Coconut could be called the marmite of the beauty world – but I am here to try and persuade those of you that are in the ‘hate it’ camp that things have changed. Remember that eye-watering, Malibu-esque fragrance of the Eighties, typified by the likes of coconut balsam shampoo? It’s OK. It’s safe to come out now.

Coconut products actually smell like real coconut these days (if you pick the right ones, that is). Nutty, fruity, fresh… And on top of that, coconut oil is a natural emollient which soothes dry skin, relieves eczema and boosts hair growth – and taken internally has been shown to help balance cholesterol levels, improve digestion and stimulate metabolism. Try my top five coconut treats:

Lovea Coconut Shower Gel (£6.49) is a great example of a non-sickly, fresh coconutty smell. I absolutely love this shower gel – it softens so much you can skip the body lotion and comes in a huge bottle. I use it on the kids, too, because it’s sulphate, paraben and phthalate free.

Post-shower, try Lavera Organic Coconut Dream Body Lotion (£8.45). The coconut is paired with vanilla, which I wouldn’t normally go for, but in this melty, marshallowy body lotion the combination works a treat.

When I’m after something a bit richer, or for dry elbows and knees, I reach for Sweet Cecily’s Coconut Body Butter (£15). The tin makes me love this product before I’ve even used it, but when I have, I am sniffing my arm all day to get a fix of that wonderfully subtle, freshly-cracked-open coconut aroma. Gorgeous.

For a quick coconut fix, I keep a stylish silver tube of Superdry Lip Fix (£6) in my handbag. OK, at the bottom of a tissue and Moshi Monster filled coat pocket. I like the way this isn’t slimy – a really good smoothing primer if you put it on half an hour or so before lip colour.

Finally, something that gives you the internal and external benefits of coconut: Fushi’s Virgin Organic Coconut Oil (£5.80). I keep this in the fridge door and it’s just sublime: what other beauty product can you use to fry breakfast pancakes, then take into bathroom to slather on your limbs after a shower? It’s multi-tasking gone nuts. (Sorry.)

For those of you seeking some aromatherapy have a look at our treatment reviews