack. It also has a higher smoke-point and longer shelf life than other oils on supermarket shelves and, therefore, can be used in baking, frying and as an alternative to butter and vegetable oils in dishes. 

It's the nourishing and antioxidant properties of coconut oil which have been used for hundreds of years that we find the most beneficial in our products. Our hand and foot balms do not contain any water so a little of the coconut based products go a long way on your skin. We combine this basic oil with lots of other nourishing vegetarian ingredients, such as lavender essential oil, to create super moisturising and deliciously scented soaps and balms. As the seasons change and our skin begin to dry out, we suggest using coconut oil based products to really replace all that lost moisture.