Coconut oil

Coconut oil – a Caribbean treat for lips, skin and hair

Coconut oil is regarded as a true all-rounder in the beauty and cosmetics industry. It is found in numerous lip, hair and general skin care products. Rich in fatty acids, it is said to be especially good for dry skin. It also contains vitamin E – a noted scavenger of free radicals – and as such can help to prevent premature ageing of the skin. Coconut oil is said to have a calming effect on the skin as well as on the scalp and the lips. It also helps to improve the moisture retention of the skin and therefore helps to make the skin softer and smoother. Last but not least, the pleasant exotic fragrance of coconut oil adds to its appeal as a cosmetics product ingredient.

About coconut oil

INCI name (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients name): Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil
Natural (coconut)
Uses: Lip care, body lotions, creams, hair treatments, massage oils, make-up removers, nail treatments, bubble baths
Special properties of coconut oil: Moisturising, calming, softens the skin and lips, makes hair shiny, pleasant-smelling

The symbol of the Caribbean

What comes to mind when we imagine a dream holiday in the Caribbean? As well as white sand beaches and crystal-clear water, the picture will surely include a coconut palm. The inhabitants of tropical shores have used the coconut palm as a source of food and raw materials throughout history. The trees were cultivated by primitive peoples 3000 to 4000 years ago. The wood is used as a building material, the leaf fibres as ropes and baskets among other things, and the coconut shells provide a useful fuel source. The flesh – also known as copra – is a key foodstuff and it can also be further processed to obtain coconut oil/coconut fat, margarine or desiccated coconut. The word “kokos” incidentally means “kernel” or “berry”.

How coconut oil is obtained

Coconut oil is obtained from the coconut, which is the fruit of the coconut palm. The valuable flesh (copra) is protected by a hard shell. In order to obtain the coconut oil, the fragrant white flesh is grated, dried and pressed. The coconut oil is yellowy-white in colour and is solid at room temperature, which explains why it is sometimes referred to as coconut fat. As a food ingredient, coconut oil is mainly used for baking, roasting and frying. It is valued by the cosmetics industry for its moisturising, cooling and calming properties.

The statements about properties, effects and effectiveness made here refer exclusively to the plant and its components/products.