One of the first things I learned about when starting this clean beauty products journey was how many ways you can use coconut oil. My face creams/soaps/moisturizer were the first products I looked to swap out immediately after learning what harmful chemicals were in them. I personally use coconut oil in every way I mention below; however, I just started doing number 8 (drinking it) when I find that I haven’t used coconut oil to cook in some time. It has been such a game changer and huge money saver!! I replaced my body lotions, face moisturizer, hair oil and lip balm with coconut oil. It didn’t happen overnight, I swapped one thing out at a time and tested it out for two months before deciding if it was for me. Also, I use organic unrefined coconut oil from the grocery store! (It’s the best option!)
Quick tip in case you’ve never used coconut oil before. When it’s cold it solidifies so you’ll want to scoop some in your hands and rub together to help it melt then apply to the desired areas. If using after a shower during the colder months, I usually put my jar of coconut oil on the heater so that it starts to melt and is warmed for after my shower.
Okay, let’s get into it!
- Skin (body) moisturizer– improves appearance of skin and may heal stretch marks. Replace your regular body lotion with this for after the shower moisturizing.
- Face care treatment- under eye care, dark circles, and wrinkles around eyes and mouth can be treated using raw coconut oil. Great face moisturizer but be careful with your pores. Use judgment; if your skin seems dry then go crazy. Apply the coconut oil and let it bake on your skin. Dap off excess with a tissue. However, if your skin is on the oily side, then skip a day or two. Coconut oil has also been known to prevent acne and help with acne scars, but it also known to clog pores when overused in excess. Be the judge of your skin here 🙂
- Lashes– If you’re looking to grow your natural lashes then pause on getting anything major like lash extensions. Get yourself a clean, soft eyelash brush and some coconut oil. Brush daily and apply coconut oil 2-3 times a week. Be sure to wash your lashes between uses!! Best tip is to wash your lashes when you’re doing your daily skin care routine or rinsing your face before bed.
- Cooking– coconut oil is a much healthier alternative to the average person’s butter, canola oil, olive oil, etc. Fry, saute, and bake with this stuff. It may add a flavor to your food. Some people love it, some don’t. My suggestion is to start with a little at first.
- Hair oil for styling– If you have curly or wavy hair, after you wash and apply your cream(s) & gel/mousse, use some coconut oil to lock in the moisture into your hair. This is perfect for hair that’s on the dry side. Use ‘praying hands’ technique and scrunches to apply to your hair.
- DIY hair masks– Warm up some coconut oil in the microwave for 10-15 seconds (be careful!!! Not too hot. It is oil after all) and massage it into your scalp and work your way to the roots of your hair. Wrap your hair up for 20-30 minutes then wash it out in the shower and continue with your normal wash day routine. It will add some much-needed moisture and shine!
- Lip balm– Out of chapstick or lip gloss? Reach for your nearest organic unrefined coconut oil from nearly every grocery store and apply some as you would your regular lip balm. Super glossy and lightweight, coconut oil is the perfect alternative to these chemical-filled chapsticks on store shelves that actually dry out your lips so that you have to apply more. We don’t have time for that!!
- Drink/eat to reduce belly fat and increase metabolism– First things first, as for everything on this planet, consume in moderation!!! If coconut oil is eaten in large amounts, it could actually do the opposite of what you are trying to achieve and actually cause health issues. So please be mindful of how much you are consuming especially if you are already at risk of things like heart disease. If you don’t like the flavor of cooking with coconut oil you can drink a tablespoon of coconut oil in warm water once a day if you cannot find any other way to get coconut oil into your diet.
- Sunburn relief– forget to put enough SPF while outdoors and now you’re dealing with a painful sunburn. Been there! I got two options for you- reach for the nearest coconut oil and apply it all over or use raw egg whites and apply that all over your sunburn. Fun fact, raw egg whites have collagen in them similar to human collagen. The stuff we need to keep our skin looking young and clear.
- Natural deodorant– Now that everyone is becoming more aware of the harmful chemicals in our everyday products like toothpaste and deodorants, people are getting creative with what they are using to replace these harmful products. (btw- yes you can make homemade toothpaste with coconut oil). The biggest thing is the chemicals in women’s deodorants that cause breast cancer and other illnesses. Many women are turning to are looking for more natural options but they are also finding that these natural options don’t leave them smelling so great after a day’s use. This trick may work for some and not for others, but it won’t hurt to try!! Apply some coconut oil to your pits to help with the odor you may get with natural deodorant alternatives. See how it goes!
Here’s my list of all the ways you can use coconut oil at home! I wanted to keep it short and sweet and straight to the point. So I hope this was beneficial to you in some way! If you already use coconut oil or decide to try it out, let’s chat in the comments!
xo, J
Strength Scripted 