Coconuts are versatile, they can be used to make coconut oil, coconut milk, coconut water, coconut snacks, are used in food and also used as food.

The nutrients and minerals found in coconut milk will nourish and hydrate your skin. Coconut milk is very popular and for food reason, it is tasty, nutritious and versatile.

This humble fruit has a lot to brag about

This milk is known for its sweetness and creaminess. Many skincare and haircare companies have been using coconut in their product formulas for a while.

It is also very popular in at-home skincare recipes as well and for good reason. It delivers much-needed nourishment to your skin and hair.

Coconut milk on the skin, why you need it

What is coconut milk?

The plant is part of the palm family and can be found in abundance in hotter areas like southern Asia, Malaysia and Polynesia. The milk is not really milked at all.

The liquid that comes out of the coconut when you open it up is coconut water.

To create coconut milk you need to blend then strain the coconut meat. This will give you a thick rich and creamy liquid that we call coconut milk.

Another way that the milk can be created is by grating the coconut flesh and soaking it in hot water.

Coconut cream will rise to the top and can be used on its own. When all the cream is removed you can strain the remaining liquid and this liquid is coconut milk.

The milk offers a variety of vitamins and minerals, these include vitamin C, E, B1, B3, B5 and B6. The minerals in coconut milk include magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, selenium and iron.

The coconut milk also contains very high amounts of fat. Medium-chain saturated fatty acids to be exact.

How does coconut milk benefit the skin?

Moisturises: Because coconut milk contains high levels of fatty acids the milk is great at moisturising the skin and preventing dry skin. 

It will also help improve any skin conditions associated with dry skin including eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.

It helps get rid of itchiness, dryness, redness and soothes the skin.

Antifungal and antibacterial: Coconut milk contains lauric acid. Lauric acid has antibacterial properties.

If you have acne then coconut milk will help in controlling acne by killing off some of the acne-causing bacteria on your skin.

Soothing: Weather you get sunburnt or you have skin irritation coconut milk can help to calm the skin and soothe it. It is anti-inflammatory so it works well to calm and soothe the skin.

The fats in the coconut oil also help to reduce redness, reduce swelling on the skin, and reduce pain on your skin.

Prevent premature ageing: Ageing happens when your skin loses elasticity and becomes dry and thin. Coconut milk is rich in vitamin C.

When applied on the skin the coconut milk will improve the skin’s elasticity and flexibility. This slows down premature ageing.

The milk also contains good amounts of copper, copper is an ingredient that improves the appearance of age spots, wrinkles and sagging skin.

Can we apply coconut milk on the face daily?

Yes, you can and you should apply coconut oil on your skin daily if you are choosing to incorporate it into your skincare routine.

Consistency is key when it comes to skincare. You’ll see the positive effects of using coconut oil faster if you use it consistently.

If you only use the coconut oil on occasion you won’t see the difference quickly but if you use it consistently (daily), then you will see the results faster.

It takes a while for a product to change your skin and you need to give your skin time to change

If you need more information here is an article on using milk on your face daily.

How can I use coconut milk on my skin?

Facial moisturiser:

You can use coconut milk as a treatment on your face to moisture use it. To treat your skin combine equal parts raw honey and equal parts coconut milk. Create enough mixture for one use on your face.

Apply the mixture on your face and let it sit for 20-30 minutes while the mixture works on your skin.

If you desire you can add some sweet almond essential oil to the mix, this help to moisturise your skin even more.

Face mask:

Coconut milk can be used to create a skin-brightening mask. To make, combine a few strands of saffron, a couple of drops of raw honey, a teaspoon of sandalwood powder and coconut milk.

Combine enough coconut milk to make a paste. Once combined and incorporated apply the mask onto your clean face and let the mask sit and work on your skin for20-30 minutes.

Sunburn spray:

If you’ve been burnt by the sun you can use coconut milk spray to soothe and calm your skin. To make the spray add one part coconut milk to one part rosewater and combine in a spray bottle.

Leave the spray bottle in the fridge overnight and use after you’ve been out in the sun and catch a sunburn.

Milk bath:

Using coconut milk in your milk bath will nourish the skin on your whole body. It moisturises very well while nourishing the skin.

To do this simply add rosewater and coconut milk to your bath. If you desire you can add rose petals to the bath as well.

Soak in the bath for 15 minutes and allow the coconut milk to nourish your skin.

Makeup remover:

Just like coconut oil coconut milk will help get rid of your make up. Simply use 2 parts coconut oil to one part coconut milk and apply it on a cotton pad or a cotton round.

Then wipe your make up off. This is a cleanser that not only gently removes your make up but also nourishes the skin as well.

Can coconut milk whiten skin?

No coconut milk will not whiten your skin. The milk will do well to nourish, hydrate and moisturise the skin but it won’t alter the pigment of your skin and make your skin whiter.

Does coconut milk clog pores?

No coconut milk does not clog the pores. Coconut oil and coconut milk are not the same things.

Coconut milk isn’t necessarily comedogenic because coconut oil is comedogenic, they have different chemical compositions.

The chemical composition of coconut milk makes it quite thin compared to coconut oil and it won’t clog your pores.

All coconut products won’t necessarily be comedogenic so you can safely use coconut milk on your skin.

In addition, unfractionated coconut oil is comedogenic (it clogs pores), it has the long-chain fatty acids in it, it becomes hard as the temperature decreases.

Unfractionated coconut oil is non-comedogenic and stays liquid in cooler temperatures.

Here is an article with more information on using milk on your face for acne.

How does coconut milk benefit the hair?

Moisturising. Coconut oil nourishes the hair just as it does on the skin. The hair loves oil, the fatty acids in coconut oil do a wonderful job at moisturising the hair.

It deep conditions the hair when used on its own or in hair masks.

Strengthening:  The oil also contains protein, the hair is made up of keratin which is a type of protein. If your hair is damaged and weak then you can use coconut oil to help strengthen it a bit more. Coconut milk brings protein into the hair and this helps it become stronger, shinier and healthier.

Treats the scalp: The fatty acids and nutrients in coconut milk nourish the scalp as well.

Just as the skin on your face and body needs nourishment the skin on your scalp also needs nourishment and the coconut milk can provide that. The milk refreshes the scalp and can even play a part in improving hair growth.

Gets rid of dandruff: The moisturising effects of coconut milk will deeply nourish your scalp which is helpful in getting rid of dandruff. One of the reasons people develop dandruff is a dry scalp.

In addition, coconut milk is anti-inflammatory, it will improve the effects of dandruff on your scalp.

Slow hair loss: When your hair is dry, damaged and malnourished it makes the cuticles weaker and this results in hair breakage and hair loss.

If your hair is unhealthy it is more fragile. Coconut milk nourishes the hair making it stronger and reducing hair loss.

Can I use coconut milk on my hair everyday?

You can use coconut oil on your hair every day but if you already have naturally oily hair or a naturally oily scalp then you need to rinse the coconut oil out of your hair after each use.

The oily and fatty nature of the coconut oil will make your already oily hair more oily, this will require you to wash your hair more often.

Does coconut milk go bad?

Yes, coconut milk does go bad, it goes bad depending on how you store it. It is a food product and just like any other food product it will go bad.

How quickly your coconut milk will go bad depends on on the type of coconut milk you’re using, whether it’s thick or thin and the storage.

Unopened coconut milk will stay unspoilt for a while, for three to five years in some cases.

If the coconut milk is stored in an aseptic packaging then the milk will have a shelf life of six to twelve months.

You can store the milk in the fridge, if you open the coconut milk and store it in the fridge you can expect it to go bad after a month.

If the coconut oil is not contained in aseptic packaging but is refrigerated you can expect it to go bad a week after the expiration date.

What is the white stuff on top of coconut milk?

The white stuff on top of coconut milk is coconut cream.

If you open a can of coconut milk you may find this thicker layer at the top or the bottom of the can.

This is more nutrient-rich than the milk itself. It also fattier than the coconut milk itself

It will usually not mix in with the milk in the can. If you want to incorporate the coconut cream into the milk and use it on your skin you can shake the can and the two will combine.

You can also warm the coconut milk and everything will blend better.

What can I use instead of coconut milk?

If you don’t have access to coconut milk or you cannot use coconut milk for some reason and need an alternative you can use almond milk or goat milk. 

Almond milk has high amounts of antioxidants which fight off damaging free radicals which damage the skin cells.

It is also high in fats, because of this almond milk is great at moisturising the skin as well.

Goat milk is another alternative to can use in place of coconut milk for skin and haircare. 

This milk has high amounts of beneficial vitamins and minerals which boost the health of your skin. The milk will give you softer, smoother, healthy-looking and healthier feeling skin.

The milk contains vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D and lactic acid. Lactic acid is a gentle chemical exfoliant which helps give you soother skin.

This milk also contains good amounts of fats which moisturise the skin quite well. Here is an article looking into goat milk powder for the face.

This article looks into at using milk powder on your face

Should you add water to coconut milk?

No, you should not add water to your coconut milk.

When you add water to coconut milk you dilute it. You get less of the minerals and vitamins when using diluted coconut milk than you would get in pure coconut milk.

If you’re using coconut milk for skincare you can add other ingredients to the formula like honey, turmeric, rosewater but you should not add water.

I hope you enjoyed this article looking at using coconut milk on skin, if you did please share it.