Combo Coconut Oil Face Wash & Moisturizer

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EVERYONE seems to be obsessed with the benefits of coconut oil and I am right there with them. I looooove this stuff. I have been using my own mixture of coconut oil, baking soda, and essential oils as a face wash and moisturizer for years.

*Disclaimer Alert*

*Now I am no doctor nor am I a beautician or esthetician or any other official type person. *

This is just my personal experience. I have read that coconut oil possesses natural antibacterial properties, helps to remove makeup, and of course is a great moisturizer. I have relatively oily skin and was very nervous about using oil on my already oily skin, especially as I have to fight adult acne. As I mentioned before coconut oil supposedly is a natural antibacterial. As acne is in part caused by bacteria it makes sense to me that coconut oil could possibly help fight acne.

I took a deep breath and gave it a try. Boy was I glad I did! I have had so many positive comments on my skin since starting this routine. I have noticed that my skin does still produce an excess amount of oil but it has lessened since I stopped using acne wash. I believe that my skin was being dried out by the acne wash and then over producing oil causing a viscous cycle. I also like my daily routine to be as simple, efficient, and quick as possible. I don’t like lotion nor do I want yet another bottle on my counter so having a face wash that doubles as my daily moisturizer works perfectly for me.

I personally like to mix a ratio of 3:1 coconut oil and baking soda. Baking soda is an inexpensive natural exfoliate. I always have baking soda in the house as I only use it, vinegar, and lemons to clean my whole house. It’s so nice to not have a ton of bottles under my counter for every different cleaning surface. One and done baby!

Back to the face wash…. I like to add tea tree essential oil into my face wash as it is renowned for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. In the winter months or when my skin seems irritated I also like to add lavender essential oil. Lavender oil is known to be a soothing sent but it is also a natural anti-inflammatory and has some antibacterial properties as well.

I use my face wash/moisturizer while in the shower after I’ve already used soap so that my skin is fresh and clean and the moisturization stays on my skin. A small nickel sized amount or less will sufficiently cover your face, neck, and décolletage. Remember that a little goes a long way with oils. If you have not used coconut oil on your skin before I will warn you that it will not all come off the way that soaps do. You will still have a slightly slick feel once you are done. Also if you have never used coconut oil before make sure to test it on a small area of skin before using this on your face just in case you have a reaction to it.

I have a small glass container that I use for my mixture. I have read that it is best to keep anything made with essential oils in glass containers. When I actually mix my face wash I really just eyeball it, but it probably rounds out to something like this.

Recipe

6 large tablespoons of coconut oil

2 tablespoons of baking soda

15 drops of tea tree essential oil

6 drops of lavender essential oil

It is easier to mix this if you slightly heat the coconut oil so that it is soft but not melted. Coconut oil melts very fast so pay attention. If you do accidentally liquefy the oil don’t worry. I do it all the time. Just let it set in the fridge for about 30 minutes. Come back and mix everything together. If you let the oil melt and don’t wait until it’s at least partially congealed the baking soda will sink to the bottom.

When I first started using essential oils I did a small amount of research on the web first. Many essential oils are therapeutic grade and are only meant to be smelt. You want to make sure you are using 100% PURE essential oils mixed with your choice of dissolution when using them on your skin. I’ve used Doterra and NOW. Doterra is a well know and trusted brand however it is a little bit more expensive. My mom sells Doterra and sometime buys oils for me as a gift (isn’t she sweet, love her). I personally think the NOW brand works just as well for this particular project, but it’s of course up to you and what you are comfortable with. Like I said before I’m not a doctor or researcher, this is just what works for me.

Also a note on the coconut oil, make sure you are using virgin unrefined coconut oil. Refined coconut oil will NOT work the same. The refinement process takes out a lot of the naturally occurring phytonutrients and polyphenols that make coconut oil so great.

P.S. – Y’all this is a fantastic recipe for those homemade gifts! Christmas is just around the corner you know. You could easily put these in jelly jars with adorable little bows. The jars would be reusable and people will love you for thinking of their skin in the winter season.

Here’s a printable version for y’all.