From the coconut — a summery, exotic fruit prized for its sweet flavour — come the water, the milk and the oil. Let's get to know them better.
Coconut is not only nutritious and delicious; the water contained inside the fruit is not just good to drink — it is also excellent for the skin, as are the milk and oil obtained by processing the flesh. These three precious ingredients can in fact become allies for the beauty of skin and hair: let's look at the ways in which they can be used.
The benefits of coconut water for the skin are numerous: it is moisturising, minimises the signs of ageing, can help reduce brown spots, helps treat acne, promotes the healing of eczema and infections, and is an excellent natural toning lotion.
Coconut water can also be used on hair, as it makes it shinier, stimulates its growth, prevents hair loss, and keeps dandruff at bay.
Mix coconut water and honey until you obtain a fluid but not too liquid consistency, apply it to the face and leave it on for half an hour before rinsing off.
Add three tablespoons of coconut water to a jar of whole-milk yogurt and leave on the face, neck and décolletage for at least a quarter of an hour, then rinse off.
Combine lemon juice and coconut water in equal parts. Use as a lotion to dab on areas affected by excessive pigmentation.
Coconut water, used pure, can easily be applied with a cotton pad and then left to work in cases of eczema, acne or irritation.
The same applies to hair: the best way is to pour it into a spray bottle so as to reach the scalp easily and facilitate even application along the hair.
Thanks to the presence of B-group vitamins, vitamins C and E, and minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, selenium and phosphorus, coconut milk is a treasure trove of nutrients for the body, skin and hair — so much so that it is what Nature and the plant world offer that most closely resembles breast milk.
Thanks to its nourishing and antibacterial properties, coconut milk is extremely versatile.
Used pure, it is excellent as a make-up remover for normal or dry skin, and also as a lotion for all skin types, including acne-prone skin, since it acts as an anti-inflammatory. On that note, it is also perfect on sunburns. Sprayed onto the skin of the body, it makes a perfect, affordable and totally green after-sun treatment.
For hair: it is used exactly like a leave-in conditioner. Here too, the ideal is to pour it into a spray bottle. The result: soft, nourished hair full of volume and irresistibly scented.
We have already told you about coconut oil, its properties and the possible uses for the wellbeing of skin and hair.
Here, as well as highlighting its remarkable skin compatibility — thanks to its low molecular weight, which allows it to reach the deeper layers of the epidermis — we suggest further ways to benefit from it.
Mix it with cane sugar until you obtain a fairly compact consistency, then massage it in to free the skin of dead cells and promote a more radiant and longer-lasting tan.
Use bicarbonate of soda in place of the cane sugar. Same procedure.
Add three drops of ylang-ylang essential oil (or whichever you prefer) to a 100 ml bottle of coconut oil and use it as a body moisturiser.
Leave on for at least half an hour before shampooing.
Those with short hair can use it in place of wax or gel; for split ends or frizzy hair, massage a few drops onto the ends and lengths.
Pure coconut oil solidifies at low or medium temperatures; to make it fluid again, simply warm the bottle under hot tap water.
Coconut water, oil and milk can all be found in shops specialising in natural foods or in herbalist's shops.