10 Magical Uses For Coconut Oil | I Put That Sh__ on Everything!

Confession time: I am hopelessly addicted to the smell of coconut. 

Thankfully, unlike my addiction to coffee and chocolate, this is actually a good thing. Why? Because coconut is nothing short of miraculous! If you're into healthy & organic, you're going to LOVE all the many ways you can incorporate coconut oil into your daily life! 

1) Makeup Remover - Coconut oil is GREAT for removing makeup. Take it from someone who was very skeptical about it for a very long time. I did not think it would be a good idea to rub coconut oil on my eyelids, particularly on the eyelashes. I thought it would be too greasy, or maybe it would get in my eye and sting.. (how ignorant of me, right?). But hey, I love challenges, so one day I decided to give it a try and (surprise, surprise) it worked like a miracle. Not only is coconut oil very gentle on your skin, it's actually quite a powerful cleanser. It even works on the kind of yuck stuffy that doesn't wash off easily, like waterproof mascara, or waterproof eyeliner, or particularly greasy concealer (I am looking at you Coastal Scents concealer palette). And you don't even have to wash it off afterwards, it's a great face moisturizer. 

2) Face & Body Moisturizer - It's 100% natural, it absorbs well and keeps your skin moist and glowing for a very long time. It also has some amazing anti-aging properties. Unlike commercial moisturizes, it does not contain parabens or petroleum, so you won't be rubbing any potentially harmful substances on to your skin. And did you know that store-bought moisturizers all contain lots of water? So even though you feel like you're moisturizing your skin, the effect is very short-lived; once the water in your lotion evaporates, your skin is back to being dry again. Coconut oil, on the other hand, is REALLY good for your skin. It penetrates your skin deeply, helps strengthen the underlying tissues and remove dead skin. And even though your skin is wrapped in a soft and moist blanket, it can still breathe. It can't do that with petroleum-based lotions. 

A spoonful of coconut oil is enough to moisturize your entire body.

3) Hair treatment - You can rub a teaspoon of coconut oil on to dry/split ends of your hair, or you can apply two tablespoons of it on to the entire length (kind of like a mask). If your hair gets frizzy due to too much moisture in the air, coconut oil will help you tame it. It'll make your hair smooth, shiny, healthy and smelling delicious. 

If your hair is very dry and damaged from frequent coloring and blow-drying, try this: 

Apply 2-3 tablespoons of coconut oil onto the entire length of your hair. Cover your head with a shower cap. Use your hairdryer to apply heat to your hair for 10-15 minutes (it is optional, you don't have to do that, but it'll help your hair absorb all the moisture). Leave the coconut oil in your hair for another 10-15 minutes. Wash your hair and voila! 

TIP: if you rub it into your scalp daily, coconut oil will stimulate hair growth. Works also on eyelashes! 

4) Cooking & baking ingredient - Coconut oil has a very high smoke point, which means that if you use it for cooking (stir-frying) or baking, it won't produce any harmful (carcinogenic) substances. It's also healthier than most of the other oils and it makes for a fantastic alternative to butter. Love baking? Try using coconut oil instead of regular oil/butter! Add a little bit of it to your favorite home-made curry (it's DELISH!), or put a spoonful on your pancakes. You'll fall in love! I have also heard that some people add coconut oil to their coffee as a creamer, though I have not tried that myself. 

5) Treating skin diseases - Your skin is so dry it's cracking and bleeding? Struggling with eczema? Picked up a foot fungi at the pool? Coconut oil will help you with all that. When used regularly, it will also treat acne. 

If your kid ever picks up lice at school, you can use it to get rid of them. Soak hair in coconut oil, put a shower cap over your child's hair and leave on for a couple hours. Lice can't survive in a greasy environment. 

6) Pregnant? Use it to prevent stretch marks. It will also help you get rid of cellulite. Mix a spoonful with ginger tea to treat heartburn and nausea. 

7) For the baby - You can use it as a daily lotion, to get rid of the cradle cap (just massage onto baby's scalp, rub for a couple minutes and rinse with warm water), and to prevent/treat diaper rash. If you're nursing, you can also apply it onto your nipples - it will soothe the irritation and it's also good for your baby! 

8) Health benefits - Boy, where do I even begin?! Coconut oil has antibacterial properties, some go as far as to say it will even treat yeast infection. It increases absorption of magnesium and calcium. It also increases digestion and boosts absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which helps improve cholesterol levels. The fatty acids in coconut oil are turned into ketones and can help reduce seizures. The same fatty acids can also improve brain function, even in patients with Alzheimers disease. Coconut oil can also increase your energy expenditure, and therefore, help you burn calories/fat. 

9) Teeth & gums - Ever heard of oil pulling? It's basically using coconut oil as mouthwash. You put a spoonful of coconut oil in your mouth and swish it around for 15-20 minutes. The way it works is really quite simple. The bacteria in your mouth can cause anything from bad breath, to bad teeth, and when you oil pull, the very same nasty bacteria gets "stuck" in the oil and then it dissolves in the liquid. Oil pulling is also good for your gums, can help with tooth ache, teeth sensitivity, and whitens your teeth. 

10) Healthy snack for your dog - Our Sheltie boy, Wilson, LOVES coconut oil. We give him a teaspoon of it daily as a treat, and it not only makes him happy, it also keeps his teeth healthy, freshens up his breath and makes his fur all shiny and healthy-looking.

One thing to keep in mind when buying coconut oil: Look for extra virgin, one that has not been bleached, deodorized and hydrogenated.