Coconut oil is a kind of oil, which can also be used for skin care and beauty. Coconut oil can moisturize the skin, and its moisturizing effect is also very good. India is a place rich in coconut oil, and some people often use it directly. Coconut oil is used for skin care and beauty. So, what are the beauty methods of coconut oil? How to use coconut oil for hair? Let’s take a look at Youyouba below.
1. Coconut oil beauty method
Coconut oil can be used externally to moisturize.
Most people use coconut oil on their skin for moisturizing. It should be noted that the less water content in the stratum corneum of the skin, the drier the skin will be; if the water escape from the stratum corneum is reduced, the dryness condition can be improved. Coconut oil contains more than 85% of a large amount of saturated fatty acid esters. Its sealing effect on the skin is similar to that of petroleum jelly and mineral oil. It can reduce transepidermal water loss and play a moisturizing role. Coconut oil can also increase the lipids on the surface of the skin and soften the skin. In other words, as a moisturizer, coconut oil is more qualified. However, coconut oil contains less of the substances that really have nutritional functions for the skin, such as unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E. To say that it has anti-aging, anti-wrinkle and other skin care effects is just bragging.
Applying coconut oil—especially unrefined coconut oil—directly to your face or hands can be risky. The free lauric acid contained in coconut oil may cause irritation to the skin. Some literature believes that the molecular weight of lauric acid is small enough that it can be easily dissolved in the lipid phase and penetrate the cell membrane, causing physical damage to cells, inhibiting enzymes that produce energy and transporting nutrients, causing reversible and irreversible changes, leading to cell death. Of course, because of this, lauric acid is the most inhibitory saturated fatty acid against Gram-positive microorganisms.
Coconut oil is also an important indirect raw material in the cosmetics industry, such as in the soap making industry. Coconut oil has a higher saponification value than other common vegetable oils, and its freezing point is between 21 and 25°C. The soap it makes is not too soft and foams well, making it very suitable for simple handmade cold-made soap. As handmade soap becomes increasingly popular, there are many DIY tutorials available online, such as this one. Of course, this handmade soap is no healthier than regular soap.
Coconut oil is a powerhouse in hair care
Hair is divided into three layers from the outside to the inside, namely the cuticle, the cortex and the medulla. Its main component is keratin. .
Hair damage mainly refers to the friction and deformation of the hair cuticle under the action of physical (over-combing) and chemical (perming and dyeing). The hair care effect of coconut oil is reflected in its keratin. of careful care. For all hair types, coconut oil works to prevent combing damage. It can form a lubricating film on the surface of the hair and reduce the friction between the hair cuticles. It is effective even on hair that has been damaged (such as permed, dyed, washed with overheated water).
Coconut oil can be used as a pre-shampoo treatment. Since keratin has strong water absorption, the hair will absorb water and swell during shampooing, and then lose water and reduce swelling. During these two processes, the hair cuticles will deform and open, increasing the friction between the hairs and causing hair damage. However, if coconut oil is used before shampooing, it can form a hydrophobic oil film on the edge of keratin, preventing the hair from absorbing water; and it can penetrate into the hair and reduce the expansion of keratin. When hair absorbs less water, hair cuticle deformation and friction damage will be reduced, and hair will be protected. This is because the lauric acid in coconut oil has a strong affinity for keratin and is a linear molecule with a small molecular weight that can penetrate the hair fiber. Mineral oil and some other vegetable oils (such as sunflower oil) cannot penetrate the hair.
In short, coconut oil is a good skin care and hair care ingredient, but you should not have too high expectations for it. It cannot anti-aging or remove wrinkles.
2. Moisturizing skin care ingredients
1. Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid, also known as hyaluronic acid, has a very strong ability to absorb water and can absorb more than its own quantity. times the amount of moisture, filling the cuticles with moisture in a short period of time. It is by far the most effective natural moisturizer for workers. It can not only help maintain moisture in the skin, but also capture moisture from the external environment to keep the skin moist for a long time. It is the substance with the best moisturizing properties found in nature that can be used in cosmetics.
Collagen is commonly found in the skin, tissues, blood vessels and bones of the human body. Large molecular collagen is not easily absorbed by the human body, so it must be hydrolyzed into small molecular weight to allow it to mix with keratin. It has a similar amino acid structure to enhance its skin-friendly properties. The water retention of collagen comes from the large number of hydrophilic groups in its molecules, which act like a large net, and each grid point can capture a drop of water. It not only has a moisturizing effect, but also has the effect of improving skin texture, effectively moisturizing the skin and delaying skin aging.
Jojoba is a desert plant. The jojoba oil squeezed from its beans is rich in vitamin D and protein. It is a very good moisturizing and moisturizing oil, which can maintain skin moisture and prevent wrinkles and wrinkles. Softens skin. Its advantages are that it is refreshing, non-sticky, odorless, good skin-friendly, easy to penetrate, and has high water retention. The water retention capacity can be maintained for 8 hours, and it is very good at assisting in moisturizing.
4. Squalene
Squalene is a type of unsaturated fatty acid. Skin oils contain this component. If it is lacking, it will make the skin surface dry. The skin properties are not inferior to those of jojoba oil, and the texture is more moisturizing, but not stuffy. It also has the effect of transporting oxygen to cells and promoting cell metabolism.
5. Shea butter
Shea butter is an oil squeezed from the core of the fruit of the SHEA tree (African shea tree) that grows naturally in the West African savanna. The natural ingredients are hypoallergenic, easily absorbed by the human body, and can strongly cover the skin to prevent the loss of moisture in the skin. It also has a good effect on repairing cuticles, helping to restore and maintain the natural elasticity of the skin. It has incredible properties. Deeply moisturizing effect.