Coconut Oil Could Be The Wrinkle-Fighting Ingredient Your Skin Needs
Coconut oil is versatile, and wrinkles are inevitable. You might not see the connection between them yet, but they go together more than you may think. After all, coconut oil can be used as a makeup remover and as a sealant for moisturizer, so it's not too much of a surprise that it also fights wrinkles.
Let's face it, as you age, wrinkles will eventually form across your skin. Some who subscribe to skin positivity learn to embrace their wrinkles, others try to erase them, and some find a middle ground and accept them while looking to decrease their presence. Regardless, you will more than likely experience creases and fine lines at some point. But luckily, for anyone on the wrinkle-treatment spectrum, coconut oil is an option, and one that has the potential to help diminish those lines. Whether you're looking to act early and prevent wrinkles or to soothe some of the lines already there, coconut oil could be a potential aid and solution.
How it works
One thing that makes coconut oil effective as a wrinkle-fighting agent is its ability to help increase your skin's production of collagen. Collagen is a protein that helps with skin elasticity and is involved with making connective tissues, meaning it helps with skin firmness. Firmer skin tends to mean fewer wrinkles. While there's not much scientific research looking into coconut oil's effectiveness for fighting wrinkles, a study by Skin Pharmacol Physiol did show that it was able to help increase collagen production.
Combining coconut oil with other ingredients like vitamin C can bring about the best results. Vitamin C helps with the bonds collagen form, and without it, the cross-linking (the way collagen links with surrounding collagen) of collagen decreases, resulting in wrinkles and other occurrences associated with aging. Additionally, vitamin C, like coconut oil, helps with collagen production in general.
Using coconut oil for wrinkles can also create other benefits for your skin, including moisturizing it and reducing redness. The fatty acids are what enable coconut oil to be so nourishing and anti-inflammatory. The increased collagen that coconut oil promotes will help smooth wrinkles, and the fatty acids it contains will help hydrate your skin, making coconut oil a great product to incorporate into your skincare routine.
How to use it
While effective for some, coconut oil is not effective for all. Those with oily skin are likely better off avoiding coconut oil because of its comedogenic nature. Comedogenic simply means something that is blocking the skin's pores. Not all oils are comedogenic, and comedogenic doesn't mean it isn't beneficial. In fact, some comedogenic ingredients can be very helpful for some. Knowing what works best for your skin is what will help you find the most effective products that bring about the best results.
For those whose skin reacts positively or neutrally to coconut oil, integrating it into your skincare routine can be quite simple. First, make sure that you have virgin coconut oil, and make sure that coconut oil is the only ingredient. Apply it nightly after you finish your skincare routine. Coconut oil essentially locks in moisture, so adding it after you apply your other products seals the good stuff in. You only need to apply a small amount evenly to your face, and you can leave it on overnight.
While potentially beneficial, coconut oil isn't a cure-all, and it likely will not help with deep wrinkles. It is, however, a potential natural, gentle remedy that can help with less severe wrinkles and fine lines.