Hi guys!

I have now finished my little experiment with blends of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (EVCO) & a natural wax, to see if I can make it solid at all of the temperatures normally found at home (less than 29°C/84°F)...

...and yet melt nicely and absorb into the skin (at skin temp 35°C/95°F).

This way you can always have EVCO oil (blend) sitting in the bathroom that is solid, so it is easy to scoop up and smooth all over your skin.

Take a look at the pics, it worked out quite well!!

Annuu

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I know the photo must have looked a bit boring, but the take home message was that it is possible to change the melting properties of EVCO by adding a wax to it.

Question: How do they behave when applied to the skin in the shower?

Well, I tried out the 'highest melting blend' in the shower yesterday and it was quite different from plain EVCO. It wasn't nearly as greasy (you know how EVCO normally feels!), but I don't think it adhered to the skin too well, and a lot of it washed off. Point learned: too much wax and you possibly lose the beneficial effects of EVCO!

I will now try out some of the other 'lower melting blends' and report back!

See ya!

Annuu

Yep, now it is working! It goes on like EVCO, but when you get out of the shower, you don't feel like an oil slick!

Now the next big question, does it work for kp?

Annuu

You mentioned earlier that you were going to add other things, such as Vit A. Have you done this yet? If so what ingredients do you plan on adding. I think that something that is suppose to have a calming affect on the skin would be nice such as peppermint or anything else that is an anti-inflamitory (spell?) but I dont think that the smells would go that great together. Just a thought

Best of luck to you

Great idea! I was planning on adding centella purified extract (for healing) and Vitamins A & E. This is the next step.

I would be very keen to hear suggestions on what else could be added, e.g. essential oils. I am mindful of skin sensitivity to esential oils, so we need to go with something that is very gentle and hypoallergenic.

Looking forward to hearing your sugestions! Thanks

Annuu

What about Eucaplytus oil or extract? Since these two things both seem to be so successful, imagine the power of combining them. Although it might stink.

I liked your photos, Annuu! I used to work in a research lab so I appreciate all the time you're putting into your formulation.

I'd like you to try peppermint oil because it smells so nice. I used to have a Freeman foot cream called "Coco mint" and it contained coconut oil and peppermint, smelled great, quite refreshing, and my cracked heels smoothed and softened really fast when I used it. Unfortunately I'm out and can't find it anywhere! :-(

We are in luck...I already have eucalyptus, peppermint and spearmint essential oils, so I will give them a try!

Maybe we can come up with the benefits of the BBW Eucalyptus & Spearmint Lotion that everyone raves about!

Cheers

Annuu

Hey Tinyfeet...

Because I have not had the real McCoy (BBW Eucalyptus & Spearmint lotion is not available here), I had to try to guess the proportions of eucalyptus & spearmint oils to add to the EVCO base.

Could you please let me know..is the BBW Eucalyptus & Spearmint lotion strongly scented, and does it smell more like eucalyptus or spearmint?

Cheers

Annuu

That's a good question. I think it smells more like eucalyptus than spearmint, but you can detect both. And yes, the scent is fairly strong. Are you just planning to heat the cocunut up and stir in the E&S oils? Or is it more complicated than that?

I'm excited to hear how this turns out. I finally tested the coconut oil myself on one arm and I like it quite a bit. It actually was not nearly as messy or greasy as some people made it out to be. It absorbs faster than the BBW lotion so you can feel your smooth skin instead of your lotion-y skin. I've been using it about a week and would say my Coconut oil arm is slighly softer and the dots may be slighly less noticable than on my BBW arm. I've only been using the oil in the shower and am still been using the BBW at night. There really isn't a big difference between the arms, but I'll let everyone know if one shows up.

tinyfeet, your avatar cracks me up every time I see it. That thing looks like it shouldn't have such dainty feet or such a petite gait. LOL Sorry, I just had to finally mention it.

I was reading a little on what you guys have been doing.

I have been taking my little girl to the doctor for 2 years. He tells her not to exfoliate her arm that it will irratate the area more resulting in my bumps. That she needs to lotion up often. She is going through a bottle of lotion Eucren every five days.

But from what you guys are talking about, a great number you have been scrubbing in the shower and putting on coconut oil from Trader Joes. Can anyone explain this and about the Vitamin A. It seems the doctor hasn't been very informative


Thanks...

Hey Tinyfeet:

Thanks for the information, and the encouraging news.

I will try out various combinations of eucalyptus and spearmint, using more of the eucalyptus, to see how they work (and smell). The coconut oil blend that I am working on will also contain Vitamins E & A, as well as a natural wax to ensure that it remains semisolid at normal room temperatures.

Great to hear that you are doing a controlled trial on your own arms, comparing EVCO with BBW E&S lotion. It sounds very interesting. You are right, applying EVCO in the shower as people have recommended certainly isn't messy or greasy at all. It absorbs remarkably well!

Cheers!

Annuu

mama_hwang:

It seems like different "management practices" for KP vary regarding how well they work on a per case basis. Sounds like your doc has given some very typical advice but it isn't working. What your daughter can safely use, however, may be different than what adults can safely use because

1) her skin is likely to be thinner
2) she is still growing/developing and certain chemicals that adults apply may interfere with her growth
3) she still may "grow out of it" so agressive treatment may not yet be warranted

I think you should give the Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil (EVCO) a chance. My kp never improved with lotions but the EVCO (and it is important to get Extra-Virgin to guarantee it's made from fresh coconuts) has caused a significant improvement. I lightly exfoliate with an exfoliating towel every night when I shower, then I put on a small amount of EVCO. I re-apply EVCO in the morning. Some days I re-apply during the day (if I remember). Always using small amounts so I don't get too greasy.

I don't know how old your daughter is but if she lightly exfoliates even only once/week in conjunction with the EVCO, you can assess whether or not her arm gets irritated and has more bumps. She could exfoliate with something more delicate than a pumice sponge (even I won't try that thing, sounds like sandpaper). If her arm does get irritated, just allow it to heal and realize that exfoliation is probably not an option right now.

I also stopped applying products containing petroleum or other petroleum-derived ingredients and that made a difference but the EVCO has been the most significant improvement I've ever experienced.

Hi closetextrovert. Would you be interested in trialling the EVCO blend that I have been working on? Thanks