A few days ago I wrote a post about Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil because I a coconut fiend and this product is fantastic. The company saw my glowing review and offered to do a giveaway of their full size (a $32 value) Tropical Traditions Gold label coconut oil.
For those of you who currently use coconut oil as part of your beauty routine (or for cooking), you will love the high quality of this oil. Trust me. For those of you who've never used coconut oil, you're in for a treat.
So how do you get your name in the pot to win? First, you must be a follower of this blog to enter. If you're new here, just click the button to the right that says, Keep in Touch.
If you'd like a bonus entry, sign up for Tropical Traditions Newsletter which is a treasure trove of free recipes, free product specials and weekly sales. You can do that here
And finally, for yet one more chance to win, become a fan of Tropical Traditions on Facebook or follow them on Twitter (@troptraditions). Just let me know how many entries you should get (I will check Tropical Traditions Facebook page and Twitter, so let me know your "screen name" for both accounts).
And lastly, just for fun, you can get some delicious free recipes that utilize coconut oil! Just go here
I'll be putting names in a jar on Tuesday, March 16, 2010 and will announce the winner that day. Good luck, readers.
Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.
About 18 months ago, I began an extensive revamping of my beauty routine, taking out most commercial products and replacing them with food products. Extra Virgin Olive Oil was found to work wonders as an under eye night treatment. Bentonite Clay mixed with water is the perfect non-SLS "shampoo". And mashed bananas mixed with Greek yogurt brings out the beauty of my curls like no commercial conditioner ever has.
After perusing a few of my favorite websites, like AGRLCANMAC, I decided to try coconut oil as a body and hair moisturizer. I heard the praises from various curly haired girls how nourishing coconut oil was for adding bounce and luster to their locks. And those suffering from dry skin swore by coconut oil for chasing away the winter ashiness.
So off to the grocery store I went. My first discovery was the vast price difference between coconut oil and other oils, like olive. The least expensive brand was $8 for a small jar (sorry, I don't remember the exact ounces) and I thought, This stuff better be good.
After a week of use, I have to say I wasn't impressed. I didn't see a major difference in my skin's condition, nor my hair's luster. Although the packaging said it was extra virgin and there were all sorts of brag language about how good it was, I kept wondering why it didn't smell or taste like coconuts. Not even in the least. I've learned that products claiming to be natural should smell or taste like the original or something is amiss.
After some online research, I figured out the problem: Not all coconut oil is created equal. Like most other food products, coconut oil can be created the healthy way or the cheap way. Believe it or not, the brand I purchased at $8 was manufactured in such a way that most of the nutritional value was taken out through chemical extraction.
What is known as refined coconut oil (just like refined shea butter, which we'll talk about in a future post), has gone through a high heat and chemical solvent process. The oil is extracted from dried coconut meat known as copra. Without getting too technical, I'll just say this is inferior to making coconut oil from fresh coconut meat dried under natural conditions.
Now as an enlightened consumer, I sought out a higher quality product. Scrolling the internet and chatting on Twitter brought me in contact with Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil. I asked them to send a sample of their product. They were kind enough to send their full size 32 oz jar.
I opened the UPS box the minute it arrived and opened the jar. The contrast between the quality of their oil compared with the oils I'd tried in the supermarket (I went back for a second brand that also failed to impress) was stark.
First of all, Tropical Traditions coconut oil smelled like fresh coconuts! Nice. Then I noticed the pure white color of this oil compared to the yellowish shade of the other brands. When I scooped some of the oil out and rubbed it between my fingers, it was smooth and silky, not gritty.
Their Gold Label oil is extracted using natural methods that have been employed in the Philippines for hundreds of years - no chemicals, no bleaching. And it's certified organic.
Melting some of their oil, I massaged my legs (my driest parts) after showering and then went to bed. The next morning my legs were still moist and supple - a miracle for my dry skin. I've also been using it in my hair and seeing a light sheen. It's too early to comment on the protein benefits and strengthening of the hair shaft that I keep reading about. But I'll keep you posted.
On a different note, it's wonderful for cooking as well. Coconut oil is one of the healthiest oils you can use - no trans fats. I've used it in place of butter in baking. And I've fried plaintains in it. Sheer heaven. That's one of fun benefits of food grade beauty products. What you don't use on your body, you can use in your dinner.
Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil sells for $32.50 for 32 oz. Their website often runs specials, sometimes even 2 for 1 deals. They make other fine coconut products like all natural soaps and exfoliants.
The book is actually a series of essays by prominent African American women from all walks of life: writers, entertainers, activists, business women. Most are heterosexual, a few are lesbian. Some grew up stateside, while others have first generation African or Caribbean heritage. Many grew up poor, but several grew up solidly middle class.
But there is a thread that runs through each story; the need to explore how black women have seen themselves through the eyes of others, and ultimately how that impacted their lives.
I found parts of this book easily applying to all women and the insecurities we nurse from our early teens when we first start to compare our bodies to those around us. But there are issues covered in the book that are distinctly racial.
After reading ten or more essays, I came across one that stood out to me more than the others. Kelis, a relatively well known pop/hip hop singer (Remember the very sexual song, "Milkshake?"), spoke on how she views her body and the benefits of sensuality. She's pictured above.
Without seeking to lead you into my point of view, I'm going to simply post a large section of her essay and let you comment. And please do comment. I'd like to get a discussion going here on how you view this young woman's opinion on female sexuality.
This is not a new phenomena, from Josephine Baker to Billy Holiday, Marilyn Monroe to Lena Horne. Women throughout history have played on and exposed their sensuality and beauty, using their talents as their second best feature.
The reality is that is what I have, what I look like and if it’s going to get me a little closer to where I need to be, fine. Men don’t have to be sexy and beautiful. They have different avenues to take to success.
I am really smart and really talented. But when I started out in the music industry, I learned right away that it’s not enough to look cute and stylish. I could have done it, but it would have been much harder.
Sex sells. It’s sad but true. It’s not just hip hop. And it’s bigger than black music. America is all about appealing to the eye. And I have a better chance of getting where I want looking the way I do than trying to be a burlap-wearing-weaving incense-wherever-I-go woman. God bless those who go that route, but it’s not for me.
One day I’ll be older and not quite as cute, with tiddies not as perky and an ass not as round, but right now I’ll be damned if I’ll hide what God gave me. I hate when women say that being a female is a curse. That’s only true if you want it to be
Well ladies, what do you think? Agree with her views? Disagree? Disgusted? Let's chat.
