Having the incredibly temperamental skin that I have, I can’t actually use coconut oil. Which is ridiculous, I mean really…allergic to coconut oil? Pffft. However it is widely known to be a natural miracle, and a reader has asked me to write about it, so I figured I’d cover it in this blog post.

Coconut oil first came onto the scene a few years back, and was in everything from beauty products to health-drinks that promised to boost metabolism (and cost a bomb). My glam mum has been using it forever though; I can barely remember a time there wasn’t a huge pot of it in the house. She tends to only use it for one job; but coconut oil can have a multitude of uses for almost every aspect of beauty and health. So without further ado….

1. Makeup Remover – This is what my mum uses it for, and I can vouch on her behalf that it will remove eye makeup brilliantly. It will however leave you with blurred vision for a short while – that sounds a bit terrifying, but I don’t mean it in that way. It literally only lasts a blink or three.
2. Body Moisturizer – Poppy Delevingne, Cara’s older sister and the original Delevingne model recently told a magazine that she covers herself in coconut oil, waits 10 minutes then washes it off in the shower. Apparently it leaves her “as soft as a baby” and who are we mortals to argue with a Delivigne when it comes to beauty.
3. Deep Hair Conditioner – At room temperature, coconut oil is almost like a balm. If you just want to smooth a few flyaway hairs, you can easily get a blob; let it melt in your hand and smooth done your do. If you’re after a more of a deep treatment, warm the oil up to a liquid and apply it generously. Leave the liquid in for as long as you can then rinse it out. It works wonders on hair (I can actually vouch for this – although I cannot use it on my skin, using it on my hair seems fine). Added bonus: you will have Bounty-scented hair. Scrummy.
4. Cuticle Care – If you like to do your nails a lot, you probably know a thing or two about how important cuticles are. Cuticles are vital to growing healthy nails and are the barrier at the place your skin stops. So pretty vital. Coconut oil is great for moisturising cuticles and nails, helping to keep them nourished and healthy. It can also help to prevent hangnails.
5. Oral Health – Ok, so if you’re going to get all technical on me (please don’t) I haven’t used coconut oil in this way. And nobody I know has. Google however does tell me that it is great for oral hygiene. Melt a bit of the oil, mix with water and gargle with it for a while. Coconut oil has lots of antifungal properties that can help reduce bacteria in the mouth and in doing so promotes fresher breath and healthier gums. Apparently.
6. Super Food – Coconut oil can be used to replace basically any oil or fat in you’re cooking. Not only is it lower in fat it also retains vitamins E, K and iron at high temperature. Korma, anyone?

In an ideal life there would be more photos in this post, to convey just how much I’m loving this jacket. It would also help brighten it up, however my usual photograph is in Europe on a business trip and everyone else who I could blag are (strategically) busy. As such, I’ve roped in a less than willing volunteer – so I thought I best not push my look.

This blazer could possibly be the new #TheDress (people still remember The Dress, don’t they?) as it has divided opinion on if it is actually red or orange.

I would have sat on the fence and said it was an orangey-red; however after close scientific inspection I can tell you it is Coral Tonic. Because it matches my Rimmel Coral Tonic lipstick perfectly. I love that although it is tailored, it’s still a bit loose. I could even go all fashionable and claim it offers a languid silhouette (who thought I’d be saying that after this post?)

When I buy bright coloured things, most people say I won’t wear them much, as it can be hard to put them with other clothes. But this beaut is only £17, so it doesn’t really matter. It is from Primark’s current office-wear section but it would look great with everything. I’m convinced.

There is the slight down-side in that the colour and loose fit sometimes makes you wonder if you look like a Butlin’s rep. But then at least you’ll look really fun, like manically fun.

For once, almost all the clothes in this post are new-ish. The skirt is from New Look, I only bought it because it was a fiver and I was only £4.00 away from free shipping. It was in the sale and classed as navy, but unless you study the pantone chart meticulously it might as well be black. I feel like I should be slimmer to wear a skirt like this – it is very body-hugging. On the other hand, I like it and I can just wear it and imagine I’m thinner, right?

The bag is one I’ve blogged about before, here. Incidentally, the apple on it also matches perfectly. I’m actually a little bit excited that I am so coordinated. This normally only occurs after hours of outfit based day-dreaming.

Just in case you are wondering why there are suddenly little photos at the side of my blog posts now, you’ll be pleased to know I am finally on Instagram. I’ve been putting it off because I didn’t feel like my life was glossy enough, but eventually jumped on the bandwagon. Therefore, here’s the compulsory selfie.

(See, told you the jacket was the same colour as the lippy!)

As it was sunny, I figured it was time to feature a dress on here. Though to be honest, with the recent down pours/general greyness I was in no way prepared and am as pale as possible. Jokes, I’m almost always this pale… I’ve yet to find the motivation for daily fake tan, and pale is interesting… right guys?

I originally bought this dress for work, but it came on holiday with me and now I guess it’s transitioned into an Easter dress. When I bought this, I wasn’t completely convinced. As a rule I’m not a fan of elasticated waists, they just never seem to sit right on me; as you can see in most of these photos. However I loved the bird print, and I think the blue is quite nice shade of royal. I got it from New Look quite a while back but haven’t really worn it. Care-free flying birds just don’t really go with thick winter tights for some reason.

The shoes are the same New Look courts that were bought in a hurry and feature in this other Outfit of the Week post. To say I prefer a lot of my other (more colourful) shoes I apparently wear these quite a bit as they go with basically everything.

The bag is possibly the cutest thing I’ve seen this month. It’s cheerful, tiny and just makes people instantly happy. I wish I could tell you it is mine; but it’s actually stolen from my sister, who also took the photos for this post. So big up my big sister, yo.

As I’m uploading these photos I’ve noticed two things; firstly when the sun is in my eyes and I go a bit squinty my cheeks do the impossible and become even chubbier. Who knew this could happen?

Secondly I noticed that my current manicure actually matches this outfit; this wasn’t planned, but feel free to pretend I’m a style guru and give me the credit for it all the same 😉 The blue is Rimmel’s 60 Second Dry range and the little lime slice is from a Poundland set. Just FYI, turns out Rimmel is really good for sticking nail art on… 4 days on and I’m yet to lose a lime.

The more observant amongst you will have notice I have a fringe in these photos. I haven’t had one cut, because basically I can’t be bothered with the constant up-keep it would demand. Instead this is just a fake-fringe, made with the strategic use of bobby-pins.

No promises, but there may be a blog post and a vine coming dedicated to fake fringes this weekend. I can’t guarantee it because the boyf and I are having a night away, so there is a good chance I may get distracted. Soz.