Learn About The Amazing Benefits Of Coconut Oil In This “Going Coconuts” Segment For CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin”
Beauty gurus, like yours truly, often extol the wonders of coconut oil and coconut milk, but what exactly make these natural ingredients so special? I stopped by CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin” this morning to chat about the hydrating, antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-aging properties of coconut oil and coconut milk — and, of course, to introduce viewers to some of the most exciting product launches incorporating these ingredients!
Check out the segment above (or click here), and read on for more details on all of the brands and products showcased!
SHEAMOISTURE 100% VIRGIN COCONUT OIL DAILY HYDRATION COLLECTION
I kicked off the segment by chatting a bit about what makes coconut oil so great within the context of skincare. We all know coconut oil to be hydrating, but its moisturizing capacities extend beyond providing immediate relief for parched skin. See, coconut oil contains a great deal of medium-chain fatty acids that help to repair the skin barrier and trap moisture therein, so that skin stays hydrated for longer periods of time. These moisture reserves, in turn, keep your complexion looking supple, smooth, and radiant. Also, since coconut oil is packed with polyphenols, in particular ferulic acid, it helps to protect the skin against free radicals and environmental toxins and to slow down the aging process.
SheaMoisture tapped into coconut oil’s skin-loving properties with its new 100% Virgin Coconut Oil Daily Hydration Collection, which is available only at CVS stores. The collection is quite expansive, but I focused on the facial care offerings, which include the Face Milk Cleanser ($10.99), Daily Face Lotion ($10.99), Overnight Face Oil ($9.99), and Milk Mask ($14.99). As the collection’s name suggests, all these products are formulated with coconut, as well as coconut milk and shea butter.
The collection is part of SheaMoisture’s Community Commerce business model, so that the shea butter used to formulate these products was ethically sourced from 14 women-led co-ops, while the extra virgin coconut oil was sourced from a small community in western Ghana.
JASÖN SIMPLY COCONUT TOOTHPASTE COLLECTION
You’ve might have heard celebrities like Shailene Woodley and Gwyneth Paltrow chat about their love of oil pulling, which consists of swishing coconut oil around in your mouth for a few minutes in order to whiten teeth and prevent plaque buildup. Coconut oil pulling, which has roots in Ayurvedic medicine, does have some proven scientific benefits given coconut oil’s antibacterial properties. That said, it shouldn’t substitute a more thorough and rigorous oral care regimen.
To enjoy the benefits of coconut oil and get a full mouth cleanse, check out the new JASÖN Simply Coconut Toothpaste Collection ($5.99 each at Whole Foods Market stores). All the toothpastes contain coconut oil along with healthy minerals like calcium and magnesium and botanical extracts like aloe leaf juice and sunflower seed oil. True to the brand’s eco-friendly heritage, the toothpastes are formulated with 99% earth-sourced ingredients, plus they’re fluoride-free. The toothpastes, which contain no artificial colors or sweeteners, are available in 4 flavors: Coconut Cream, Coconut Mint, Coconut Chamomile, and Coconut Eucalyptus.
After brushing, you can further protect your teeth and freshen your breath with the Simply Coconut Total Protection Coconut Mouth Rinse.
PACIFICA COCONUT PROBIOTIC SUNCARE COLLECTION
If you’ve walked through a Target store’s beauty aisle in the last week or so, you might have spotted the bright, colorful, tropical-flavored bottles and tubes that capture the joy of Pacifica’s newest collection. After wowing customers with its skin care, bath and body offerings, and cosmetics, the eco-friendly, vegan, and cruelty-free brand has made its first foray into the sun care realm with its new Coconut Probiotic Mineral Sunscreen collection, available exclusively at Target stores and Target.com.
All of the sunscreens in the collection contain titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, both mineral sunscreens, and are free of any chemical filters. And, unlike so many mineral sunscreens that leave a chalky residue, Pacifica’s sunscreens make skin look fresh and radiant.
My favorite aspect of the collection, however, is that these products marry sun protection and skincare, containing ingredients that nourish, hydrate, and soften the skin: coconut oil to moisturize, probiotics that have anti-aging benefits, and caffeine to firm the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, puffiness, cellulite, and stretch marks (which is always helpful when rocking a swimsuit!).
The collection contains 8 products, 6 sunscreens and 2 after-sun offerings. To protect the face, there’s the Pacifica Suncare Coconut Probiotic Mineral Face Shade SPF 30 ($12.99 at Target); the ultra-portable Pacifica Suncare Coconut Mineral Face Stick SPF 50 ($9.99 at Target); and the Pacifica Suncare Sun Lipcare Mineral Lip Balm SPF 30 ($3.99 at Target), which in sheer peach and nude shades, as well as a clear tone. For the body, meanwhile, there’s the Pacifica Suncare Coconut Probiotic Mineral Sunscreen Spray SPF 50 ($15.99 at Target), the first continuous spray mineral sunscreen with SPF 50; the Pacifica Suncare Coconut Probiotic Mineral Sunscreen Spray SPF 30; and the Pacifica Suncare Coconut Probiotic Mineral Bronzing Sunscreen SPF 30, which offers broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection while giving the skin a sun-kissed glow!
FARMACY HYDRATING COCONUT GEL MASKS
Sheet masks have been trending for quite a while, but if you’ve tired enough paper masks, you know they can dry out really quickly and that they tend to be frustratingly flimsy and prone to ripping and breaking.
The Farmacy Hydrating Coconut Gel Masks, then, represent the next frontier in face masks. These indulgent masks are fashioned out of bio-cellulose, a fibrous material made with fermented coconut juice. Because bio-cellulose has such a high fluid-retention capacity, it can more efficiently deliver nutrients to the skin — and, there’s no chance of the mask drying out during any 20-25 minute treatment. In fact, more often than not, you’ll have a bit of leftover serum you can pat onto your skin! Also, the bio-cellulose mask adheres to the contours of the face perfectly.
As for the masks’ active ingredients, they all contain a coconut gel that provides intense hydration, as well as Farmacy’s trademark ingredient, Echinacea GreenEnvy, which has a high concentration of Chicoric Acid, an antioxidant that promotes collagen production and boosts the skin’s immune system.
During the segment, I showcased three Farmacy Hydrating Coconut Gel Mask variants: the Firming mask, which contains celery extract to fight free radicals and hence prevent the degradation of collagen and elastin; the Brightening mask, which contains purple broccoli extract to normalize melanin production, clarify the skin, and yield a more even skin tone; and the Deep Moisture mask, which contains Vitamin C-rich cucumber extract to give the skin a hydration burst and make the complexion appear smoother and plumper. Each Farmacy Hydrating Coconut Gel Mask box features 3 sachets and retails for $24 at FarmacyBeauty.com.
MAUI MOISTURE NOURISH & MOISTURE + COCONUT MILK COLLECTION
Featuring natural ingredients you’d find in the islands of Hawaii, Maui Moisture is dedicated to tending to women’s hair care needs while also gifting them with a sensory experience that mentally transports them to a tropical paradise. All Maui Moisture products are free of parabens, silicones, sulfate surfactants, and mineral oils, and they’re all handcrafted formulas packaged in cheeky bottles that resemble those of freshly blended fruit juices.
The Maui Moisture Nourish & Moisture + Coconut Milk collection is designed for women with normal to dry hair who need a hydration boost. The three products in the collection — the Shampoo, Conditioner, and Raw Oil Mist — are formulated with coconut milk, which moisturizes strands without weighing them down, as well as guava oil and mango butter to detangle and condition hair. The products retail for $8.99 each and are available at Ulta, Walgreens, CVS, Target, HEB, and Walmart.
OGX Extra Strength Damage Remedy + Coconut Miracle Oil Collection
Designed for women with thick to coarse hair, this miraculous collection consists of a Shampoo, Conditioner, and Penetrating Oil — all formulated with coconut oil, vanilla bean extract, and essence of tiare (Tahitian gardenia). Why is coconut oil so often mentioned in hair care? Well, it has a really low molecular weight that allows it to penetrate deep into the hair shaft, hydrating strands from the inside out. Also, because it has a high concentration of lauric acid, coconut oil helps to reduce protein loss, which is particularly important for women with more porous hair.
In addition to hydrating and protecting strands, these products help to smooth flyaways, calm frizz, and boost shine. Each product retails for $8.99 at Ulta, Walgreens, CVS, Target, and Walmart.
