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Coconut Oil

There seems to be a renewed interest in coconut oil, which possesses moisturizing properties when applied to the skin as a soap bar. Being rich in Vitamin E, this oil nourishes and moisturizes skin, thus making coconut oil a valued ingredient in Gracie’s Soaps.

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Coconut oil is a type of fat that has been touted for its health-promoting properties. From decreasing levels of LDL cholesterol to improving brain function in Alzheimer’s patients, coconut oil is associated with a multitude of health benefits; in fact, several studies have even found it might have benefits for skin health as well.

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Fatty acids such as Lauric, Capric, and Caprylic, derived from coconut oil are antimicrobial agents.  This means that they help fight against viruses, bacteria, fungi, and yeast.  The same fatty acids can also have benefits when it comes to acne treatment.  The antimicrobial properties of these fats can act to prevent or help reduce current acne breakouts.  

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Abundant micronutrients – Including calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc, iron, selenium, and vitamins C and E – can pack a world of benefits from dandruff alleviation to prevention of skin aging (selenium). Many of these micronutrients also act as anti-oxidants meaning that they block potentially harmful free radicals which can prevent disease.

 

Wrinkled skin can be caused from the elasticity in your skin breaking down as you age.  The antioxidants from the coconut oil described above work to prevent and reduce skin aging.Saponified coconut oil is used to bring some of the benefits of eating the coconut to your skin.  Saponified oils are those that are transformed to a hardened state during the soap making process.

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The numerous minerals and nutrients in coconut are great for your skin.  The oil can also work to help remove dirt and dead cells from the skin as well as the nutrients are also great for moisturizing your skin.  All Gracie’s Soaps contain saponified coconut oil as one of the main ingredients, as it is a fatty acid that will provide your skin with great benefits, so you can be sure that you are getting great ingredients instead of a watered down product that may dry your skin out. 

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Coconut oil is highly saturated oil that is traditionally made by extracting the oil from raw coconuts or dried coconut kernels.  At room temperature it’s solid, but when heated it can soften or even melt.  Coconut oil is rich in medium-chain fatty acids, which are a form of saturated fat. In fact, these medium-chain fatty acids make up about 65% of its total composition.

The medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil have antimicrobial properties that can help protect against harmful microorganisms.  This is especially important for skin health, as many types of skin infections, including acne, cellulitis, folliculitis and athlete’s foot, are caused by bacteria or fungi.

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This is due to its lauric acid content, which makes up nearly 50% of the fatty acids in coconut oil and can fight harmful microorganisms. One study tested the antibacterial properties of 30 types of fatty acids against 20 different strains of bacteria. Lauric acid can kill off Propionibacterium acnes, a type of bacteria that leads to the development of inflammatory acne. 

 

While some think coconut oil clogs pores, considerable research shows it might actually help treat acne.   Acne is an inflammatory condition, and many of the medications used to treat it work by targeting and reducing inflammation.  Numerous studies have shown that lauric acid, which accounts for nearly half of the fatty acids in coconut oil, has been shown to kill off the strain of bacteria linked to acne. 

 

Antioxidants work by stabilizing free radicals

in the body, neutralizing the reactive atoms

that can contribute to inflammation, coconut

oil shows great potential in its ability to reduce

inflammation.  Chronic inflammation is a

major component of many different types of

skin disorders, including psoriasis, contact

dermatitis and eczema, interestingly, coconut

oil has been shown to have anti-inflammatory

properties. 

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It has also been shown to help treat eczema,

a skin condition characterized by scaly, itchy

rashes.  Keeping your skin hydrated can help

preserve its function as a barrier to keep out

bacteria, promote the healing of scars and

maintain overall skin.

In addition to improving wound healing, its antimicrobial properties may also prevent infection, one of the major risk factors that can complicate the healing process

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All our soaps at Gracie’s Soaps contain good amounts of coconut oil, so why use a commercial soap full of chemicals?,  when it could be as simple as getting all nutrition and moisturize your skin needs by using Gracie’s Soaps.

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