5 Reasons Why Coconut Oil is THE BEST Massage Oil!
Whether you go to a professional masseuse every week, just give your limbs a quick rub after showers or perform the Ayurvedic self-massage ritual of Abhyanga, you know how much of a boost this body ritual can give your physical and mental health.
But have you ever stopped to consider what oil you or your massage therapist is using? Unfortunately, not all of them are created equal, so you might want to switch to the best massage oil of them all—cold-pressed virgin coconut oil.
This article will see five reasons why cold-pressed, organic-certified coconut oil is best for massage.
Five Features that Make Coconut Oil the Best Massage Oil
Coconut oil has long been South and Southeast Asia’s all-in-one beauty solution, passed down from mother to daughter to treat everything from hair fall to acne scars.
Its use as a massage oil is no fad either; even babies have always been massaged with it to stimulate growth and provide comfort. Know more about why coconut oil is so good for massaging:
1. Coconut oil is slippery but never greasy
When warmed up between the fingers, coconut oil has the perfect amount of slip to it. It glides smoothly along your body without being so slick that your masseuse (or you!) can’t get a proper grip on your skin at all.
Many oils change texture when they contact air and are rubbed vigorously into the skin, becoming dry and tacky. But coconut oil retains its smoothness and sinks right into your skin, leaving no greasy residue behind at all.
2. Coconut oil is a fantastic moisturizer
Studies have shown that coconut oil is just as good a moisturizer as synthetic mineral oil. The saturated fats in coconut oil help maintain your skin’s lipid barrier, keeping moisture trapped within. Even eczema, characterized by extreme dryness and itchiness, can be treated with coconut oil.
Coconut oil also contains Vitamin E, a derivative of which is sold as the miraculous anti-aging ingredient Retinol. The Vitamin E in coconut oils works to fight fine lines, wrinkles, and dryness gently.
3. Coconut oil treats a variety of skin conditions
Coconut oil is perfect for sensitive, damaged skin because it is mild and anti-inflammatory and can even relieve pain.
Contrary to the popular belief that coconut oil clogs pores, coconut oil can help treat acne. The medium-chain fatty acids, including lauric acid, have been shown to kill the bacteria responsible for acne. In addition, lauric acid is even more effective than benzoyl peroxide, the harsh medication often prescribed to treat acne.
Its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties make it a great way to deal with stubborn “bacne” or acne anywhere else on your body.
4. Coconut oil fades scars
Even after acne has healed, you may be left with scars around the previously infected pore. Coconut oil massages can treat all kinds of scars, including icepick, boxcar, and keloid scars. In addition, the hyperpigmentation caused by acne can also be treated with this.
But that’s not all. Many struggle with stretch marks caused by the rapid expansion or contraction of the skin due to growth, pregnancy, and weight gain or loss. While these scars may fade naturally with time, coconut oil can help significantly speed up this process. You can also apply coconut oil during pregnancy to pre-emptively reduce the appearance of stretch marks.
5. Coconut oil is the most practical choice
Coconut oil is inexpensive, widely available, and doesn’t stain fabric too much. Very few people are allergic to it, and its mild but pleasant fragrance makes it the best massage oil for almost anyone.
Coconut Oil is the Perfect Carrier Oil
If you’re looking for something a little more intense than plain coconut oil, you can even use it as a carrier for various essential oils.
Essential oils like lavender and lemongrass oil smell fantastic and provide various benefits to your skin. Still, they are costly and potent in their concentrated form, meaning that they can easily irritate your skin. So, they must be diluted with a mild oil before applying them to the skin.
Coconut oil is perfect for this. It is gentle, lightly scented, and its anti-inflammatory properties help counteract any irritation caused by the essential oil.
You may not know this, but there are two kinds of coconut oil commonly available in the market today. The first is an all-natural, organic, cold-pressed oil made from the milk of the coconut.
The other is made from its dried shell and is then bleached and stripped to remove the unpleasant odor and smell from the drying and smoking process. This artificial copra oil, as it is known, is entirely different from extra virgin coconut oil.
If you want to thoroughly reap the benefits of this best massage oil, make sure to purchase only a certified natural product like Life & Pursuits’ Organic Virgin Coconut Oil.
Life & Pursuits’ Organic Virgin Coconut Oil is derived from coconut milk rather than dried coconut shell, as recommended by Ayurveda, preserving all nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
The USDA and India’s regulatory bodies have certified it as organic.
