Thanks to the soaring popularity of natural ingredients, our lives are seeing a flood of leafy greens, seeds and nuts. Amongst the exotic macadamias and pecans of the worlds, the humble coconut has never failed to impress. While its nourishing oil and tender flesh have proved to be staples in food and health, coconut milk has recently gained popularity for its numerous beauty benefits. If you thought a splash of coconut milk was only good as a vegan-friendly dairy alternative with a latte, we’re here to tell you otherwise. Besides being a popular nut milk for curries and smoothies, coconut milk is also incredibly useful for one’s skin and hair too so here’s a little more about it.
 

Where does coconut milk come from?

Where does coconut milk come from?

Since coconut milk is often confused with its water and oil, here’s how it is made. When young coconuts are selected at just the right stage, they are cracked open and their tender white flesh is removed from the shell. The flesh is finely grated, extracted and separated to provide coconut milk. Depending on the grade of coconut and thickness of its flesh, there are different variants of milk that are extracted. Thick, creamy coconut milk has approximately 20% fat content while its thinner variant contains about 5% fat.

 

What are the benefits of coconut milk?

What are the benefits of coconut milk?

The most well-known benefit of coconut milk is its rich source of fatty acids. These healthy fats are great to restore and nourish both, the hair and skin. The most popular of these fats is lauric acid. The body converts it to monolaurin, which is an excellent antibacterial compound to keep infections at bay and kill bacteria. Along with that, coconut milk is filled with Vitamins C, B and E as well as minerals like magnesium, iron, selenium, copper and potassium. This cocktail of compounds restores damage caused by free radicals to the skin and hair. It also keeps the scalp clean, promotes luscious locks and nourishes dry skin.

 

How can you add coconut milk to your beauty routine?

How can you add coconut milk to your beauty routine?

Since it’s easy to make coconut milk at home, adding it into home remedies for your skin and hair is possible too. To make a leave-in hair conditioner that smells like a pina colada, gather ¼ cup of coconut oil, 1 tablespoon argan oil, 1 tablespoon jojoba oil and ½ cup of coconut milk. Mix the oils together and combine with coconut milk. Pour this mixture into a spray bottle, keep it refrigerated and shake well before using on dry hair. With its nourishing blend of oils and hydrating coconut milk, your hair will stay moisturised and smell delicious!

You can also add coconut milk to your skin care routine with a moisturising face mask. To make it, combine 3 tablespoons of coconut milk with 1tablespoon of honey and 2 tablespoons of finely ground almond powder. Apply this paste on your face and neck, let it sit for 30 minutes and wash it off with warm water. The healing mixture of honey and coconut milk will restore your skin’s moisture while almond powder will drive away dullness with ease.

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