Would you believe it if I told you I have just jumped on the coconut oil bandwagon in the last year? Its true until returning from a girls’ getaway weekend with some of my friends last summer, I had no idea that this yummy and useful oil was something I would grow to use so much. After buying my first jar of coconut oil at the grocery store I dove into Pinterest to learn about what other moms were using coconut oil for in their homes. While it has a myriad of uses around my house, today I am focusing on my five favorite beauty uses for coconut oil.
5. Yummy Lip Scrub
I love to use a lip scrub twice a week to remove all the dead skin that clumps my lipstick and looks dry. Over the years I used exfoliators from the drug store. However, after discovering the uses for coconut oil I started making my own lip scrub with equal parts sugar and coconut oil with a bit of honey mixed in to smooth out the product. Now, I am no dermatologist so I cannot speak to the benefits of using coconut oil, or any product in your beauty routine. What I will say is that making the exfoliator was super fun and it removes dead skin easily with out a chemical or soapy scent. As you can probably imagine this coconut oil exfoliator tastes great. I stuff empty Altoid mint tins with the exfoliator balm for easy storage and pack ability when I am on the go.
4. Eye Makeup Remover
Coconut oil is an excellent eye makeup remover for my eyeliner, eye shadow and mascara. I have never tried removing waterproof mascara with coconut oil, but have a hunch it would work well for that purpose too. I love that I am nourishing the delicate skin around my eyes while removing makeup at the end of each day and not parching the skin of nutrients with a makeup removal chemical.
3. Intensive Hand Cream
Call me crazy, but I never considered how great using raw oil like coconut oil was to heal parched skin. Of course we know that coconut oil is great for daily moisturizing but it’s also an awesome fix for skin problems like windburn and chapped hands. I always struggle with dry cracking heals in the summer due to sandal wear. Slathering on a hefty clump of coconut oil and relaxing in some socks is a great remedy for cracked heels. I also keep a little jar of coconut oil on my desk at work to ward off dry hands and split fingertips. I love that moisturizing with coconut oil is cheap, easy and pretty unscented. No one likes smelling strongly perfumed after a day of reapplying hand cream in the winter.
2. Frizz Control
That’s right folks, I even put coconut oil in my hair. As a brunette with course, dry hair coconut oil is a cheap and easy way for me to tame frizz when I’m on the go, or to use for a more intensive conditioning treatment at home before a wash. The coconut oil holder on my desk at work serves as a great quick way to tame flyways before a meeting. When curling my hair I scrunch coconut oil into my locks to amp up the curl and increase the moisture. At least monthly, I use a lot of coconut oil to nourish my hair in a mask treatment. The mask treatment is super easy and just involves applying the oil root to tip, wrapping my head in a shower cap and allowing the oil to penetrate between half an hour and an hour. Those with oiler hair may choose to steer clear of applying oil directly to their roots. After finishing the treatment, wash and style your hair as usual.
1. Relax in a Bath
Adding coconut oil to a hot bath can go a long way to amp up the moisture level in your skin and the relaxation level of the bath. Enjoying a hot bath with a bath bomb, bath salts or bubbles along with one-third cup of coconut oil will leave you smelling lovely and admiring your smooth skin. Coconut oil is thought by many to have anti-aging properties that improve skin, leaving it feeling nourished and looking more youthful. While I cannot prove this to be true, I can attest to the fun, affordable and useful ways to use coconut oil in your beauty routine.
