Adara Organic Coconut Oil

I've recently had the pleasure of adding Adara Organic Coconut Oil in Green Tea scent to my after-bathing and skin care routine. I'd heard that coconut oil is supposed to be very good for the skin and a multi-use thing too (you all know how much I love a multi-purpose product), but had not tried it for myself yet. There are several things about this product that are different from what most people are probably used to. Here are a few of them:

1. It arrives in solid (unfractionated) form, and for me, remained solid even at room temperature, so you do need to heat it up under hot water for a minute or so to melt what you need to use.

2. It doesn't absorb into the skin right away, you'll need to give it 20 minutes or so to fully absorb if you slather it on a bit generously like I do.

3. While this is indeed an oil, it's not thick or greasy. As it melts into your skin with body temperature, it will almost disappear.

These things, while different from the norm, don't bother me one bit. In fact, I think it makes the experience of moisturizing the skin more special and luxurious. The Green Tea scent is heavenly. It is fresh, uplifting, totally delicious and perfect as a bath and body (and hair!) scent. Spring, are you here yet? No? Okay, I'm going back to bed.

The natural properties of coconut oil are conducive to reducing redness and inflammation, and the lauric acid it contains will help to smooth out any rough patches you might have on your skin. I put this to the test, because I have red AND dry patches! I used the Adara for several consecutive days right after showering, and by the third day, the patches were gone (no additional exfoliation was used). I also use it to hydrate my face. I will admit that I was a little hesitant to use it on my face at first because the fragrance is pretty strong, I took into account how gentle the product is, and I went for it. The scent is not at all overwhelming and didn't bother me. I have found that this is great to use at night before bed, first warming up product between palms and pressing into the skin on my face and neck. I even use it around my eyes. When I wake up the next morning, my skin feels incredibly smooth and soft and it's still hydrated. I do encourage moisturize more than just twice daily, and if you're one of the many who do that, this type of product is ideal for frequent use. In my experience, it does not cause skin congestion or breakouts, so it would be suitable for all skin types including acne prone. In fact, I know that many people with acne-prone skin use coconut oil for cleansing and hydration because it creates a protective environment for the skin which makes acne-causing bacteria very unlikely to hang out.

This product also can be used in a number of other ways, including as a makeup remover, pimple treatment and a pre-wash deep conditioning hair treatment (I've not tried these yet, but plan on it). This lovely stuff is imported from Singapore, it's preservative and paraben-free, and according to the company, only 24 hours pass between the pressing of the fruit to the bottles being filled. There is another nice bonus when you purchase Adara products: they practice Fair Trade, and believe in providing fair wages to their workers and helping to build a stronger community for the families that create their products.

There is something just so old-school about using oils on your skin and hair, and the sensory pleasures it provides makes it well worth the few extra minutes you will need to spend every day using it. In fact, the Adara coconut oil begs you to slow down and enjoy life a little bit more, to enjoy the tactile and olfactory sensations of treating your body and mind well.

Other scents available are Jasmine, Lavender, Peach, and Unscented (MUST try Jasmine!). An 8 oz bottle retails for $30, and a 2 oz trial size is $12 at b-glowing.com. I can tell that the 8 oz bottle I have will last me a long time, because I've been using it every single day for about a week and have hardly put a dent in it.

[product was provided by b-glowing for review. My opinions are solely my own.]