Is a coconut milk face mask good for you?
The answer is yes! There are many benefits of coconut milk for your face. With high levels of vitamin C, essential amino acids, antioxidant benefits, and a ton of many other good things, coconut milk is an inexpensive beauty treatment that is great for most skin types. There is more about the benefits below.
Once you are sold on the benefits, you have to work out how to best apply coconut milk to your face. Just rubbing it on is possible and better than nothing. It is a little sticky and this can work. However, the best way to use coconut milk for your face is to apply it as a mask with a couple of other ingredients.
The best parts about this are that it is easier to apply and you will also get the benefits of other key ingredients.
Below, I discuss more of the coconut milk benefits for the face as well as share with you my favorite coconut milk face mask recipe with step-by-step instructions and photos so you too can have the benefits of coconut milk for face care today.
What Is Coconut Milk?
Coconut milk is actually not milk. It’s formed from coconut meat which is the white coconut flesh inside a coconut.
To make coconut milk, this is pureed with water and then strained. The liquid which is strained from this is coconut milk. It’s a thick, rich, milk-like substance.
While often used for cooking, it has many benefits for the skin and body too!
Benefits Of Applying Coconut Milk On Face
Coconut milk is packed full of goodness with vitamins B1, B3, B5, B6, C, E, iron, sodium, calcium, selenium, and more. It’s also full of lauric acid which has antiviral and antibacterial properties. Add in the essential amino acids and antioxidant properties and it’s great for your skin.
It also contains lauric acid. Dr. Mukta Vasishta says “Lauric acid is also found in mother’s milk and is known to promote brain development, bone health, and immunity”.
Lauric acid and the others found in coconut milk have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties making it a great product for use in face masks.
While all of this sounds good, why does it matter? To put it in simple terms, this makes coconut milk great for fighting age, calming irritated skin, tightening skin, and will give it great hydration. It’s very soothing which also makes it great for sunburn or sun-damaged skin.
For all these reasons, coconut milk makes a great moisturizer. Your skin will love it.
Coconut Milk Vs Coconut Oil
In many ways, these are similar. They both come from coconut meat. However, coconut oil is a fat extracted from the coconut meat when pressed whereas coconut milk is the liquid extract from the pressing process.
Coconut oil has a higher fat content while coconut milk contains more nutrients.
Both are good for your skin. However, coconut milk takes moisturizing to the next level compared to coconut oil. It also works better as a face mask.
Coconut Milk Face Mask Recipe
The best answer for how to use coconut milk for the face is to create a face mask. This is my personal favorite coconut milk mask for the face recipe. This is not just because it leaves my skin feeling great but also because I generally have the ingredients sitting around so I can easily whip it up whenever I like. It also smells great.
Really, I love every aspect of this face mask!
So what do you need?
Ingredients
- A quarter of a ripe avocado
- 2 teaspoons of honey
- 1/8 cup of coconut milk
Step 1
Mash the avocado with a fork. If you don’t like a lumpy face mask, you could also blend this.
Step 2
Add the honey and mix with the fork
Step 3
Add the coconut milk a small amount at a time, mixing with the fork as you do. Exactly how much you will need depends on how much avocado you have used.
You don’t want it too runny; it should be a nice paste that won’t run off your face. It’ll be a creamy avocado color when you are done.
Other Tips
If any ingredients have been in the refrigerator, I recommend you leave them out to reach room temperature before starting to mix the face mask to make it a more pleasant temperature when you put it on.
How To Apply Coconut Milk On Your Face
Congratulations on making your coconut milk mask for your skin. The following is what I do to both apply the face mask and take it off for the best results.
- Take your coconut milk face pack into the bathroom and set it up in front of a mirror.
- Spread the paste on your face.
- Leave it to dry for 10-15 minutes.
- Rinse it off with a washcloth and warm water using a circular massage motion.
I find the better I do that last step with the massage motion, the better my face feels. Plus, a face massage is nice!
This leaves my face feeling super soft.
Following the recipe above, I usually have leftovers. I find it stores fine in the refrigerator for a couple of days so you can also coconut milk for face benefits for a couple of days in a row 🙂
FAQs
What are the benefits of using a coconut milk face mask?
Coconut milk is rich in vitamins and minerals that can nourish and hydrate the skin. It also contains lauric acid, which has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce acne and soothe irritated skin. Using a coconut milk face mask can also help improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Can I use a coconut milk face mask if I have oily skin?
Absolutely! Coconut milk can actually help balance the skin’s natural oils and reduce excess oil production. However, if you have very oily skin, you may want to use a lighter moisturizer after using the face mask to avoid clogging your pores.
How often should I use a coconut milk face mask?
You can use a coconut milk face mask once or twice a week, depending on your skin’s needs. If you have dry or sensitive skin, you may want to use it more often to help hydrate and soothe your skin.
How long should I leave the face mask on my skin?
You should leave the face mask on your skin for 10-15 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water. If you leave it on for too long, it could dry out your skin and cause irritation.
Are there any side effects of using a coconut milk face mask?
Coconut milk is generally safe for most people to use on their skin. But, if you have a coconut allergy, you should avoid using a coconut milk face mask.
Can I add other ingredients to my coconut milk face mask?
Yes, you can customize your coconut milk face mask by adding other ingredients that are beneficial for your skin. For example, you could add a few drops of tea tree oil for its antibacterial properties, or a tablespoon of oatmeal to help soothe irritated skin.
Can I use coconut milk straight from the can for a face mask?
It’s best to use fresh coconut milk or coconut milk that’s been stored in the refrigerator for a few hours before using it in a face mask. This will help the coconut milk thicken and make it easier to apply to your skin.
Can I use a coconut milk face mask if I have acne-prone skin?
Definitely, this face mask can actually be beneficial for acne-prone skin because it has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce acne and prevent future breakouts. But, if you have severe acne, you may want to consult with a dermatologist before using a coconut milk face mask.
Conclusion
Coconut milk has many great properties which make it a fantastic moisturizer for your skin. Add it to avocado and honey and you can have a fantastic, cheap, and easy coconut milk face mask.
Incorporating it into your skincare regimen can provide various skin benefits. The vitamins and minerals in coconut milk can nourish and moisturize the skin, while its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties can help alleviate acne and soothe irritated skin.
Additionally, you can personalize your coconut milk face mask by adding other ingredients to address specific skin concerns. It is recommended to use the mask once or twice a week. Give it a go today!
Click here to learn how I use coconut oil for shaving and find all my great coconut-related guides here. You can also find my full guide to storing coconut milk here and my guide to how to use coconut oil for awesome lip balm here. Want a coconut cream face mask instead? Read my recipe here.
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