Vaseline or coconut oil as skin care?

[Britomart]

I'm getting close to thirty (whee!) and I'm starting to think more about skin care. As an adult, I've always been careful about keeping out of the sun or using a hat/sunscreen, so I've got that. And my skin stays fairly breakout-free as long as I use a mild cleanser (at non PMS-times, anyway!). So . . . fairly lucky, I guess.

 

But I've been using coconut oil on my hair, and it's responding beautifully, and I've started to think: I wonder if this would be any good for my face?

 

Now, before you think I'm totally nuts, let me tell you that my grandmother, who is in her late eighties, looks like she's, oh, sixty or so, because she has lovely, lovely skin that has many fewer wrinkles than most women her age. And her skincare routine? She puts Vaseline on her face every night.

 

Which seems crazy to me, but I can't help but think that that's made a huge difference for her. And it really makes me wonder: maybe I don't need a fancy moisturizer, maybe I just need some kind of oil on my face every night, and to wash it off every morning (so that it doesn't attract dirt). And I have coconut oil on hand, so why not try it?

 

On the other hand, maybe all I'll get is a faceful of pimples. What do you think? Has anyone tried this or does anyone have any theories?

[cat in black]

Jackie Kennedy never used anything but pure almond oil on her face. Cheap and instantly absorbed.

[Mom2J112903]

LOVE Coconut Oil as a moisturizer :D Which reminds me, I am running low and the chlorine is taking a toll on my skin this summer.

 

Now I do *not* use it on my face. The only things I use on my face is my Neutrogena facial bar and when I wear make-up my foundation has moisturizer in it. Otherwise, I break out like a teenager.

[Caitilin]

On the cloth diaper site I go to sometimes, there are several mamas who wash their faces with honey, and follow with EV Coconut oil as a moisturizer. They claim that their skin has never been clearer. :)

[m0mmaBuck]

I use coconut oil as a moisturizer on my face. My skin is soft and clear. I'm 38 and I still get carded more often than not.

[Rosie_0801]

Not Vaseline! That's nasty stuff! Full of petrochemicals and other ickinesses!

 

Rosie

[Crissy]

Not Vaseline! That's nasty stuff! Full of petrochemicals and other ickinesses!

 

Rosie

 

:iagree:

I wouldn't put a petroleum product on my skin.

If those are your two choices, coconut oil is the way to go!

[Murmer]

Vaseline merely coats the skin...it isn't really absorbed. I use coconut oil on my babies all the time because it absorbs. Also if it is not refined then you can also eat it (good when using on a little baby who like to try the oil).

[Britomart]

Jackie Kennedy never used anything but pure almond oil on her face. Cheap and instantly absorbed.

 

Wow! Now there's an idea. I think I might like the smell of that better than the coconut oil.

 

On the cloth diaper site I go to sometimes, there are several mamas who wash their faces with honey, and follow with EV Coconut oil as a moisturizer. They claim that their skin has never been clearer. :)

 

Honey? Cool . . . do they just rub it on like soap and then rinse it off?

 

I use coconut oil as a moisturizer on my face. My skin is soft and clear. I'm 38 and I still get carded more often than not.

 

Yay! And thanks to the others who let me know their experience with it.

 

Not Vaseline! That's nasty stuff! Full of petrochemicals and other ickinesses!

 

No, no! I wasn't thinking of copying my grandmother by using Vaseline, just about copying her unconventional skincare but substituting coconut oil.

[runmiarun]

I swear by olive oil as well for my face. I have super-sensitive skin and that's the only moisturizer I've found that works. I might have to try the coconut oil just to shake things up. DH says I smell like an Italian restaurant at night, which isn't bad, except he has lots of bad dreams about going out to eat and nobody taking his order.

[Peela]

Not Vaseline! That's nasty stuff! Full of petrochemicals and other ickinesses!

 

Rosie

 

:iagree:

but I have used various natural, cold pressed oils at times and it works just as well as moisturizer. The only thing is, my medium length wavy hair tends to fall around my face a lot, and if I use oil, it usually doesn't absorb 100% and my hair gets a little greasy....whereas moisturizer absorbs and it doesn't affect my hair.

Just vanity...the oils work just as well for moisturizing.

[Rosie_0801]

Honey? Cool . . . do they just rub it on like soap and then rinse it off?

 

I believe so. Unpasteurised honey is a living food. Lots of nice enzymey things in it so good for your skin. Regurgitated glucose doesn't do the same trick.

 

 

I swear by olive oil as well for my face. I have super-sensitive skin and that's the only moisturizer I've found that works. I might have to try the coconut oil just to shake things up. DH says I smell like an Italian restaurant at night, which isn't bad, except he has lots of bad dreams about going out to eat and nobody taking his order.

 

:lol:

 

Rosie

[HollyDay]

If I recall correctly, Vaseline is a petroleum product

[nrg]

I had reactions to everything I tried until jojoba oil. I love it.

[girligirlmom]

I mainly use Coconut Oil now. It's been about a year and I always get compliments on how smooth and clear my skin looks. I also use a Skin Exfoliator from Tropical Traditions - Ingredients: sea salt, organic virgin coconut oil, organic jojoba, and organic virgin palm oil.

[Suzanne in ABQ]

Now, before you think I'm totally nuts, let me tell you that my grandmother, who is in her late eighties, looks like she's, oh, sixty or so, because she has lovely, lovely skin that has many fewer wrinkles than most women her age. And her skincare routine? She puts Vaseline on her face every night.

 

 

 

A dear family friend, who lived to be 100 years old, had beautiful, flawless, velvety, almost wrinkle-free skin until the day she died. I asked her once (when she was only about 90) what she used on her skin to keep it so beautiful. She told me the exact same thing as your grandmother: she put Vaseline on it every night.

 

Well, I still haven't had the nerve to grease up my skin with vaseline, but it sure worked for her. Or, at least it didn't poison her or anything.

[HappyGrace]

My g'mother did the same-Vaseline-same results. I know it has the petroleum, but hearing it worked on so many women, now I'm thinking of actually doing it anyway. (And this from a gal who eats an all organic diet, including making her own cheese from raw milk, etc.) Vanity, vanity. :)

[3littlekeets]

I love Crisco (the creamy white kind). It does lovely things for my skin and is dirt cheap. I'm break-out prone and it never causes me any problems.

[amyable]

My grandmother, too, did the vaseline trick. :) She died last year at 96 and only had wrinkles the last few years when she lost so much weight from not wanting to eat.

 

I still think I like the sound of coconut oil better.

[texasmama]

I use coconut oil as a moisturizer on my legs/body. I have also used it on my face at times. Cheap, natural and effective.:001_smile:

[Terabith]

On the cloth diaper site I go to sometimes, there are several mamas who wash their faces with honey, and follow with EV Coconut oil as a moisturizer. They claim that their skin has never been clearer. :)

 

I'm not sure I could handle that. Sooooo sticky!

[KJsMom]

I always use coconut oil on my body and sometimes my face. I've never had problems with breakouts from the oil. I also read that you can mix a little tea tree oil in with the coconut oil to treat acne.

[MyLittleWonders]

Does olive oil absorb better than coconut oil? I love coconut oil, but it doesn't absorb well, so I don't use it in the morning at all. I'm wondering if a different oil would be better absorbed for daytime use.

[sandellie4]

I swear by olive oil as well for my face. I have super-sensitive skin and that's the only moisturizer I've found that works. I might have to try the coconut oil just to shake things up. DH says I smell like an Italian restaurant at night, which isn't bad, except he has lots of bad dreams about going out to eat and nobody taking his order.

 

:lol:

[Rosie_0801]

Does olive oil absorb better than coconut oil? I love coconut oil, but it doesn't absorb well, so I don't use it in the morning at all. I'm wondering if a different oil would be better absorbed for daytime use.

 

This is a great little book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Vital-Oils-Discover-Ensure/dp/0091876699

 

She suggests unrefined almond oil, unless you have a nut allergy! Apricot Kernel oil, which is very light so easily absorbed. Avocado oil is also easily absorbed and is the oil with the greatest natural sunscreen. There are more suggestions in the book, but they seem the best answers to your question.

 

Rosie

[MaMa2005]

This is a recipe that my friend came up with using coconut oil and shea butter. It looks like frosting! She has adopted two children from Ethiopia and this has been the best moisturizer for them (and herself) without causing the problems of breakouts/allergic reactions.

 

Whipped Shea Butter for Hair and Skin

Makes about 4 cups

 

6-8 oz organic unrefined shea butter (I get mine from Butters-N-Bars)

1/2 cup organic coconut oil (you can get this at natural grocery stores or online here)

2 tablespoons organic olive oil

1 tablespoon cornstarch (this gives it a less greasy feel on your skin)

1/2 teaspoon of Thieves essential oil (rule of thumb: if you can't ingest it, don't use it on your skin)

 

Scoop the shea butter into a glass Pyrex measuring cup or glass bowl.

Melt in microwave (gentle heat, don't boil!) I use 1 min 30 sec, power 5 on my micro. The reason (so I've read) for gentle heat and only 5 min in the fridge (you'll read that later) is because the shea will get a bit gritty if you over heat/cool it. Not that big of a deal really--the 'grit' will melt in your hands like the rest of it.)

 

Add in the coconut oil, olive oil, and cornstarch and whisk until incorporated and fully melted. The heat of the shea butter will melt the coconut oil.

 

Pour mixture into bowl of your stand mixer. Use the whisk attachment. Turn mixer on level 6 and whip for 15-20 minutes until it begins to 'trace' (Some people describe the "trace" as a little mound of soap that takes a second or two to disappear back into the mix. You can see the whisk leaving lines/tiny ropes across the top of the mixture). Don't stress about this idea--if it's whipped 20 minutes you're fine!

 

Take the bowl off the mixer and stick it in the fridge for 5 minutes.

 

Take it back out and back onto the mixer. Mix on level 10 for another 15-20 minutes. Add essential oil and mix another minute or two. You're done! Scoop into glass containers (I use Pyrex or Anchor 2 cup glass bowls with rubber lids.)

 

 

[MyLittleWonders]

This is a great little book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/New-Vital-Oils-Discover-Ensure/dp/0091876699

 

She suggests unrefined almond oil, unless you have a nut allergy! Apricot Kernel oil, which is very light so easily absorbed. Avocado oil is also easily absorbed and is the oil with the greatest natural sunscreen. There are more suggestions in the book, but they seem the best answers to your question.

 

Rosie

Thanks! :D

[Alphabetika]

How do you use coconut oil on your hair? I'm curious because I have curly, very dry hair and I'm experimenting with natural but cheap treatments for it.

[jcs]

What about the eye area? I would love to replace my eye cream.

[Tap]

I use various combinations of Jojoba, Grapeseed and coconut oil. It has been great on my very, very sensitive skin.

[Matryoshka]

My g'mother did the same-Vaseline-same results. I know it has the petroleum, but hearing it worked on so many women, now I'm thinking of actually doing it anyway. (And this from a gal who eats an all organic diet, including making her own cheese from raw milk, etc.) Vanity, vanity. :)

 

Hmm... wonder if unpetroleum jelly would do the same as vaseline?

[Alicia64]

I'm in my mid 40's and when I was in my late 20's a woman I knew who was a professional facialist (and knew I didn't have two nickels to rub together) said,"look, just clean your face with Cetaphil and moisturize w/ Lubriderm."

 

I tended toward pimples and dry skin combined. These days I'm just dry skin.

 

But my skin looks good.

 

I've also heard about Coconut oil. I bought some and tried it but found that it made a mess to go sleep with. It got on the pillows and my husband avoided me. It didn't seem practical.

 

Good luck,

 

Alley

[Tap]

I'm in my mid 40's and when I was in my late 20's a woman I knew who was a professional facialist (and knew I didn't have two nickels to rub together) said,"look, just clean your face with Cetaphil and moisturize w/ Lubriderm."

 

I tended toward pimples and dry skin combined. These days I'm just dry skin.

 

But my skin looks good.

 

I've also heard about Coconut oil. I bought some and tried it but found that it made a mess to go sleep with. It got on the pillows and my husband avoided me. It didn't seem practical.

 

Good luck,

 

Alley

 

I suspect you were using a bit more than you needed. It should be just enough to absorb into the skin, not leave anything ontop of your skin, beyond the first minute or so.

[Suzy Q]

I have been using Vaseline on my face since I was a teenager. I am 39 now with basically no wrinkles and the past few years I stepped it up a notch and started mixing Vaseline with coconut oil and almond oil! I should start making this product myself because I constantly get asked what I use on my face to make it so soft and no wrinkles. That’s my secret. I know people think Vaseline is yucky but it works and it works really well mixed with the coconut oil and almond oil.

[Terabith]

Oh my goodness!  I remember making that post!  

Man, the zombie threads are such NOSTALGIA!