I’m just going to get it out of the way right now – this was only two products shy of being a “What’s In My Shower” post. That’s right, folks, everything other than face wash and deep conditioner that I am using at the moment is pictured above (plus some extras that obviously do not belong in the shower), and do you know what that means? I’ve officially gone cuckoo for coconuts.
Everything about coconuts is alluring – their smell, their taste, their hydrating qualities, the fact that you can only find them on the most tantalizing of tropical islands -so it shouldn’t be a surprise that when you combine them with beauty products, there’s not much left to be desired. What is a surprise, however, is how deep in love I’ve fallen, and how against being rescued I am. Seriously, just leave me and my coconut addiction to it, I’ll be fine.
Today, I thought I’d show you my current coconut must-haves and why they’re so highly coveted in my beauty arsenal at the moment. Let’s crack that coconut!
It didn’t even occur to me until I photographed these products that there are clear groups, or rather, brands, within the coconut madness. I don’t know if that’s a coincidence or if my odd little brain realized this subconsciously as I bought these products but, hey, I’m just going to roll with it. Starting with Organix, I’ve always seen these products in the hair aisle at the drugstore but didn’t have the courage to try a few products out until a couple of years ago. I never thought the products in their range would work well with my dry, fine, super frizzy, has a mind of its own hair, but guess what!? They do and I’m all over their coconut range! I bought the travel sized nourishing coconut milk shampoo & conditioner at Target (awww, RIP 🙁 ) back in October before I headed to England and I instantly fell in love. In fact, I loved the pair so much that I finished them by Christmas. Only problem is, I can’t find the two regular sizes! Whenever I’m in the drugstore (and remember to look for them), there’s only one or the other, never both (they are clearly popular items)! So, no, I have no shame, the two travel sized bottles that you see were bought a few weeks ago, when I started my #Hairolution (which I did a post on, click here to read) and couldn’t go any longer without them.
So, what’s so great about Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo & Conditioner? Well, for one thing, I feel like I’ve stepped through a magic freakin’ portal and landed on a beach in Fiji sipping a cocktail out of a coconut every time I use this. And an hour later. Oh, and 3 hours later. I don’t know if this is just me, but when I use these two in conjunction, I can smell coconut in my hair for hours (a fact which I will never complain about). Also, the pair are super creamy to apply/work through my hair and my tresses always feel extra hydrated and super soft after drying, all while looking & feeling silky and lightweight. I think they hit the nail on the head with this one, it is exactly what it says it is: nourishing and, might I add, oh-so-lovely. Oh, and when you pair them with the Coconut Water Weightless Hydration Oil, which is super lightweight (like, you might over-spray some sections because you can’t tell it’s in there at all), locks in the moisture and results in mega shiny locks, you’ve got the trifecta. Did I mention that these are all drugstore and therefore inexpensive products (as in, the most I’ve seen any of these three going for is $13 CAD, which…woah, easy there, that’ll break the bank!)? Yes, now you’re starting to see my point; these products are worth their weight in coconuts. 😉
Next up, we have the next (unitentional) group/brand, The Body Shop. Man, oh, man, does The Body Shop know what they’re doing with the exotic coconut or WHAT!? If I’m going through these as I would use them, we need to first throw some love at the Coconut Body Scrub ($6 CAD for the 50 ml travel size, $20 for 200 ml full size, but you can usually catch them on sale for half off). I’ve always been against body scrubs because my very dry, flaky skin is ultra sensitive and I was always scared that it would irritate my skin somehow. Well, if you have the same reservations, do not worry, body scrubs are designed to do just the opposite (just check the ingredients before you buy anything if your skin is allergic to certain things)! As you can see above, it’s creamy on application to the skin but has enough little granules to exfoliate it properly, meaning that it will slough off dead skin cells (universal “yuk” and shudder), but it won’t dry it out. I wouldn’t use this on the face, though, it’s just too harsh, but for the rest of your body, it should be more than fine! In fact, it works such wonders, I look forward to using this for special events, because my legs immediately transition from as terrible as Cinderella’s ugly stepsisters’ legs to as lovely as a Victoria’s Secret model’s. Oh, yea. 🙂
Moving on, the Coconut Bar Soap was actually an accidental online order (oops!), but I’ve started to use it on luxurious days (aka Sundays, they’re my spa days, hehe!) when I want some extra hydration for my drier patches of skin. I’m a shower gel kind of girl through and through, but using the bar soap on the elbows, knees, ankles, feet and anywhere that gets extra dry instantly makes them feel 100 times better (ahhh, relief!) and the 100 grams of extra creamy, heaven scented goodness makes the extra $4 I spent worth it (that’s what I call a bargain!). Finally, we have the Coconut Body Butter (same price as the body scrub), which is all kinds of flawless. Super moisturizing, rich and buttery, makes my skin look and feel velvety soft and smooth all while smelling of perfection? What more could a gal want!??
Finally, we have the random group of products, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t well-loved! I’ve been using coconut oil for various beauty reasons for a while now, but I’ve recently added a few uses and I couldn’t be enjoying it more. While using a little coconut oil on your cuticles or as a primary ingredient in a lip scrub is great, it couldn’t get better than when used in your hair. My mom and I used to plaster our hair in globs of coconut oil after shampooing until we changed our hair stylist last summer and girlfriend, my hair has never been more controlled. We were told that for our hair type, (messy, frizzy, tangly and borderline out of control), putting a dime size or plenty of oil in our hair after shampooing isn’t going to do anything but make it feel weighed down and super greasy (which is so true, I hated it). Now, on the advice of Shanna, our stylist, I use it in my hair once, maybe twice a month as a hot oil treatment. That’s right, I put a little in a microwave safe bowl and heat it until it is slightly warm (never actually hot), comb it through my hair and leave it on for about 15 minutes. Then, I get in the hot, steamy shower and wash my face, body, etc. (kill time, basically) for a couple of minutes, and then proceed to wash my hair as normal. The heat of the oil and steam in the shower open up the hair follicle, allowing the moisture-packed oil to get in, and when I rinse my conditioner out with cool water, the follicles seal back up. This ingenious trick has helped my hair so much, it’s no longer as dry or wild, and it’s all because of the coconut oil! Just try to stay away from it when styling, as I am, because it won’t do anything bad to your tresses, but it won’t do anything good, either (not to mention you’ll leave oily head patches wherever you sit…boo). Curious? Yes, check it out! You can find coconut oil at most grocery stores, Bulk Barn and even some drugstores now for about $15 per massive jar (and that is around what I paid for my jar of 860 ml).
On the contrary, the Mizani Coconut Souffle Light Moisturizing Hairdress is a product I’ve been using for years and I love, love, love it for styling! This unique product has a light, airy, whipped texture that is very calming and hydrating to my dry, frizzy locks and it never makes my head feel greasy or oily. I tend to use it primarily on my roots (especially when I have my hair in a bun or ponytail, it’s great on my frizzy baby hairs) or on the ends of my hair when I’m nearing my next wash, but my mom uses it throughout her whole head most days for some added texture and hold for different hairstyles. For the longest while, I was using Mizani’s Butter Rich hairdress, because I thought that the coconut souffle would give me a rash on my neck and chest (oh, the life of a gal with sensitive skin), but I tried the coconut souffle version after not being able to resist the smell (sooo good). Having used it on and off for a good 6 months now, I can confidently say that I find that it actually works better than the latter; it’s not as heavy but it is equally moisturizing and gives my hair a nice sheen when used. Since turning over to the coconut side (lol), my hair has more life and vibrance and it hasn’t caused any rashes, so, in other words, it has the all-clear in my books! It isn’t cheap by half, or at least in my area (it’s about $16-18 for an 8 ounce jar, which doesn’t seem to last too long), but it’s more than a handy product, it’s a must-have in this household!
Last but certainly not least, my favourite shower gel at the moment is Cool Coconut Surf from Bath & Body Works and oh my, this one is just too good to be true! Seriously, this shower gel is like the gateway drug of coconut-themed products, because it smells strongly of coconut but also has a light, pleasing floral with a touch of citrus scent and I do believe that this was the product that sent me over the top! I’ve been using the Bath & Body Works shower gels for…golly, maybe 8 years now (oh, them good ol’ high school days!) and even if I stray or venture away for a little bit, I always come back to these gems. They are exactly what you want in a shower gel; light, packed with fragrance, they lather really well and since B&BW changed their formula a few years ago, they are more moisturizing than ever. Unfortunately, I bought this lovely shower gel last summer and Bath &Body Works hasn’t re-promoted it yet, but if/when they do (which I do believe they will), I’ll be the first in line that day to buy at least 4 more. Extreme, yes, but I have to keep the coconut crush alive! 😉
Alright, so now that I’ve shared my loves in the coconut madness world, it’s your turn! Do you enjoy the scent of coconut? If so, have you had the pleasure of incorporating that into your beauty regime yet? What products (coconut or not coconut) are you currently clamoring over?
Thank you so much for reading!
Until next time,
S♥
