The "skin-y" on coconut oil.

So. Lets talk about coconut oil. Yeah, that stuff. . .the tropical-smelling, oh-so-good-for-you, oily wonder that is the ideal makeup remover and is soawesomeforsomanythings. Word to the wise: like I mentioned in this post, every (smart) girl should own a jar. Or two. Or five. Unrefined is suggested, and yeah, I could have talked about so many things, but I really wanted to write another "beauty" post, and my coconut-oil obsession is near and dear to my heart. So deal with it, have fun, and comment along with oily-tips of your own. ;)

In actuality, this post is about skin-care. I don't know how common it is, but I have unusually dry skin. There is one area around my nose (that I keep dry, never fear,) that tends to be a bit oily, but everywhere else is very dry and itchy, especially after showers and during the winter. Not fun, and certainly not attractive. . .you know, constantly itching? I realize that most of the problem is probably the soap I use, and also not having properly-hydrated skin. WELL, long story short, recently my mom picked me up this amazing shaving lotion (is it gross or weird to talk about shaving? Don't answer that. . .) from EOS (Evolution of Smooth--FAV!) that I love, but unfortunately can't seem to find again. (Target. . .I need your help. Restock, please?) I've already been using coconut oil on my face (mainly to remove makeup,) for the last several months, and can't believe how blemish-free and silky-soft my skin feels. Which is when I had the brilliant thought. . .why couldn't I use coco-oil for shaving?? Light bulb. I did a quick Google search (because Google is my bosom friend,) and found a technique that works beautifully. Plus, since it spreads so well, coconut-oil is long lasting, which, besides being soawesomefosomanythings, makes it totally worth the investment. :)

"Coconut oil is very good at hydrating skin. It sinks in deep, conditions, moisturizes, and softens skin. It isn't pumped full of water or petroleum byproducts like many commercial cleansers or lotions either. Skin is kept clean by an oily substance called sebum. When sebum mixes with too much dirt, bacteria, and dead skin cells it can clog pores and lead to acne and other blemishes. Coconut oil naturally clears away dirt, grime, and dead skin cells. It even has some antibacterial properties, killing off harmful bacteria. Coconut oil is the all-in-one natural solution to all your skin problems. It soothes bug bites, speeds healing, helps with rashes, gets rid of flaking skin, softens and shrinks wrinkles, protects against sun damage, keeps tans longer, acts as an antioxidant to prevent cellular aging, and so much more. It removes makeup easily and even makes the perfect massage oil." --via

In a nutshell, my daily skin-routine looks something like this. (see below) Facemasks not included. Since my face has cleared up quite a bit (I'm still convinced it was an allergic-reaction,) I only wear a mask once or twice a week. When I remember to make one. Hey, speaking of, how many of you would be interested in a tutorial/recipe vlog featuring my newest-favorite-activated-charcoal-facemask??

EOS flavors: Summer Fruit, Honeysuckle Honeydew, Raspberry Pomegranate 

before showering-- 

• I like to "prime" my lips with a thick layer of EOS lipbalm. I basically live on that stuff, and have three adorable little eggs in my purse, right as we speak. Not only is it so lusciously smooth, but it is made with all-natural ingredients, is super hydrating, not greasy, naturally plumping, and honestly, the packaging? Total and complete CUTENESS. Highly recommended.  Oh yeah, and I have this habit (besides being a lip-balm junky,) of coordinating my EOS with my outfit. Vain and slightly weird? Maybe. But I love combining colors/patterns, so Raspberry-Pomegranate (love!) paired with my mint-green sweater. . .is just natural. Stop laughing. 

• So yeah. As I was saying, before showing I like to put on a little lip-balm. I'm not sure exactly if it's true, but I read somewhere that the shower steam and lipbalm work together for plumper, softer lips. Either way, my lips stay hydrated and soft, even after showering, and I seem to need to re-apply my balm less throughout they day.  

while showering--

• Before shaving I've gotten into the habit of exfoliating my skin with the ingenious (and stinkin' cute,) invention known as felted soap. Anna picked up a bar in a boutique a couple of months ago, and I've fallen in love. It doesn't "foam" as well as a regular bar of soap, but I have noticed an obvious softness in my skin. BIG WIN, if you ask me. You can skip this part, but if you want that quirky-spa feel, give it a try. Be sure to let me know, if you do! (I'm also thinking of doing a giveaway. . .any takers?)

• Allow your hair follicles to soften while you shower. In fact, I don't recommend shaving until the end or middle of your shower. When you are ready, pat your skin dry (it should still be slightly damp, but not wet,) and lather on the coconut oil. Yep, that simple! For legs, shave downward to prevent burning. You'll also get a closer shave. Remember to rinse your razor out frequently, as the oil will clog it a bit. Smoothing some oil on your face and even putting a dab in your hair just gives everything a beautiful shine and softness. (coco-oil for hair works just as well, if not better, than store-bought conditioner.) Voila, your done! 

after showering--

• I like to finish off with a little regular lotion. Not natural, I know (working on that!) but I really, really hate dry skin, and the lotion just cools everything down and takes any left-over oiliness away. If this isn't a pet-peeve for you, stopping right at the oil or possibly finishing with a little more should be totally fine. 

Annndd that's it! If you liked this post, found it helpful (or annoying, you pick, ;) ) and would like to see more (my makeup routine, hair routine, etc,) leave a comment and let me know! Like I said before, I'd LOVE to hear about your own skin-care, how you've benefited from coconut oil, other uses, etc.