Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil & Organic Lip Moisturizer Review + Giveaway!

I love to cook and bake.. My waistline happens to show it, but seriously, I love to cook. I cook with butter, and oil, and shortening- I love to try healthier recipes, but never seem to find a way for what I cook to taste better without the oil or butter.

I was approached to do this review for Tropical Traditions and try their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil, and I was a little eager to receive the oil for review. I had heard some things about the [in my best announcer voice] "amazing health benefits of Coconut Oil", but had never actually tried cooking with it or eating it.

I had done some research on it awhile ago, when 4BabyAndMom was my own small, home-based business that created handmade clothing, toys, accessories, and bath & beauty products. I had actually bought cosmetic grade coconut oil to add to some of my concoctions based on the fact that coconut is loaded in vitamins, minerals and fatty acids needed to heal and enrich your skin. Although it excited me to work with it, the cosmetic grade coconut oil was thick, and gritty, but I was not as impressed as I had hoped I would be.

So, Tropical Traditions asked if I would be willing to try their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil, and read their book about Coconut Oil. I was psyched. I wanted to try cooking with it, as I had heard that it's great to use when trying to lose weight and that people who use Coconut Oil when cooking have reported that they don't get sick as frequently or as severe as they used to. Bring it on! I couldn't wait to receive ours.

After our package came, I will admit, I was a little intimidated by the large glass jar and it's contents, and decided that reading the book would be a great place to start. I read real testimonies on how people ate the oil straight, added it to their coffee, used it as a conditioning treatment for their scalps, used it to fight psoriasis and eczema, and how they lost weight, looked better, felt better, and accredited the Coconut Oil as the only thing they changed in their routines. I learned the difference of Virgin Coconut Oil, expressed coconut oil, regular non-specific coconut oil, and the benefits of Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil versus others that might be on the market.

I love the fact that Tropical Traditions makes their oil the "Old Fashioned" way, and doesn't bleach it, or take the subtle hint of coconut scent/flavor out of their oil the way some manufactured brands do. It didn't look at all like the cosmetic grade coconut oil that I bought during my home made lab experiments- at first it looked solid, almost the consistency of shortening.. as it warmed up, it went clear like a pure oil you'd buy for cooking with. While it was in its shortening-type phase, I decided to grab a spoon and take a taste. It was creamy and buttery. Definitely different.

I knew after cooking with it the first time that I was going to be hooked to this stuff, and this company. I started using the oil to fry chicken cutlets, as the "butter" in Rice-a-roni, as the butter on top of biscuits and crescent rolls.. everything I normally used butter or oil with I transitioned to coconut oil, and realized it's amazing. My skin has been super soft, my hair shiny, and my sleep has actually gotten better.

I have an eczema type problem on parts of my scalp and it's affected me my entire adult life. My father and grandmother have it, and my sister does too. I decided to try using this product as a conditioning treatment for my scalp and hair. I combed some Virgin Coconut Oil through my hair, and massaged it into my scalp, then I wrapped a towel around my head and went to sleep. The next morning I woke up, washed it out, and had the most manageable hair I've ever had in almost 28 years. It was soft and my curls were bouncy; there were no knots, and the difference in my scalp was like night and day. I now deep condition my hair and scalp once every week and a half.

In another part of the book, I read how Organic Virgin Coconut Oil has natural anti-fungal properties and that it works really well on Athlete's foot type infections. Brian had something on his one foot that was bothering him for awhile. He had tried some creams and powders, but nothing worked. I convinced him to try the Coconut Oil, and he applied the oil to his foot and threw a sock on over it two nights in a row, and on the third day realized it had disappeared almost completely.

Right now, Tropical Traditions is running a PHENOMENAL sale on their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil- Buy one, get two free! Hurry, this sale expires on the 11th!

Someone in the book referred to Organic Virgin Coconut Oil as a miracle food, as well as a miracle product, and I can honestly say that I agree. I've recommended this product to everyone I've known that fights with cholesterol, diabetes, skin problems, getting healthy and their weight. I haven't seen much in the weight loss department yet, but I plan on using it more consistently and keeping a journal, now that all of my conferences and out-of-town events are done.

While I was away at Izea Fest, Tropical Traditions sent me 150 lip moisturizers made from Organic Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Palm Oil, and Organic beeswax.

These lip moisturizers are the most rejuvinating products I've ever used on my lips. The great thing about them is that they have no "active ingredients" that you'd find in popular lip balms that sting or burn, or make your lips tingle. It's not as waxy, and does not contain any petroleum, as other major marketed brands do.

The first time you use it, you may notice it seems a little harder than your regular brands. For the initial application, I find putting it on a little heavy before bed allows the heat from your lips to melt it, and contour it to the best shape for your lips. Plus, while you sleep, your lips benefit from the amazing healing properties and nourishing components of Virgin Coconut Oil, so you wake up with soft, smooth lips.

One lucky reader is going to have the opportunity to win 3 Lip Moisturizers from Tropical Traditions that I saved just for you, from my conference!

Here's How:
Visit Tropical Traditions and get to know their site. Check out their huge variety of Organic foods, oil, skincare products, household products and more. After you've browsed around, come back here and tell me 2-3 products that you'd be excited to try, and why.

Extra Entries:

• Visit the Free Coconut Recipes Blog and find a recipe that you'd love to try!
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This giveaway is open to residents of US only and will end on October 18th, at 11:59pm EST. One winner will be chosen at random using Random.org. Special thanks to our new friends at Tropical Traditions for partnering with 4BabyAndMom for the Izea Fest and for sponsoring this giveaway.