These days I’m crazy for coconuts! Yes, I sometimes use coconut oil in my baking, or coconut milk in my desserts, but I’m talking about something totally different all together. I am crazy for using coconut oil on my face!
I have suffered with eczema my whole life. Not every day, but bouts from time to time, that are so itchy, uncomfortable, and miserable to deal with. And they usually happen on my face. A change of weather can trigger it, traveling, stress, cold, dry weather… You name it. I first noticed a big difference when I stopped eating dairy. It really reduced the number of bouts, as well as expensive prescription creams that I needed. But still, every now and then, it would happen again.
Then, last month, late one night when I became totally desperate to clear up my face, I decided to grab a jar of coconut oil from my pantry. I took a little dab and rubbed it between my hands to melt it. The I gently patted it on my freshly washed faced. I figured that the worst case scenario was a breakout. I was desperate though, so even that didn’t keep me from doing it. I needed some relief.
So, fast forward to the next morning, and my skin looked GREAT! And it felt soothed, which was the best of all. So I decided to try a little bit more, and see what would happen if I did it twice a day. Amazing! This was what I had been looking for all along. Some relief, along with something to moisturize my skin and hopefully prevent a few wrinkles too. Come on, it doesn’t hurt for a girl to dream; )
So I am now hooked on coconut oil. My skin has never looked better. I do it in the morning and in the evening before bed. If, during the day, my skin looks or feel dry, I’ll do another tiny drop. I even travelled last week to San Francisco, and brought the oil, and didn’t have any flare-ups. This was amazing, because travelling on an airplane or to a different city can often trigger it for me. Nothing!
We are heading into Fall now in the Pacific Northwest, and I’m so curious to see how my skin fairs with the colder, dry air, now that I’m using the coconut oil. I am hopeful though. I feel like I have found my golden ticket. And maybe even saved thousands of dollars in the process (hello dermatologist’s bills and expensive skin care products for sensitive skin).
I do need to mention though that I am not a doctor, nor am I giving any medical advice. I am just an ordinary person, looking for some relief from itchy, dry skin.
I also want to add, though I’m not sure that it necessarily makes a difference, that I used organic coconut oil that was not deodorized. I used the one in the picture, Nutiva brand, which has a wonderful aroma, and a very light texture. I believe that Costco now carries it too, for a very good price.
So, is any one else using coconut oil on their face? What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear.
xo Julie
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Kittee Bee Berns September 24, 2012 at 3:27 pm
There is a big coconut oil sex lube thread over on the PPK, but reading that and this is the closest I’ve gotten to letting coconut oil get close and personal. You got me on the wrinkles part tho, and Dazee get’s itchy eyebrows, so I think I’ll bring some up to our bathroom.
Thanks for the nudge.
xo
kittee
Julie Hasson September 24, 2012 at 3:30 pm
OMG you crack me up Kittee! Well, I guess coconut oil is a miracle on many fronts. I hope that it works for Dazee’s itchy eyebrows: )
Bryanna Clark Grogan September 24, 2012 at 3:35 pm
Hi, Julie! I, too, suffer from facial eczema. I used coconut oil for some time, along with getting rid of all detergents in my life (SLS and SLES in household, laundry and personal care items) and it helped alot, but I still got breakouts and flaking. I hate to say this, but Vaseline (which I’ve used on my feet for years)is working better than anything right now– no flaking at all and just a little redness. I know that it’s not PC, but not everyone agrees with that http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400860/Petroleum-Jelly-Peril.html
I still use coconut oil as a body moisturizer and that is no problem. But I’m glad it’s working for you, Julie!
Julie Hasson September 24, 2012 at 3:41 pm
I’m glad that Vaseline is working for you Bryanna. Honestly, whatever works. That’s too bad that the coconut oil only worked for a little while. I am hopeful that it continues working for me, but sometimes I find that I have to switch things up periodically as they stop working well.
Weren’t you also trying antibiotics for the eczema as well? how did that work?
Mattheworbit September 24, 2012 at 3:50 pm
I’m so glad to hear you’ve found something that works.
I’ve had weird dry/oily/itchy/flaky red issues on my face for the whole time I’ve been an adult – and nothing seems to work for very long, until something does – and then it gets discontinued. I’ve tried everything – from products I’ve made myself from all-natural ingredients, to Chanel. At the moment, I’ve got something that’s working – but it’s been discontinued, too, so I’m just waiting til they run out of stock.
It seems with tricky skin problems that there’s a weird element of needing moisturisation – but not too much moisturisation – and an element of needing a barrier, to hold it in. That seems to make sense for why Vaseline may work? And coconut oil has a lot of other benefits, too, in addition to being thick, so hopefully that will help! So glad everyone’s finding things that work.
Julie Hasson October 3, 2012 at 7:28 pm
I hope you find a product that works Matthew. So far so good for me with the coconut oil. I love it!
Bryanna Clark Grogan September 24, 2012 at 6:04 pm
I tried the antibiotics, but no luck. The most help I had was from this page: http://solveeczema.org/index.html
She started on this because of her baby’s eczema, but her solution has been the most helpful thing for my adult eczema that I have tried– getting rid of detergents. She writes: “Detergents were invented around World War II, and initially at least, were only commonly used in the laundry. The reaction of some infants must have been obvious then, as one of our elderly friends said, “In my day, everyone KNEW to wash baby clothing only in soap flakes.” Most other products, like shampoos, remained soap-based — my husband’s aunts still remember the vinegar rinses they used to get the residues out of their hair.
The use of detergents in home environments has increased every decade since they were invented, especially since the ‘60s. Today, in 2003, few households have soaps in any cleaning products. Even those labeled “soap” are often detergents, such as sodium lauryl sulfate liquid hand “soap.”
Once, the difference between detergents and soaps stemmed from the basic ingredients: soaps were derived from plant or animal fats, detergents from petroleum. Detergent chemistry circumvented some of the problems of soaps, such as the formation of “scum” in hard water. There now seem to be plant-based products with the same cleaning and molecular properties of detergents — commonly available in natural food stores — perhaps more appealing to some consumers, but a complication for solving my son’s eczema, because many of these products are not helpful in the case of his reaction, but they are understandably labeled as soap-based. Finding pure soap products — that didn’t make our son more susceptible to detergents by drying his skin, either — was a challenge.”
She’s now writing a scientific paper on this. Read this page thoroughly: http://solveeczema.org/thesolution.html
I now use soap (not detergent) based products. Hidden detergents are in sooooo many things, including my “hypoallergenic” facial wash. (Turns out that “hypoallergenic” means nothing– no regulation, you can label anything “hypoallergenic”. Same goes for “natural” and “green”, etc.) I spent alot of time learning to read labels all over again.
I now use Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castile Soap on my hair, followed by a rinse of 1 T. vinegar in 1 cup warm water, followed by Kiss My face conditioner. This works really well (the vinegar rinse is crucial). If I get “flyaways”, i smooth on a minute bit of Dr. bronner’s Hair creme.
I take my make-up off at night with olive oil, wash my face with a clean facecloth with warm water and now use a tiny bit of Vaseline morning and night. A couple of times a week I wash with some Dr. Bronner’s baby soap. I just splash my face with cold water in the morning (wakes me up!). I use coconut oil as a body moisturizer and use some Dr. Bronner’s hand cream when I want to smell nice!
I use olive oil soap, and detergent-free liquid HE laundry detergent, dish washing liquid, and dishwasher soap (Nature Clean brand for the last 3). I use vinegar, baking soda, washing soda and borax for various cleaning jobs and make my own all-purpose cleaner by soaking citrus rinds in white vinegar with a spoonful of salt for 2 weeks, straining, mixing with equal amount of water– works great! White
My house is now “detoxified” (and no palm oil products either)and, while some products I use now are expensive, I’m saving money on many cleaners., etc.
Julie Hasson October 3, 2012 at 7:28 pm
Thanks for all of the info Bryanna!
joanna September 24, 2012 at 7:05 pm
hey julie, isn’t it the best? i’ve been using a face oil which is mostly coconut oil since jan/feb 2009, and it’s totally changed my complexion. i wrote about my experiences a little bit here:
http://www.joannavaught.com/2010/08/06/i-love/
Julie Hasson October 3, 2012 at 7:29 pm
Very cool Joanna. So glad to hear that it works for you too.
I hope you guys are doing well in Austin. We miss you here!
Andrea September 24, 2012 at 9:15 pm
Coconut oil makes a great deodorant either by itself or mixed with baking soda and arrowroot. It works better than anything else I’ve tried. I have also used it on my face, especially in winter.
Audrey September 28, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Could you share the ratio for making that deodorant? Thanks
Andrea September 29, 2012 at 3:25 pm
I wrote about it, here. http://bit.ly/LB6aQ3 You can google it and find lots of variations.
Julie Hasson October 3, 2012 at 7:40 pm
What an awesome idea Andrea! Thanks for sharing.
adam keen September 25, 2012 at 5:27 am
interesting, I think if I could get Theresa, my partner, to switch to coconut oil from Clarens we might save enough to go somewhere and drink a few fresh ones ; ) Actually, I’m quite serious, she does suffer from very sensitive skin so will suggest this and let you know..
Julie Hasson October 3, 2012 at 7:31 pm
I hope it works for you guys Adam. It has made such a huge difference, and I have super-sensitive skin. A lot of skin care lines just irritate and burn, it’s really crazy. But coconut oil has been amazing.
Rachel @ My Naturally Frugal Family September 25, 2012 at 6:04 am
I will have to try this on my 5 year old. He has very sensitive skin and with the change in weather he gets a bunch of dry patched on his back and belly).
So much good advice and then the commments have helped a lot of well.
Thanks for the bit of insight Julie!
Julie Hasson October 3, 2012 at 7:34 pm
Sure Rachel. I hope this helps on your son. I was just like your son when I was young, and now it’s just super sensitive. The coconut oil has literally been like a miracle for my skin. Even the tube of $175 eczema cream that the dermatologist prescribed didn’t work as well.
Shelly September 25, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Ohh! I’ve used it as a moisturize on my hands but never thought to put it on my face. Hmmm…this is giving me ideas…
Julie Hasson October 3, 2012 at 7:34 pm
Let me know what you think Shelly.
Maggie Muggins September 27, 2012 at 2:41 pm
I recently started using coconut oil as a body lotion as I live in a crazy dry climate, and it works better than any brand of lotion I’ve tried yet. I’ve never used it on my face though, I’ve got some serious combination skin and I’m too worried it would result in a major breakout.
Julie Hasson October 3, 2012 at 7:37 pm
Even with my sensitive/dry skin, I do have areas on my skin that can get oily. I just don’t rub the coconut oil into those areas, and honestly (although I will probably wake up with one tomorrow morning after saying this), I have yet to get a single pimple. It’s really crazy!
Maybe just try a drop of oil rubbed between your palms, so that you’re only putting a touch on your face.
Audrey September 28, 2012 at 3:49 pm
Oh I`ve used it on my scalp and hair like they do in India. Sesame oil has a silky feel on the skin I used on my skin for skin problem ot olive oil too. Also thanks for the comment tips.
Julie Hasson October 3, 2012 at 7:38 pm
Thanks Audrey. Do you use it as a deep conditioner in your hair, or leave it in?
Brandie October 3, 2012 at 1:32 pm
Been usin coconut oil on my face (and all over too!) for a few years now. It’s the ONLY thing I ever use on my skin (except sometimes a sunscreen when outside). I like to think it’s keeping me looking younger lol. Feels awesome and smells good too! AND, the best part is, when I’m using it in cooking, and scoop out with a teaspoon or something, there’s no waste cause I wipe out the spoon after with a finger and just rub it in somewhere!
Julie Hasson October 3, 2012 at 7:39 pm
Yay for coconut oil Brandie! I love that you wipe it off the spoon too. I don’t know why I haven’t thought of that.
Colleen December 16, 2012 at 3:43 pm
I cured my eczema with coconut oil too. I had it really bad on my legs and arms. I heated the coconut oil to melt it. Then took gauze bandages and dipped it into the coconut oil and then wrapped it around my legs and arms and then plastic wrap over that to avoid it dripping. I slept with it overnight and after a week my 2-year eczema was gone and hasn’t been back.