Organic Coconut Oil soap bar and Organic Coconut oil lip balm.

Schools in Victoria, Australia have just completed term 3 recess. Teachers like me had a bit of a breathing time now for 2 weeks before we get onto our last (term 4) roller coaster ride for this academic year. The last few weeks of term three was exciting for the students and teachers as we were preparing for our annual Science Expo which was on last day of term 3 (18 Sep 2015). The science departments were like “Beez in the Trap” getting ready to show case some of the things they have been learning in their classes. Since I teach Biology and Health for year 11 and year 12 students, my students wanted to come up with some healthy organic products that could be easily made in the lab/home. So we finally shortlisted our ideas to just two products, given the time we had. Organic Coconut Oil soap and Organic Coconut oil lip balm. We had to do them in batches over 2 weeks which just took us 2 double lessons. Total time taken was 4 hours. To produce 50 soap bars and 200 small lip balm tubs.

1. Organic Coconut Oil soap

This is one of my favourite soap recipes. Olive oil used to be my favourite but now this coconut oil soap recipe is my favourite because it's a beauty bar that leaves your skin so smooth and much moisturized. We used just two ingredients in the following ratio.

54 ounces of organic coconut oil, 9.7 ounces of lye and 24.25 ounces of distilled water. This recipe is 20% superfat, which means this is a beauty bar that will moisturize your skin and not dry you out.

2. Organic Coconut oil lip balm.

We used organic coconut oil which is solid at room temperature. The rich, raw coconut oil in our balm enriches the fabulous flavour. Our three ingredients for the lip balm was all natural organic coconut oil (Cocos nucifera), olive oil (Olea europaea) and Organic bees wax taken in the ratio 2:2:1. This organic flavour is the truest we’ve found that gives us a super smooth coconut lip balm and it continues to put this balm at the top of our selling list and we sold 200 small tubs on the day of the Expo. Parents and our school community love this product. This Vaseline alternative is unscented and is a protectant and moisturizer. You will love it. So instead of using Petroleum Jelly which is not as safe as you think try this alternative instead. It works wonders as a moisturizer for dry cracked feet too. I use it on my hands as well when they feel dry or rough.

THE COCONUT – WHAT’S INSIDE?

This oil is raises high interest from researchers lately since it has a high level of lauric acid (only maternity milk contains as much) which has interesting nutritional effects. Coconut oil is solid at ambient temperature (25ºC). This oil smoke point is 374F / 190°C. Below are few chemical truths of this wonderful oil which you may choose to use as home remedies.

• Lauric, Capric, and Caprylic Acid – These fatty acids from the coconut are antimicrobial agents.  In ‘plain English’ this means that they help fight against nasty things like viruses, bacteria, fungi, and yeast.  Who needs anti-bacterial soap when you can just use coconut oil!

• Moisturizer for Skin & Hair – 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.  The nutrients are also great for moisturizing your hair.  By purchasing a bar soap with saponified coconut oil you can also be sure you are getting great ingredients instead of a watered down product that may dry your skin out.  Keep your beard or man chest fresh and soft with coconut oil.

• Acne treating – The aforementioned acids in coconut oil (lactic, capric, etc) 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.  Why use a product chock full of chemicals when it could be as simple as coconut oil.

• Skin Firming – Wrinkled skin can be caused from the elasticity in your skin breaking down as you age.  The antioxidants from the coconut oil prevent and help to reduce skin aging.

• Abundant micronutrients– Including calcium, potassium, magnesium, manganese, copper, zinc, iron, selenium, and vitamins C and E.  These micronutrients can pack a world of benefits from lowering blood pressure (manganese) to dandruff alleviation and prevention of skin aging (selenium). Most Indians use coconut oil in cooking

• Extreme Antioxidants – Many of these micronutrients also act as anti-oxidants meaning that they block potentially harmful free radicals which can prevent disease and improve skin condition.

• Benefits and Use - Coconut Oil and soap have been used by many with skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and acne to treat and clear up skin.  Even if you don’t have these conditions, you may suffer from occasional dry skin, especially during those winter months, and coconut oil can help.  Or maybe you just want better looking skin.

So why not try these two organic healthy Coconut beauty bars and coconut oil pip balm.