Coco-nutty

       Before I give a full intro of my new favorite product, I am going to go ahead and acknowledge the obvious:  I am becoming a huge fan of natural products.  I've still got the usual toxic-chemical-paraben-laced-carcogenic stuff lying around, but I keep getting all these fun, organic products that are only reinforcing my new found love.  The specific product I want to address today is coconut oil.  In recent years this stuff has become the bee's knees in the beauty world and I am quite late to the party.  People are going crazy with it.  I mean hair, body, face... it's being used everywhere.  We all love a good "do-it-all" product, so of course, when I read about all of coconut oil's reported benefits, I wanted to give it a try.  For you skeptics out there, I found a good article by The Huffington Post that reinforces these benefits, but not in a fluffy, too-good-to-be-true way. 

      
       I am sad to report that I am not one of the people who can use it on their face.  I used it as a makeup remover one night and woke up with a few new spots the next day.  This was a bit surprising to me as CapriClear (post here) had no adverse effects on my skin the first time I used it.  I am thinking it is because CapriClear is 100% fractionated coconut oil containing only caprylic tryglycerides (a.k.a only the good stuff), whereas the 365 Everyday Value Organic Refined Expeller Pressed Coconut Oil from Whole Foods obviously has everything in it, good and bad.

       
        But never fear fellow breakout-prone ladies!  This stuff works wonders as a body lotion or a deep conditioner for dry hair.  Unlike most oils, coconut oil absorbs very quickly when used on the body.  I was really surprised the first time I used it as I was expecting to be greasy for a few minutes afterwards.  If you plan on using it on your hair, however, it will take a little longer to work its magic.  I recommend applying it to dry ends and then wrapping your hair into a bun,  tucking the oily parts into the ponytail holder.  This allows you to go about your normal activities without worrying about getting it on your face or clothes.  Additionally, I have heard great things about coconut oil when used to combat eczema symptoms.  It supposedly calms the itch and moisturizes like no other.  If you're suffering from this condition, it seems to me that there is nothing to lose by giving it a try.
        Coconut oil is reasonably priced and Amazon.com offers different sizes for various prices.  I'd love to know your opinions on coconut oil.  Are there any other uses that I've missed?   

Fake It 'Til You Make It: Spring Break Edition

      At one point in our lives some of us have to face a cold, harsh reality:  we are not venturing off to some exotic locale for college spring break, but rather, we are reporting back to our hometowns to work and sleep.  It's not a bad thing, but there are certain things about a spring break in Ft. Lauderdale or Mexico that you just don't often come across during a low key spring break in Kentucky.  It's the smell of the beach, the feel of the sand between your toes, the taste of fresh chips and salsa on a beach chair...ugh, am I sounding too cliche yet? 

      

       Unfortunately, I cannot give you any remedies for missing the whole sand-between-your-toes bit (aside from finding a sandbox), but I sure can make you smell like spring break.  For my birthday I was given this amaaaazing body lotion from Pacifica's Body Butter line called Indian Coconut Nectar.  It's very coconutty and warm, which I prefer to coconutty and fruity.  Have I lost you yet?  I hope not!  But basically this stuff is like a warm day on the beach in a tube, plus the moisture lasts all day and isn't greasy at all.  I honestly prefer the texture of this lotion to my everyday Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion.  You can find this body butter at Target for about $13.  It's not your cheapest option, but I swear, it's amazing.  Totally worth every penny!

       

   
      Capriclear... where do I begin with this product?  I'd never even heard of it until my recent visit to Ulta last week.  Honestly, it doesn't smell like much, but if you haven't noticed from the label it only contains 100% fractionated coconut oil.  This means no parabens, no fragrance, and no mineral oil.  I use this mostly on my body as an occasional replacement for body lotion, but I've also used it on my face.  I can't provide a testament to whether or not it would break my face out because I've only used it once in that way, but it did provide a nice glow under my makeup.  After a couple hours, it was a little too much glow (aka shiny), but for dry skinned ladies, I think it would be a nice addition to your makeup routine.  I bought the miniature bottle of this at Ulta for about $7.  The spray applicator is perfect for lazy days when even regular lotion application seems too strenuous.
      To top off this whole article, I think it's only appropriate that I include a recipe for a nice tropical snack!  How do piña colada cupcakes sound?  I found a recipe on SkinnyTaste.com that looks amazing and fairly foolproof!  Go check it out!

What are your Spring Break 2013 plans?  Are you opting for a spring break at home or are you heading out of town?  I love hearing from you!