Let’s talk about oils. In recent years facial oils have become the hottest trend, with coconut oil leading the crusade being touted as a miracle oil for all things health and beauty. While coconut oil has been shown to improve certain skin conditions by accelerating wound healing time and easing the discomfort of ailments such as eczema and psoriasis, in reality, it is a nightmare for the skin.
I won’t argue that a select few can certainly benefit from this marketed multi-tasking oil and the low price tag that contribute to it’s appeal, it is my professional opinion to save this oil for the kitchen not the bathroom in regard to your skin care routine. Many women find coconut oil helpful as a hair conditioner, and I am all about that, just keep it away from your face.
The trouble with coconut oil is that it acts as more of a wax than an oil and it can really wreak havoc on the skin over time. On a scale of 1-5, 5 being the most comedogenic, coconut oil ranks a very high 5. Products that are comedogenic clog and suffocate the pores stifling the functions of the skin. Without proper absorption, coconut oil can actually cause extreme dryness, especially in a climate that already has dry air, like here in Colorado. It is an absolute disaster for those with oily skin and I see the damage all the time with clients in my treatment room. Unfortunately this holy grail product comes with a lot of misinformation and a lot of misguided hype. There are many other superior oils, like grape seed, rose hip and black currant that are safer to use with greater topical benefits to nourish the skin.
Let me be clear, I am referring to straight out of the jar, extra virgin coconut oil that you buy on the shelf at a grocery store.
Coconut oil can be manipulated as an ingredient to utilize the essential nutrients in an effective way. Through specialized processes coconut oil can be broken down to utilize the essential fatty acids and nutrients; resulting in more stable and skin loving properties, that you will often see on labels listed as caprylic capric triglycerides. This is a safe and effective formula of coconut oil and is now a staple in most health conscious brands, including ARCONA, the brand we use in service and offer for sale at Elixir.
This can often be an overwhelming topic as there is so much confusing information out there. As always, I invite you to inquire about any questions you have about skincare ingredients both in and out of the Elixir treatment room. I urge you to seek out professional advice about the benefits and risks of any product you deem worthy of applying to that beautiful skin of yours.
To start off the New Year right we are offering Elixir guests a complimentary 15 minute skincare consultation with a professional Elixir esthetician. ($20 Value)
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ARCONA products are available in the Elixir Boutique in downtown Denver, Colorado and online for our guests convenience.
Below are a few ARCONA products containing properly processed coconut oil for skincare.