Coconut Oil, 250 ml

A coconut oil sold under the Last Queen name. Coconut oil is pressed from the white flesh of the coconut. The label names it coconut oil in English and Russian and carries the line “Cleopatra” in both languages; a Russian line at the foot of the label says it is cold-pressed. The label lists no ingredients and does not say where the oil was made. It comes in a 250 ml white plastic bottle with a white pump; the cream label shows the brand's emblem, a queen in an Egyptian headdress, above the Last Queen name and its Russian translation, and a drawing of a coconut split open beside a whole one, with green leaves.

What it is for: the label lists no uses, so these are the usual ways coconut oil is used. It is a body and massage oil for dry skin; it softens dry hands, elbows and heels; it is an oil to smooth through dry hair before washing; and it adds softness and shine to dry hair ends. It is a cosmetic: it works on how skin and hair look and feel.

Use a little at a time. After a shower or for a massage, warm a few drops between your palms and smooth them over dry skin on the arms, legs or shoulders until they sink in. For dry hands, elbows and heels, rub in one or two drops in the evening. Before washing, warm a few drops between your palms and smooth them through dry hair from the middle to the ends; cover your hair with an old towel, leave the oil for half an hour, then shampoo as usual. For dry ends, one or two drops on dry hair are enough.

The difference from an unlabelled bottle in a bazaar is what you can see for yourself: a brand name and a printed label with the name and size on the front. It reaches you unopened, at the price on this page, with nothing to haggle over.

It is for external use only: do not swallow it. This bottle is sold as a cosmetic, not as a cooking oil. Try a drop on the inner arm first and wait a day before using it more widely, and do not put it on broken or irritated skin. If you are allergic to coconut, do not use it. It is not a sunscreen and has no SPF: it does not protect the skin from the sun, so do not use it for sunbathing. Keep it out of the eyes and away from small children.

Keep the bottle out of direct sun and heat. Coconut oil sets solid below about 24 °C, and then the pump cannot draw it up: stand the bottle in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes until the oil is clear and liquid again. Oil can mark fabric and towels and makes floors slippery, so wipe your hands before you touch clothes. At 250 ml it is over the 100 ml cabin limit, so it cannot fly in hand luggage: pack it in checked baggage, with the pump screwed down tight and the bottle sealed in a zip bag, standing upright.

Who it suits: anyone with dry skin, dry hands and heels or dry hair ends who wants one simple oil for them, in a bottle with a pump. Skip it if you are allergic to coconut, dislike the feel of oil on your skin, or travel with hand luggage only.