Unless you’ve been living under a rock you’ve probably heard all about the miraculous, cure-all properties of coconut oil.
I won’t be coy about it, coconut oil is my número uno beauty go-to. You could compare me to the dad in “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” and his obsession with Windex. That almost explains it. If the dad also put Windex in his coffee.
If you aren’t aware of the awesomeness that is coconut oil. Let me fill you in.
The beauty benefits of coconut oil have a lot to do with the high levels of lauric acid and vitamin E. As a result, it has incredible antioxidant, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and antimicrobial properties. Thus creating the perfect cocktail for healthy skin growth, repair and hydration. Above all, it helps to prevent premature aging and wrinkles.
Enough said.
In addition to adding coconut oil to your diet and applying it as a moisturizer there are endless uses.
In fact, I found 25 different uses for coconut oil in your beauty regimen that you probably didn’t even know existed.
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1. Hair Conditioner
The essential fatty acids that are found in coconut oil help to tame your tresses, closing the hair shafts, smoothing your hair and preventing frizz. Use weekly as a deep conditioner to help keep your hair under control and healthy without sulfates, silicons, and toxins.
2. Remove Eye Circles
Suffering from puffy bags and under eye circles from a lack of sleep? You can help make those a little bit less noticeable with coconut oil. Simply take a small amount on your fingertip and rub it under your eyes before you go to bed.
3. Fight Cold Sores
No one enjoys suffering from these nasty little things, but coconut oil can actually help stop the spread and increase healing time. One of the main ingredients in the oil, lauric acid has been shown to help stop the reproduction of the virus as usual.
4. Clean Makeup Brushes
One of the most important things to do in order to keep your makeup brushes clean is to make sure it is bacteria free. Because coconut oil contains natural antibacterial properties, it’s the perfect answer to brush buildup. Heat coconut oil just to melting point (76 degrees Fahrenheit). Dip and swirl your brushes to remove buildup. Follow with a quick rinse of baby soap and warm water. Great way to clean and soften your brushes weekly.
5. Soothe Bee Stings
There are few things as painful as a bee sting. Once the stinger is removed, the pain doesn’t’ stop there, and coconut oil is a great way to soothe it. Rub a bit of the oil onto the site of the sting to help remove the venom and reduce swelling.
6. Banish Blemishes
Isn’t an acne breakout the worst? The problem with acne is it is caused by excess bacteria, something coconut oil can help banish with it’s antibacterial properties. Simply apply a very thin layer of oil to the problem spots to reduce redness and inflammation.
7. Hydrating Lip Balm
Chapped lips are miserable in the winter, they can start peeling and cracking, not attractive to say the least. Instead of reaching for lip balm (many of which contain toxins), go for coconut oil instead. Rub a bit on your lips for an instant moisturizer while the high vitamin E content soothes and heals.
8. Soothe Sunburns
Don’t hide inside in pain and misery anymore after an especially searing sunburn. Grab your coconut oil and lather it on. Not only is coconut oil a super moisturizer, but it also helps with inflammation, so it will ease any red and swollen areas.
9. Makeup Remover
More than one magazine beauty editor has raved about the uses of coconut oil in removing makeup. Not only is it strong enough to clear up excess waterproof mascara, it’s gentle on your skin, not to mention, toxin free.
10. Whiten Teeth
A huge trend of late has been oil pulling. Basically stick one to two tablespoons (start small!) in your mouth and swish the oil around in your mouth for about five minutes a day. Its been shown to not only whiten teeth, but improve breath and remove skin toxins.
11. Exfoliation
If you are a DIY gal (who isn’t these days?) and love making your own skin exfoliators, make sure to include coconut oil as one of your main ingredients. Add raw sugar or coffee grinds to coconut oil to create an amazing moisturizing exfoliant.
12. Strengthen Lashes
Since coconut oil does such a good job strengthening and conditioning damaged hair you should also consider applying a small amount to your lashes. We give our lashes rough treatment with curling and mascara, so dab a touch of coconut oil on them before bed. Just a dab’l do ya and make sure to keep out of your eyes!
13. Nail Treatment
Tired of paying too much for nail and cuticle creams that have who knows what inside of them? Use coconut oil instead. Rubbing a small amount weekly on your nails and cuticles will help reduce brittle ends, smooth nails and promote healthy growth.
14. Remove Hair Wax
Anyone who has used an at home waxing kit knows it can take quite a bit of scrubbing in the shower to actually remove the last bits of it stuck to your skin. With coconut oil, you can simply apply a small amount to those stubborn sticky areas and rub with a warm cloth to remove. Easy.
15. Nipple Cream
For moms (and active athletes) there are few things more painful than cracked and chapped nipples. Apply a small amount of coconut oil to your nipples to help heal them quickly. Not to mention it’s a much healthier alternative to expose to babies as well.
16. Wound Care
Coconut oil has natural properties that are antibacterial, anti-fungal and fight against inflammation. So, if you have a small cut or scrape on your face you want to heal faster without a big band-aid, apply a bit of coconut oil to the area daily.
17. Shaving
Wait until the end of your shower when you follicles have had a chance to open up and then apply a small amount of coconut oil to your legs as a shaving cream. It gives you an incredibly smooth and clean shave while deeply moisturizing. Bonus: No need to apply lotion after getting out of the shower!
18. Chapped Nose
After a long winter, or during a bad allergy season your nose takes the brunt of the abuse, getting chapped and cracked, a perfect breeding ground for nosebleeds and infection. Rub a bit of coconut oil inside and around your nostrils to help soothe and heal.
19. Deodorant
If you’re concerned about some of the chemicals and metals that are common in deodorant, try using a natural replacement. Mix coconut oil with baking soda and lavender instead. Coconut oil naturally contains lauric acid, which helps take the smell out of sweat.
20. Prevent Chafing
For some, the combination of a hot day and running around in a dress can cause a bit of very uncomfortable chafing. Ouch. Before heading out, rub a bit of coconut oil in the most susceptible areas, and if you’re too late use the oil to soothe the rash or burn.
21. Dandruff Treatment
Find yourself fighting flakes constantly? It could be that your scalp is too dry. Fight it by applying a bit of coconut oil to directly to your scalp each week. That will help fight dryness, smooth flakes and strengthen your hair at the roots.
22. Remove Lice
Not necessarily a beauty tip, but very convenient to know. Any mom with school aged kids knows that they are never too far from a lice outbreak. You can use coconut oil to not only remove those little buggers if lice does spring up in your home, but also as a preventive measure. Lice hate coconut oil!
23. Makeup Highlighter
Want to help define your cheekbones and really make them pop? All you need to do is dab a teeny bit of coconut oil right to your cheekbones directly after applying your makeup. Not only will it help define them, it will also help give your skin a dewy glow.
24. Fight Eczema
If you’ve tried all the creams and moisturizers out there to help fight your eczema, try applying some coconut oil to the affected areas. Not only does the oil act as a super moisturizer, but with its antibacterial properties it can keep the area healthier.
25. Fade Age Spots
Too much time in the sun catching up with you? Not to fear, coconut oil has been shown to help reduce sun spots, as well as the fine lines and wrinkles you can get from too much time outdoors. Just apply a thin layer to the area daily for best results.
In order to get the most benefits, it’s really important to use raw (or virgin) organic coconut oil vs products that have been hydrogenated, refined or bleached. Using a coconut oil that has been chemically refined exposes you to multiple toxins as well as compromising the health and beauty benefits.
Did we miss any of your favorite uses for coconut oil? Let us know what they are in the comments!
If you’re interested in organic beauty products like coconut oil, you might be interested in some of the products in our beauty box. We ship luxury organic, natural, non-toxic, and cruelty-free products to our subscribers monthly. (Full-size & deluxe-size samples).
