While coconut oil is very popular for those in healthy eating circles, I actually use more of it as a beauty product. Coconut oil is an effective, natural, and inexpensive alternative to many high end cosmetics and bathroom products. It’s easy to find at natural foods stores, bigger grocery stores, and online. Here are the different ways I incorporate coconut oil into my beauty routine:
Coconut Oil is My Favorite Deep Hair Conditioner
Whenever my hair needs an extra conditioning boost, I wash it as normal but skip my regular conditioner. After a towel dry it just a bit, I comb in two tablespoons of coconut oil – one tablespoon would be enough for medium length hair. I let it sit for an hour, out in the sun if possible. Then I rinse the coconut oil out very well. I love the way this coconut oil treatment leaves my hair feeling, and it smells incredible.
I Smooth My Hair With Coconut Oil
Before I discovered coconut oil, I used to smooth my oil with a very expensive balm that my hairstylist recommended. It turns out that coconut oil works just as well and costs pennies on the dollar. To smooth my hair, I simply use a tiny amount of coconut oil (maybe 1/4 a teaspoon) and comb it into my wet or dry hair completely. This trick is perfect for frizzy hair days or whenever I need an extra sleek look
Coconut Oil is the Perfect Lotion
Whenever I need a little skin moisturizing, I rub in some coconut oil. Even though this may sound like a greasy mess, my skin absorbs coconut oil perfectly (a little goes a long way), and feels less sticky or greasy than it would with regular lotion. One thing I love about this method is that it works equally well on my face or body, so it replaces two types of lotion for me. As a moisturizer, I haven’t ever used anything more effective than coconut oil. I tend to get very dry skin in the winter, and coconut oil cured that for me immediately – without any irritation or breakouts.
Coconut Oil and Sugar as a Scrub
I love to exfoliate my skin with a good scrub, and before I discovered coconut oil, the best ones were out of my price range. I now have two scrubs I make at home with coconut oil, and they work wonderfully. For a fine scrub, I use one cup white sugar and 1/2 cup coconut oil mixed together. This is a great every day scrub, especially for the face. For a coarser scrub, I use one cup of brown sugar and 1/2 cup coconut oil mixed together. This is better for weekly use to get off stubborn dry skin. My only warning is that this scrub smells so delicious – it may make you hungry to use it!
Coconut Oil is a Great Makeup Remover
I don’t wear a lot of makeup, but I do like to wear mascara that’s very waterproof and smudge proof. This is great during the day, but when it comes time to take it off at night, it’s a real pain. Even the best commercial makeup removers don’t get all my mascara off, and they tend to irritate my skin and eyes. Coconut oil is a whole different story. I simply rub it all over my face and then use a wet washcloth to wash it off. All my makeup disappears, and it leaves my skin feeling clean and soft.
