BellaSugar

Why You'll Go Cuckoo For Coconuts

Jaime Richards — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:01:47 PST

Every day we're scouring the web for the top beauty tips, and Twitter is just brimming with them. Take a recent tidbit from celebrity nutritionist Kimberly Snyder, who is known to her holistic approach to beauty. When asked by a follower her recommendation for a natural body lotion choice, Snyder replied, "Try coconut oil! Use a bit at a time to let it absorb." Great advice; not only does coconut oil hydrate the skin, but it contains antioxidants to block out free radicals, and it also has lauric acid, a natural antimicrobial. There's nothing nuts about that.

Coconut Butter Smells Good, Is Cheap, Moisturizes

Annie Tomlin — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 06:00:18 PST

For the past month, my roommate has been doing the Clean detox program. This means our apartment is filled with things like maca smoothies and flax tea, which aren't my thing. However, I can 100 percent get behind her use of coconut butter (or coconut oil) as a body moisturizer. It costs about $10 at health food stores, and it's solid until heated. Apply it to skin and it melts, leaving skin smooth and softly scented. You'll need to let it absorb before getting dressed, but if you have seriously dry skin and want to go the natural route, it's worth a try.

You'll Go Cuckoo For Coconut-Scented Products

BellaSugar — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 08:00:54 PDT

Thanks to the wonderfully warm weather we've been having as of late, I have coconut on the mind. The sweet and creamy scent, which conjures up thoughts of lounging at the beach with piña colada in hand, can be found in products ranging from lip balms to shampoos. So, in spirit of this gorgeous season, I've gathered together a few coconut-scented goods. Are you cuckoo for coconut, too?

More Ulta...

Definition: Coconut Oil

BellaSugar — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 09:00:42 PDT

Coconut, besides being a tasty ingredient that goes in everything to fruity libations to decadent desserts, to Indian curries, is a tropical oil that has many uses - particularly when it comes to beauty.

Coconut oil is an emollient that helps the skin feel smooth and soft. The sweet-smelling oil is extracted from the meat of a coconut, and even contains antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties, which makes it an excellent odor-masker. It's also used for giving hair body and shine. High in antioxidants, coconut oil also helps protect the skin against free radicals. Oh, and it's got a great shelf life, too.

Interested in putting a little coconut in your life? Here are some suggestions: Lush Coconut Deodorant Powder ($7.65); LaLicious Coconut Body Oil ($24); and Emerald Laboratories Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Softgels ($12).

A Little About Coconut Oil

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:30:00 PDT

While I feel that coconut water may be nature's sports drink, I have always been a bit wary of the claims people make about coconut oil. I was happy to read a nutritional explanation of the oil from a source I can trust – Lance's Armstrong's trainer Chris Carmichael. Well, not his trainer exactly, but a nutritionist on Carmichael's team.

The article has lots of great information on coconut oil and here are highlights:

Coconut oil has relatively high smoke point of 400°F, this makes it stable and ideal for many commercial kitchens and bakeries.
It has a long shelf life, which is why many food manufacturers are switching to coconut oil to avoid using hydrogenated oils – aka trans fats.
It is 90 percent saturated fat, and in case you forgot, that is the "bad" fat. But 60 percent of those fats are a form of lauric acid, which is more effectively metabolized than other kinds of fats. This translates into less stored fat. Read this article for a more scientific explanation of this aspect of coconut oil.
Fats, no matter the type, are not metabolized before carbs, and this oil should not be considered a good fuel for exercise. Unless you are training for super-distance events like ultra marathons (or training sessions over 5 hours).
The high percentage of artery-clogging saturated fats in coconut oil should not be taken lightly. For comparison, olive oil contain 13 percent saturated fats and canola oil only 7 percent.

All in all, coconut oil doesn't really make the grade. Stick with oils like olive, canola, and grape seed, while the lauric acid content is not as high, they are nutritionally sound. Good to know!

Source

Coconut Oil: The Secret To Model-Like Hair and Skin?

BellaSugar — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:00:40 PDT

Ford Models has been uploading videos of its models to the Web, and I get such a kick out of seeing what the models have to say. I'll be honest: Some of them have that (unintentional?) I'm-so-beautiful thing going on, and the last thing I need is to see a bikini model prancing around in a fitting room. With that said, though, some of the videos are really fun. This one features Shana, a Costa Rican model who incorporates coconut oil into her beauty routine. Check it out:

Of course, having genetic gifts doesn't hurt, either...

What We're Sweet On: The Gloss That Looks Good on Everyone

Jaime Richards — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:32:00 PDT

Some lip glosses are so waxy, your lips feel as if they're suffocating, while others are so shiny, they practically blind the person standing next to you. Such is not the case with Intelligent Nutrients' Lip Delivery Antioxidant Gloss in Pink Hibiscus ($24). Free of synthetic waxes and oils (and fragrance and colorants), the subtly tinted gloss lends just a hint of sheen to the lips. And the touch-of-pink hue is the perfect shade to reach for when you want a more minimalistic makeup look - or when you want low-key lips to complement an intensely heavy smoky eye.

Certified organic, Lip Delivery is loaded with antioxidant-rich cranberries, purple corn, and blueberries. Beeswax, carnauba wax, and cocoa butter ingredients moisturize, while shea butter lends a bit of natural protection from the sun's UV rays. A built-in brush makes application all the more smooth, but perhaps the biggest treat is its sweet and tart flavor, a blend of caramel, vanilla, raspberry, agave, and coconut. You'll keep going back to this smooth operator again and again.

Soothe Sunburn With This DIY Recipe

Michelle Phan — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:25:00 PDT

YouTube star and beauty guru Michelle Phan always has a new tip or two for making life easier. It happens to the best of us, even with the best of intentions, and this week, Michelle tells us how we can alleviate a painful sunburn:

Hi everyone,

Each day it's getting a little sunnier and little warmer outside. It's nice to spend this time outdoors, and while it's also nice to get a little vitamin D for your skin from Mr. Sun, what's not nice are those painful sunburns you're often left with as souvenirs.

Great makeup starts with a good foundation . . . brush, that is

Sunburns can be annoying, painful, and peel-y, and once you have one, they tend to be hard to forget about until they fade away. Your skin needs a little TLC when it's burned. Find out some of my sunburn soothing tips to help out when your golden glow is more of rosy red when you read more:

What We're Sweet On: The Cedar Soap That Makes You Stronger

Jaime Richards — Mon, 14 May 2012 03:30:00 PDT

If you love rich, woodsy scents, here's your new shower buddy: Indigo Wild Cedar Zum Bar ($4). Don't let its tough-guy exterior fool you, though. Behind the swirls of the black and white bar exist skin-softening olive, palm, and coconut oils. There's also goat's milk in the formulation, which is neither too alkaline or acidic, playing nicely with the natural pH balance of skin. And speaking of skin, what's left behind (besides a clean body, of course) is the lingering scent of subtly smoky cedarwood. Known for its relaxing properties, cedar is even said to bring you emotional strength. Can your regular bar soap do all that? Bonus: after you use it, your house/apartment will have a nice, fresh, balsamic scent permeating throughout.

A Reader Recipe: Chunky Monkey Super Omega-3 Energy Bars

Fit Community — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:07:38 PDT

FitSugar reader For the Love of Fiber offers vegan, gluten-free, and kid-friendly energy bars inspired by the Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey ice cream flavor. She shared it with us in our Healthy Recipe group in the Fit Community.

Chunky Monkey Super Omega-3 Energy Bars
Makes 12 bars

Ingredients:

1 ripe banana
12 medjool dates, pitted
1 cup raw walnuts
1 cup quinoa flakes
½ cup chia seeds
¼ cup milled flaxseed
¼ cup cacao nibs or dark chocolate chunks
1 tbsp. virgin coconut oil
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

See the full recipe after the break!