Ever since the likes of Miranda Kerr and Gwyneth Paltrow were seen slathering themselves in coconut-based products, the beauty (and culinary) world have gone bonkers for anything and everything made from the fleshy tropical seed. (Yes, it's a seed!) The coconut oil trend is by no means new, but it also shows no signs of departing anytime soon.
Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, a fatty acid that kills bacteria which makes it especially popular in hand, nail and feet products. Coconut oil at its purest is much more affordable than Argan or similar trendy natural oils - plus you can buy it with the rest of your groceries at supermarkets.
In its raw organic form, its structure allows it to penetrate the hair shaft, something that few man-made conditioners can do. Studies have also been done on its performance as a sunscreen: while not a substitute for the conventional SPF, it has been shown to block up to 20 per cent of the sun's UV rays.
Then there is "oil pulling" with coconut oil - it's the latest craze with celebrities who believe using the oil as a mouthwash makes their teeth whiter - while there are some enthusiasts who believe gurgling with the stuff will ease migraines and even asthma.
For the more conventional types, coconut oil reaps many beauty benefits that simply involve substituting regular products for those of the coconut variety. For instance, coconut oil can take off make-up with ease with no rubbing or tugging at delicate under-eye skin. It can also give you all-day frizz protection and can double up as a fast-acting hair miracle mask to tame stressed locks in the heat.
Furthermore, when you apply coconut oil to your skin it naturally exfoliates dead skin cells so you have smoother, softer skin. It's also a natural emollient which means it creates a protective layer on your skin to prevent it getting dry. Unlike several moisturisers, even the super pricey ones, coconut oil naturally penetrates into deeper layers of your skin to help heal damaged tissues that restores your skin's strength and elasticity.
My favourite use of coconut oil is as a lip balm. Because it has that same solid texture at room temperature, similar to that of a Vaseline pot, it easily melts on your fingers and can make lips shiny and soft and smells and tastes like you've eaten a Bounty bar.
So if you're not getting away to tropical climates this summer, I guarantee you'll be enveloped with that sunny exotic feeling by using one of the many coconut oil beauty buys.