For the past year, my biggest skincare issue has been a lack of hydration. After a lifetime of combination skin, with an oily T-zone and acne, my skin seemingly turned dry overnight—which I theorize is part of my journey as a now-perimenopausal woman. (I’m still getting used to this version of me.) Anyway, in this new era for my skin, I’ve been trying every skincare product that promises serious moisture. The latest one that has me in a chokehold is something that I’ve shockingly never really considered before, a coconut-based product: the new BeautyStat Triple-Plump Coconut Milk Serum ($42).
I’ve found a lot of good serums and moisturizers, but some of them feel like they’re becoming less and less effective on my drier skin. I’ll go to bed all plump and moisturized, looking like a sleepy little dumpling, but my face feels dry when I wake up. Or, if I use it in the morning, the hydration wears off a few hours later. This is something that Ron Robinson, the founder of BeautyStat, noticed with a lot of hydrating products in the market. “You put them on; you feel hydrated, but then a few hours later, your skin feels dry,” he tells me. “I wanted to solve that by giving consumers lasting hydration and glow.”
According to Robinson, the magic of the Triple-Plump Coconut Milk Serum lies in ingredient synergy. He explains that the serum uses five parts of the fruit. “The coconut water and coconut juice are rich in electrolytes, amino acids, and sugars,” he explains. “So, those, in itself, are going to hydrate the skin and help repair it. Then, there is the coconut oil, alkanes, and caprate. Those are rich in essential fatty acids.” The five components combined together help to repair, restore, and maintain the skin’s barrier, along with hyaluronic acid and polyglutamic acid, giving the skin a surge of hydration.
All of that sounded promising, but I did have to ask about the elephant in the room—coconut oil’s reputation for clogging pores and causing acne due to its comedogenic nature. “It’s all about the formulation,” Robinson points out. “What percentage can you use to repair the skin's barrier but not clog pores? That's the art of formulation. This is why this has been two years in development. It's a delicate balance, but we did it, and we're able to deliver great results for those with acne-prone skin.” The brand also backed its formula up with independent clinical testing, which showed a +350% increase in skin moisture immediately after using the product. Testers also reported their skin having an immediate glow after use and after 28 days. But would it work on me and my stubbornly dry skin?
I began testing by incorporating the serum after cleansing my skin both day and night and found it easy to add to my routine as the product was very gentle. I tested it for three weeks, and I am astonished at how well my skin has responded to it. I haven’t had a “dry spell” since using it; in fact, for the first time, my skin looks and feels as close to it used to pre-perimenopause. It's plump, moisturized, and happy-looking, if that makes sense.
The formula is also unlike anything I’ve ever used. It’s thicker than a typical serum, giving it a very natural-looking feel, as if it’s straight from the coconut itself. Because of this, there is a bit of a learning curve when it comes to using the dropper, but the brand gives tips on application. (You’ll want to squeeze the dropper while putting it back into the bottle, then release it slowly so it can fill up properly.)
Another big thing I’ve noticed with this serum is that my skin looks hydrated and glowy even hours after applying a full-coverage foundation on top of it. It’s a miracle! If you have dry skin, you need to try this serum. My skin hasn’t felt this soft—for this long—in literal years.
More Coconut Beauty Products We Love
Don't sleep on the Sara Happ lip scrubs if you want your lips to feel soft and your lipstick to look good. There are several different, delicious flavors, but this one is infused with the sweet scent of coconut, plus jojoba, grapeseed, and sunflower seed oils for ultimate moisture.
I'll never stray from my liquid lipstick devotion, but I've evolved to appreciate the art of a subtle lip. Refy’s Lip Blush blends pigment and balm to give your lips a natural flush of color while keeping them hydrated and smooth (thanks to nourishing coconut emollient). My current favorite is Orchid, a neutral pink shade.
"This is the skin of a killer, Bella!" ColourPop's Shimmering Dry Body Oil is inspired by Edward Cullen's sparkle-in-the-sun, diamond-like skin, as it's from ColourPop's Twilight collection. This is basically my idea of grown-up body glitter!
I found my new fall lipstick: Essence’s Slim Stick, a gorgeously pigmented matte that lasts for hours. It also contains a ton of nourishing plant oils, including jojoba, macadamia, and yes, coconut oil, so your lips stay soft, supple, and moisturized.
With cooler weather, I tend to get dry spots in random places on my body, so good body butter is vital! Skintensive's Body Butter is packed with sea buckthorn berry extract, coconut oil, ceramides, and vitamins C and E—all rich emollients and antioxidants that leave skin both soft and protected from free radicals.
Since I was a teenager, Bath & Body Works has always been my go-to for coconut beauty products. While it may have discontinued Creamy Coconut (RIP), it still has other coconut products, like this lip balm. It has SPF, so your lips are both protected and sweet!
Give your hair some coconut-infused love with this Pacifica shampoo and conditioner. Along with moisturizing vegan squalane, it contains coconut oil (which helps reduce frizz while forming a protective barrier on the skin without weighing it down) and coconut to provide long-lasting moisture deep into the follicles.
Dry skin fam, this face mask from Kora Organics is another one to add to your routine. It has moisture-boosting silver ear mushroom, vitamin-rich coconut milk, and caviar lime extract, with helps exfoliate the skin, promoting skin cell renewal. Use it as an overnight mask, or a 15-minute flash treatment.
I've had a new appreciation for hair and body mists lately, and this one from Le Monde Gourmand sounds like a dream. It brings creamy coconut vibes with notes of bergamot and vanilla praline. Heavenly!
Fragrance brand By Rosie makes some of my favorite perfumes, but its body milk cannot be missed. For a more subtle nod to coconut, pick this one up. It has fruity notes of coconut with green mandarin, pineapple, and frangipani. The lotion is also formulated to help tone the skin as well as keep it moisturized.
Beekman 1802 is all about the nourishing powers of goat milk. This hand and body wash combines the ingredient with aloe vera so you can feel cleansed without your skin losing any moisture. It's also formulated with a special microbiome-friendly fragrance technology that ensures the delicious coconut milk and vanilla blossom scent won't ever irritate your skin.
