Does anyone else LOVE coconut oil?! When I first discovered it I quickly fell in love with it, but I actually had no idea of just how many different ways you can use it and how many incredible benefits it has! It’s one of the things I always make sure we keep in our home and I use it almost everyday in my personal skincare routine.
Coconut oil has so many amazing benefits! It contains a combination of fatty acids that, according to studies, can have great effects on your health, such as assisting with fat loss, your heart health, and brain function. Coconut oil is also amazing for your skin! Some reasons for this include the fact that it is so moisturizing and contains anti-bacterial properties and can help to reduce wrinkles, as well as containing anti-inflammatory properties that gives it the ability to help in treating acne, which is a super common inflammatory condition.
I remember when I bought my very first jar of it – my youngest son had a bad case of nappy rash and nothing seemed to be helping, so I started looking for a natural alternative. I read online that coconut oil was good for helping with nappy rash, so off I went to buy some, and I remember being so impressed with how well and how quickly it helped his skin improve even after just one application of it!
As the years have gone by, I have discovered that there are so many uses for this amazing oil and I have switched from using a whole lot of other products and opted for using coconut oil instead of a lot of those other things in my everyday routine now.
Here are some ways you can use coconut oil for your beauty & skincare needs:
- Cracked/dry lips – due to its moisturising effects, you can use it as a lip balm to help restore moisture.
- Pre-hair colouring treatment/protectant – before dyeing your hair, lather it with coconut oil! My hair always feels significantly more moisturised and healthier after dyeing it when I apply coconut oil first. You don’t even need to rinse it out before applying the dye – just put the dye in straight over the oil.
- Sunburn relief – apply to sunburn for relief
- Makeup remover – you can use it as a makeup remover! Note: it may cause some peoples skin to break out (it has never caused mine to) so tread with caution to start with
- Oil pulling – swish it around in your mouth for a few minutes. This helps to reduce harmful bacteria in your mouth, can reduce plaque and gingivitis, helps improve gum and dental health and prevents bad breath
- Cracked/dry heels – hydrates and promotes healing
- Tame frizz – apply a tiny bit on frizzy parts of hair
- Hydrate dry hands
- Use it as a shaving cream alternative!
- Hydrate dry nail cuticles
- Psoriasis relief – Add a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil to a warm bath to relieve itchy, scaly skin
- Soothe eczema – a study found that people with eczema who applied virgin coconut oil to the skin twice a day experienced a reduction in irritations on the skin due to scratching
- Remove long-stay lip stick/lip tint – rub onto lipstick/lip tint to remove!
- Bath Oil – add a cup of Epsom salts and 2 tablespoons to a warm bath to moisturise your skin
- Home-made body scrub – mix 1/2 a cup of organic sugar with 1/2 a cup of melted coconut oil (you can also add a couple of drops of lavender oil for a relaxing, calming effect) and massage it into your skin in the shower. It’s great for any dry patches on your knees or the backs of your elbows!
- Itch/bug bite relief – apply to bug bites/itches for relief
- Cold sores – apply on a cold sore regularly to stop it from reproducing (it will also relieve pain)
- Reduce dandruff – massage into roots of hair, let it sit for a few minutes and then shampoo
- Hydrating hair mask – apply to hair and leave in overnight before washing with shampoo
- Acne – coconut oil contains properties that can kill acne-causing bacteria and also properties that help get rid of pimples, and may help to reduce scarring
- Scarring & stretch marks – studies show that coconut oil may reduce the appearance of scarring and stretch marks
- Sunscreen – One study that was done also showed that it may work as a weak sunscreen! It blocked approximately 20% of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays when applied!
Most skincare products contain a lot of chemicals and toxins and can be harmful to your health, so the fact that coconut oil is completely natural makes it a powerhouse you can add into your daily routine. When choosing a coconut oil, make sure you choose an organic, virgin coconut oil so that you know it has not been refined. Have fun trying these coconut oil beauty hacks!