The active molecules that make up coconut oil.

Coconut oil, also known as coconut butter, is renowned for its use in skin and hair care as well as in cooking. It is a solid oil at a temperature of 20°C or lower. It is derived from a first cold pressing of the fruit flesh followed by a demucilaging step, a bleaching process, and a deodorization by steam distillation under controlled temperature. There are two types of coconut oil, virgin coconut oil and copra oil (or deodorized coconut oil). The former is typically used in the formulation of natural care products, while the latter, which requires a chemical reaction, is used in soap making.

The numerous virtues of coconut vegetable oil for skin and hair application can be attributed to the active molecules that compose it:

• Fatty Acids:

  Coconut vegetable oil primarily contains saturated fatty acids (lauric acid between 40 and 55%, capric acid, caprylic acid, palmitic acid, myristic acid). It also contains 3 to 12% oleic acid or omega 9, a monounsaturated fatty acid. Lauric acid has a particular affinity for the skin and for the keratin in hair. Furthermore, all the fatty acids present in coconut oil provide nutrition and elasticity to the skin and restore the hydrolipidic film. In addition, oleic acid is a lipid that is part of the composition of sebum, a substance naturally secreted by the body to counteract skin and hair dryness. It stimulates the production of sebum by the sebaceous glands. Thus, coconut vegetable oil is relipidating, it is recommended for taking care of dry and dehydrated skin and hair.

• Vitamin E:

  Tocopherol is apowerfulnatural antioxidant. It protects the skin and hair from the assaults of free radicals, which are reactive oxygen species naturally produced by the body but produced in excess when cells are faced with a stress. The sources of stress are numerous, the main ones being UV exposure, pollution, smoking, a diet too rich in fats and/or sugars. Free radicals are particularly unstable molecules due to their single electron. They tend to react with other molecules to form a pair of electrons, and then cause damage to cells, DNA, and proteins in the body. They are notably involved in lipid peroxidation, a degradation reaction of the constituents of cell membranes. Aging is thus accelerated and wrinkles appear on the skin's surface. Coconut oil can thus help prevent skin aging and fight against the appearance and/or accentuation of wrinkles.

• Vitamin A:

  This compound is photo-protective. When applied topically, vitamin A helps protect DNA from the harmful effects of the sun's UVB rays. Additionally, it has the ability to stimulate thesynthesis ofmelanin, a skin pigment responsible for the brown color of the skin and thus for thetanning.

  Note: Caution! Coconut oil does not replace a broad-spectrum sunscreenand should rather be used in addition to it.