We all know coconut oil is one of the healthiest cooking oils out there. But did you know there are lots of other uses for coconut oil aside from just cooking?
When it comes to a Paleo lifestyle you know you’ll see coconut oil used over and over again in recipes. That’s because organic cold-pressed coconut oil has been far less processed than most other oils you will find at the grocery store. But the amazing benefits of coconut oil go far beyond just cooking. Did you know that coconut oil is also great for cleaning?! Or that it’s a fantastic beauty product? Or that it can also keep your pets healthy?
Well, my friends, coconut oil does all that and then some. Coconut oil’s little secret is that it contains lauric acid. Coconut oil is made up of almost 50% lauric acid, a medium-chain triglyceride which is easily absorbed by the body. Lauric acid also has fantastic antibacterial properties as well as antiviral and antifungal properties. These combined properties make coconut oil an amazing cleaning agent and beauty product as well.
10 Uses for Coconut Oil Besides Cooking
Beauty Uses for Coconut Oil
1. Moisturize your Skin
Use coconut oil just as you would any moisturizer and your skin will feel moisturized all day long. Use a small amount of coconut oil (a little goes a long way!) and apply it anywhere on your body for hydrated skin. At first you may seem a bit greasy, but don’t worry, it absorbs into your skin quickly.
2. Enjoy a Relaxing Moisturizing Bath
Adding a spoonful of coconut oil will not only help moisturize your skin but will also add some relaxation. The light tropical scent of coconut oil is also great for aromatherapy.
3. Smooth out your Skin
Mix coconut with equal parts regular sugar and you’ll have a perfect DIY body scrub. Next time you shower, buff and exfoliate your skin and rinse off for super smooth and moisturized skin (just be careful – the tub floor will get slippery!)
4. Care for your Cuticles
Moisturize dry, flaky cuticles by rubbing coconut oil into your nail beds. The oils will also help your nails stay moisturized for stronger, more beautiful nails.
5. Fight Frizz & Fly-aways
The best way to apply this without looking like a total grease-ball is to rub a TINY amount of coconut oil in your hands (as if you were applying hand lotion) and use the leftover on your ends. Start at the ends of your hair to protect from split ends and then work your way up if necessary. (Again – a little goes a very long way here!)
6. Deep Condition your Locks
By now you see how moisturizing coconut oil is, which makes it the perfect all-natural deep conditioner for your hair as well. Coconut oil’s fatty acids will penetrate deep into your strands to moisturize and soften them. Mix up an at-home coconut oil & honey hair mask and smooth it through your hair, let it sit for 30 minutes or so, and wash hair as normal.
7. Make Up Remover
Coconut oil makes taking off heavy and difficult-to-remove make up a cinch. Rub a small amount of coconut oil onto a cotton ball and gently dab your eyes and skin with the oil. Gently wipe the coconut oil off with a wet washcloth and wash face normally. Yes, this even works with WATERPROOF mascara!
8. Improve Acne
Now, it may seem counterintuitive to rub an oil all over your face when you have acne, however, the lauric acid in coconut oil comes to the rescue again. Coconut oil can help inflammation and redness related to acne. It will also help moisturize your skin instead of over-drying it (as most store-bought products will – making your body produce even more oil, snowballing the acne effect). Cleanse your face regularly, apply a very small amount on your face and allow it to soak in.
9. Help Reduce Wrinkles
Coconut oil is also rich in antioxidants which help protect against free radical damage, a leading cause of early aging. Coconut oil can help reduce and prevent wrinkles, especially around the eyes. Massage, or dab, a small amount of coconut oil on your skin or around your eyes before going to sleep each night to help ward off wrinkles.
10. Improve Scalp Health
Massage coconut oil into your scalp to fight dandruff. The coconut oil will help moisturize and fight the root cause of dandruff – fungus.
