Hello! One of our favorite beauty "secrets" is coconut oil. After using coconut oil for the past two years, we feel pretty safe in recommending this to readers. There are a variety of uses for each part of your body so we are breaking up this post into sections. We also want to say that depending on your brand of coconut oil, the smell varies. Some are very fragrant and some people may not like that. The one from the Whole Foods brand is an example of one that possesses a strong coconut smell. Another brand that I have tried is Trader Joe's which has a more subtle smell. The best part of coconut oil? No harmful chemicals.
BODY
- Moisturizer: Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer, meaning it will soften your skin in general, including your arms and legs. However, coconut oil is really good for those rough patches on your skin that need some extra lovin', like your elbows. While you may feel oily for a minute or two, coconut oil quickly absorbs into your skin and does not leave any residue behind.
- Sunburn Relief: Coconut oil places a cooling sensation on your skin in general. If you don't have any aloe or aloe gel around, coconut oil will also soothe burning skin.
- Diminishes Scars and Stretchmarks: Because of the way coconut oil tightens the skin, using coconut oil over a long term period can reduce the appearance of scars and stretchmarks.
- Massage Oil: Coconut oil is a great (and cheaper) alternative to massage oils! The best thing about it is that it will absorb into the skin afterwards and won't make whoever you are massaging feel sticky.
- Body Scrub: To get the best of both worlds for your body, mixing coconut oil with sugar(white or brown) can soften, moisturizer and exfoliate your body. I mix coconut oil and sugar in a small container for one time use, but there are many recipes online to make a whole container of it.
- Eye Makeup Remover: Coconut oil washes away makeup instantly around the eyes. Using a cotton ball and dipping it in some coconut oil is the easiest way for me personally. Please be careful to not get the oil directly in your eyes. (Some people believe that using coconut oil under your eyes can tighten the skin and remove dark circles, but I have personally not recorded a difference).
- Oil Pulling: Oil Pulling is known for "pulling" toxins out of your body through swishing oil in your mouth. Coconut oil is safe to eat(actually it is known to possess a variety of benefits) so there is no risk if you eat some. People use it as butter and to cook a variety of foods. However, the oil that you use to swish should be spit out afterward and not ingested! People swish it from 5 to 20 minutes. The process may feel really weird when you are starting. However, it is believed to reduce the amount of toxins in your mouth and lessens gum diseases.
HANDS AND FEET
- Softens feet: As coconut oil is a natural moisturizer, it is really good for your feet (especially in the summer!) After a shower, I like to put it on my feet, let it dry a bit and then put on socks. This locks the moisture in. Honestly, after a day of walking, especially if you are wearing sandals or heels all day, this is a really easy way to soften your feet back up.
- Cuticles: Once again, coconut oil moisturizes. After a diy manicure, moisturizing with some coconut oil can really treat your cuticles.
HAIR
- Defrizzer: Using a tiny bit of coconut oil in your hair will instantly defrizz and tame any flyaways. But when I say a tiny bit, I mean a TINY bit because this stuff can really grease your hair up if you are not careful with it...which brings me to my last use of coconut oil.....
- Hair Treatment: This might just be the most popular use of coconut oil. Many natural hair products actually contain coconut oil because it literally releases moisture into your hair. I do this maybe once every two months, but especially in the winter when the air is dry. I take about a handful of coconut oil and run it from my roots to about the middle of my hair. Then I pin it up and let it sit for around 30 minutes. Don't do this if you plan on going outside. You will look like a greaseball. However, after your 30 minutes, when you wash out the coconut oil, your scalp will be completely moisturized and you shouldn't have any dandruff or dry hair. Your hair should feel softer.
Buying one jar of coconut oil can potentially save you from buying a variety of other products. No chemicals and it is safer for the environment. One jar varies from around $6-14 depending on the brand and if it is USDA organic or not. Mine is $10 and lasts me almost 5 months. There is also a little bit of controversy over what kind is best for your skin and for cooking, depending on how it is made. For example, mine is expeller pressed. However, I really like mine and I like how it moisturizes. It is not grainy.
These are all of the uses that I have tried and used with coconut oil. There are even more uses of coconut oil out there but I didn't want to include anything that Sarah or I have not tried. Feel free to comment or post below if you decide to use it!
xo
Sophia
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