I Washed My Face with Coconut Oil for a Week

     I'm guilty of scrolling through Pinterest for long periods of time, mostly looking at things I can't afford and ridiculous beauty hacks that I chuckle at.  However, whenever there are beauty hacks that involve natural or household ingredients, I'm intrigued.  I'm particularly interested in natural skin care.  I've read various posts that coconut oil is a great makeup remover, plus there are several other health benefits.  I saw a jar in TJ Maxx for about 6 dollars so I decided to pick it up.
     I don't always wear makeup, but when I do, I'm dying to take it off.  Coconut oil was PERFECT for me.  All I have to do is take a small amount and rub it all over my face and the makeup literally melts off.  Foundation, eyeliner, mascara, everything.  Rinse the oil off and I'm good to go.  In the past, I would use the oil to remove my makeup, and continue to wash the oil off my face with a harsh (exfoliating) face wash, and end with a light moisturizer.  Recently, I've wondered if that's the best for my skin.  So I did some research to find out if coconut oil was a good face wash, even for acne prone skin.  The majority of the results I found were positive.
     Now I know all of my oily skinned friends will be hesitant to put oil on their face, but from the research I've done, it could help you (if you have oily skin and you're constantly washing your face because it's "too oily", you're forcing your skin to produce more natural oils because you're stripping them away every time you wash your face).  I'll tell you a little bit about my skin in a moment so you'll be able to compare my results to your own skin.
     For the past several days I've been washing my face with this organic coconut oil and recording my results through "diary entries" and photos.

     I have dry/combination skin.  Combination skin just means that I’m mostly dry on my cheeks and forehead, but oily around my nose and chin.  My skin is extremely sensitive to the foods I eat and if I’m stressed.  However, I don’t get wimpy breakouts all over my face.  I’ll have big, painful blemishes one at a time (and in very noticeable areas might I add).  It’s very annoying and uncomfortable, so I try to eat as healthy as I can and treat the spots before they get too out of hand.

     So I washed my face every night for seven days with this coconut oil.  I would wash my face in the shower with the oil, and leave it on for a few minutes before rinsing it off.  When you rinse, it won't feel like you've gotten everything off, but it's okay.  The excess oil will absorb into your skin overnight.  *So to my oily-skinned friends, don't be afraid to try this experiment at night.  If your face is still too shiny in the morning, just wash your face with a light cleanser and you should be good to go.*

Day 1

I washed my face in the shower after a long day of working out and coaching volleyball.  Since I had sweat a lot today, I put a little bit of baking soda in my hand with the coconut oil for a little bit of exfoliation.  My first thoughts? “Wow, my skin is SOFT.”  When I got out of the shower, my skin was glowing and there was no need for a moisturizer.  

The washes in between day 1 and day 7 weren't much different from the first, so I'll leave those "entries" out.

Conclusion

The only real thing the coconut oil helped me with was dryness.  I loved the feeling my skin had once I got out of the shower.  I’m considering putting the oil on my legs in the shower after I shave or even over my whole body.  However, for daily washing, I don’t see it hurting or helping my skin.  I do believe this would be an excellent alternative to a gel face wash for people with dry skin.  For people with oily skin, I would recommend using this only at night without a moisturizer afterwards.

Day 1-right side

Day 1-left side

Day 7-right side

Day 7-left side

As you can see, there wasn't much of a difference in the way my skin looked.  But it felt great.  I would be interested to hear how this experiment would go for someone with extremely oily or extremely dry skin.  I hope you'll check it out and let me know your results.  Also, leave comment with any of your favorite coconut oil uses and I'lll be sure to try some out!

My Favorite Equipment-Free Exercises

     There are several ways that equipment-free workouts may benefit you.  Maybe you don't have a gym membership, or you're not interested in lifting weights to gain muscle mass.  Or maybe you just want to tone up certain areas of your body.  If any of those reasons are your case, keep reading for about 13 of my favorite exercises to do that require no equipment at all.
     Of course, if you have a pair of dumbbells or a kettle bell at your home and want to add some extra resistance to your workout, by all means do so.  Shoutout to my models AKA little brothers for helping me demonstrate these gym-free exercises!

CARDIO
To begin my workouts, I like to do a "4 minute cardio" routine.  Perform the following exercises for 20 seconds with a 10 second break in between, two times.

0:00-0:20 - Jumping Jacks
0:20-0:30 - Rest
0:30-0:50 - High Knees
0:50-1:00 - Rest
1:00-1:20 - Squat Jumps

Make sure you do a nice, deep squat

And explode up off your feet quickly until the time runs out

1:20-1:30 - Rest

1:30-1:50 - Speed Skaters

Remember to keep you knee behind your toe

Explode up and switch sides

1:50-2:00 - Rest

Repeat once for a total of 4 minutes

ARMS 

I'm always looking for alternative exercises for my arms, because push-ups come very difficult to me.  I've been lifting weights to build up more upper body strength, however, most women just want to tone their arms rather than get stronger.  If that's your case, these body weight exercises will be perfect for you.

• TRICEP DIPS (target muscle group- triceps):

Remember to use only your arms to lift yourself up and down, and only use your legs for stability.

• COUNTER PUSH-UPS (target muscle group- chest/triceps)
  
  These are so perfect for someone who can't do a real pushup but wants to get to that point.  Plus, you can do them anywhere.  I'll randomly do these while I'm waiting for something to cook in the microwave or during a TV commercial. 

  

  Perform a regular chest pushup, with your hands spread farther apart and your elbows going out to the sides to work out your..well, chest muscles.

  
  

  

  Keep your hands closer together and keep your elbows by your sides as you do this pushup to work your triceps.

• CLIMBING PLANK (target muscle group- abs/shoulders)

  

  Step 1: start in an elbow plank

  
  

  

  Step 2: Begin climbing.  Use your arms to push yourself up to a pushup position.

  
  

  

  **your hands should be lined up with your shoulders, ignore his form**

  
  

  

  Step 3: Lower yourself back down to an elbow plank and repeat

LEGS

• LUNGES (target muscle group- Quadriceps and Hamstrings

  

  *I have a detailed description of a correct lunge in my post "3  Exercises You May Be Doing Wrong"
  The main point is to not let your front knee go in front of the front toe.

• CALF RAISES (target muscle group- calves)

You can do these on a flat surface or on a step for a deeper stretch.  The three foot positions target different areas of your calves.

Feet straight foward 

Toes out to the side, concentrates on inner calves

Toes pointed in, concentrates on outer calves

• BRIDGES (target muscle group- glutes and hamstrings)
  
  
  

  

  Push through your heels and lower yourself back down (not all the way to the floor) and repeat

ABS

Last, but most certainly not least.  Keep good form throughout all of these exercises and you'll definitely feel the burn.

• LEG RAISES (target muscle group- lower abs)
  

  

  If it makes it easier for you to keep your hands under your butt, that's fine.
  Inhale as you drop your legs, exhale as you bring them up.

  

  Don't let your feet touch the floor!  Keep your core tight.

• CHAIR KNEE TUCKS (target muscle group- all over abs)

  

  Sit on the edge of a chair and keep your back straight.

  
  

  

  Keeping your core tight, pull your knees up to your chest.

• MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS (target muscle group- obliques)

While this can be a cardio exercise, take this one nice and slow to really work your sides.

Start in a good pushup position.

Keeping your hands lined up with your shoulders, take one knee and touch your opposite elbow.

*try not to tilt to one side like Jack is doing here*

• JACK KNIFES (target muscle group- all over abs)

Jack insisted on this one...

Keep shoulders and feet off the ground during this workout!

Don't pull your neck forward, pull your feet and chest together and make
a V-shape, crunching your core.

I hope you all enjoyed these workouts descriptions and I hope you'll give them a try!  

Let me know if you tried these exercises!

Twitter/Instagram- @shaynerw