Since Coconut Oil has not only been a favorite culinary product but also an amazing alternative to many traditional cosmetic choices, there’s no surprise it takes the spot as one of the top products on our online shop. So we decided to ask some of its fans what they use it for. In-depth. Here is the key coconut oil uses.
But first, let’s go over the essentials of coconut oil:
What is coconut oil and how is it made exactly?
The oil is extracted from the meaty inner part of the coconut called copra. To get high-quality unprocessed and unbleached coconut oil the process of extraction involves careful drying, shredding, and cold-pressing of the copra.
And just to be sure you’re always getting a good high-quality product always look for organic-certified and raw coconut oil. If it’s been processed it has already lost its nutritional qualities like enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. Coconut oil in its raw form is a powerful antioxidant that can help shield the immune system, lower the risk of heart disease and inflammation.
But these are not nearly all coconut oil uses…
How to use coconut oil?
Raw desserts, pastries, and even savory dishes made with raw coconut oil get the delicate but distinctive coconut fragrance and so can your skin!
In lower temperatures during winter or if you keep your jar of oil in the fridge, it hardens quite a lot. And in-room temperature, especially during warmer months it becomes creamier even liquid-like. Once it has melted it can always go back to its firm state and vice versa. You can also try to rub coconut oil between your palms and you will notice it starting to melt right away. This is perfect use in homemade cosmetic recipes or just as it is as a body lotion.
Here is what we gathered on the use of coconut oil uses as an alternative to store-bought cosmetics from its regular users:
1. Perfect as an eye contour cream.
It hydrates the eye area and helps to prevent fine lines.
2. You can use coconut oil as an overnight face serum.
Keep in mind it is quite rich and moisturizes surprisingly well if you use it on your face right before bed.
3. Turns out you can completely switch out your body lotion.
Coconut oil hydrates well and leaves a velvety soft feel. You can also use it on wet skin right out of the shower.
4. Excellent in bringing back moisture to the skin.
Which in turn improves elasticity and can stimulate collagen production if used regularly. This helps fight stretch marks especially during pregnancy and post-partum.
5. Your hydration savior if you epilate or wax,
which is some of the worst offenders when it comes to dry skin.
6. Coconut oil combined with a few drops of lavender essential oil is a natural insect repellent.
7. You can make a great hair mask for dry and brittle hair.
All you need for it is 2 to 4 tablespoons of the oil, depending on how long and thick your hair is and a couple of drops of bergamot essential oil (or any other oil which benefits the scalp and hair). Mix the two ingredients together and leave them on for a few hours or even overnight. To easily wash out the mask try adding a teaspoon of baking soda to your shampoo. Then mix some apple cider vinegar with the water in a 1:3 ratio. The result is silky soft hair with an amazing scent.
8. Swapping out your hair oil for a tiny bit of pure coconut one is great for your tips right after washing when your hair is still wet.
It makes your hairbrush glide through any tangles and leaves it smelling really good all day.
9. Coconut oil is greatly used as therapy oil for dry and cracked skin on your hands in the winter months.
Lather on a generous amount on your hands and put on some mittens for an at-home spa hand therapy.
10. Expensive body scrubs can be entirely replaced by a homemade coconut-scented scrub.
Mix coconut oil with Himalayan salt or with coffee grounds, some brown sugar, and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Use it in the shower and you don’t even need to apply a lotion after!
11. Rubbed on your gums and teeth daily it has an antimicrobial effect and balances out the PH levels in your mouth.
12. Coconut scented after-sun lotion.
You can mix it up at home with just a few ingredients. Perfect for getting moisture back into your skin after a day in the sun.
What you’ll need for your after sun lotion are a few simple ingredients:
- 100ml coconut oil – raw – this is our main moisturizing ingredient, it also has very mild SPF protection
- 30g cacao butter – helps the skin get a nice and healthy bronzy tan
- 20ml sesame oil – protects the skin of free radicals and has mild SPF protection
- A few drops of your favourite essential oil
- A 150ml jar for the ready product
Method: Melt the coconut and cacao butters in a water bath, add the sesame oil and essential oil. Mix well and pour into the jar. Keep in the fridge until ready to use.
*We highly recommend using a high SPF product before using the after-sun lotion. It does not protect from UV rays.
You might be skeptical of the idea that a single jar of coconut oil actually has so many uses. But a lot of its repeat customers start out with just a tiny jar and move on to the largest one because it saves them money, effort, and the most important of all – swaps out huge ingredient lists on commercial beauty products with just one.
If you’re a fan of coconut oil you might have some other ideas on how to incorporate it into your daily beauty and hygiene routine.
Care to share them with us? Feel free to comment below or message us with your creative ideas, we would love to hear them!
