Coconut oil is an immensely popular oil. It is easily available, and it isn’t overly expensive as well. It is loaded with antioxidants and a whole lot of goodness with a beautiful, calming scent.
Although it is found easily in our houses, little are we aware of how much more beneficial this magical oil is than just being a great moisturizer. It comes in handy for a LOT of different stuff. Check out these Top 15 uses of Coconut Oil to know-how!
Top 15 Uses Of Coconut Oil To Simplify Your Life
1. For Your Scalp
Coconut oil has the ability to deeply nourish and rejuvenate the scalp. It treats problems such as dandruff. Mixing camphor, lemon juice, or just some drops of tea tree oil with warm coconut oil is a simple & effective way to combat dandruff. Also, another annoying issue related to the scalp, lice, can also be effectively treated using coconut oil. You can simply apply coconut oil on your scalp, and cover your head with a shower cap or towel for a few hours. This’ll suffocate the lice and you can easily comb them out with a nit comb.
2. For Your Hair
With contents like fatty acids, coconut oil makes hair super soft by acting as a conditioner. It also helps to repair and nourish damaged, dry, and rough hair. It conditions the hair and protects them as well, by locking the moisture in. It also prevents the protein loss of hair, thereby strengthening them. Applying warm coconut oil from roots to ends for a few hours before shampooing does wonders for your hair. It is also a part of the hair care routine. Taming frizzy hair is another one of its useful advantages.
3. For Your Eye Area
Coconut oil can be used as an eye cream as well. Gently massaging some oil on your eyelids does the job. It also works as an under eye cream to effectively hydrate the area. Another interesting use of organic coconut oil is for the growth of eyelashes. The vitamin E present in coconut oil promotes the growth of eyelashes making them voluminous and also strengthening them.
4. For Your Face
Coconut oil can be used for the face in more ways than one. It is a very reliable moisturizer, especially for people with very dry, flaky skin. It acts as a very good moisturizer to get smooth, supple skin. Also, it can be used as a face scrub as well. Mixing sugar or coffee with the oil makes for a hydrating and nourishing DIY face scrub. Such exfoliators can be used once in a fortnight or a month for purifying the face.
5. For Your Lips
Chapped, flaky lips are a problem for many. And coconut oil comes to the rescue for this as well. The minerals of coconut oil effectively hydrate dry lips. Other uses for lips include using it as a lip scrub or a lip balm. A lip scrub made with coconut oil, honey, and sugar is an effective DIY lip scrub suggestion. Your regular lip balm can also be replaced with a DIY lip balm made using coconut oil, olive oil, and some honey.
6. As A Make-up Remover
You read that right. Coconut oil act as a fabulous make-up remover; it is a lesser-known use of this magical oil. Be it black smoky eyes, matte lips, waterproof mascara, or HD foundation – coconut oil can easily remove all that heavy makeup in a matter of seconds. It’s a very inexpensive replacement for your regular makeup remover. Gently remove the makeup with the help of a cotton ball dipped in the oil, and then remove the excess oil with a wipe. A splash of warm water after that, and you’re done.
7. For Your Dental Health
It has amazingly good results in terms of oral and dental care. Organic coconut oil can be rubbed all over the gums after brushing teeth: to fight gum disease, and strengthen the gums. The next use is ‘Oil pulling’ which refers to swishing oil in the mouth for several minutes as an oral care routine. Coconut oil pulling is very useful to kill harmful bacteria in the mouth, prevent tooth decay, reduce bad breath, etc. It is like a process of oral detoxification with numerous benefits. Lastly, one can even use this oil mixed with equal part baking soda as a DIY toothpaste.
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8. For Your Skin
Coconut oil is great for your overall skin and not just the face. One of the best ways to use it for your body is to take some oil in the palm of your hands, rub and apply on your body after a shower, and rinse it off with water. You can be assured of how the right amount of moisture will be absorbed in your skin. And your skin won’t even feel too greasy.
9. For Your Feet
Coconut oil can also serve as an extremely good solution for hardened, cracked heels. Cracked heels are a problem not just in winters, but even generally for some people. In this scenario, instead of spending a lot on heel repair creams, you can totally trust this oil to soothe this problem. An easy way to do this is to wash your feet in warm water, pat dry and then apply some oil all over the heels, wear a pair of socks and let them be overnight.
10. For Facial Skin Problems
‘Organic virgin coconut oil’ can work well to combat facial skin conditions such as acne, since it contains a whole lot of antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, capable of killing bacteria, fungi, etc. causing acne and breakouts. You can mix fresh Aloe Vera gel with coconut oil, apply it on the skin and then wash it off with warm water. It can also reduce the appearance of wrinkles, as it boosts collagen production and helps regenerate cells. Also, lightening dark circles is an additional benefit of using this oil.
(Note: It is advisable to consult a dermatologist, or try a patch test to determine whether the oil suits your skin or not.)
11. For Other Skin Conditions
To your utter surprise, coconut oil can also be used to heal wounds, burns, rashes, mosquito bites, etc. Since it has anti-inflammatory effects, it is capable of soothing and calming various such skin irritations. The dryness of the skin is well treated with this oil. Apparently, it can also reduce symptoms of eczema, psoriasis, etc. All in all, this oil acts as an antifungal cream to soothe various skin conditions.
12. As A Massage Oil
Coconut oil can be used to effectively massaging the body. Massages are very beneficial in terms of increasing blood circulation, relaxing muscles, relieving pains, and rejuvenating the skin. And for problems like Arthritis (joint pains), coconut oil can be used to better the issue. This is possible due to its contents, which reduce inflammation, pain, and increase oxygen supply in the skin along with providing necessary lubrication.
13. For Cooking
Coconut oil is one of the oils used for cooking. It is a good substitute for butter in baked stuff. A lot of times, it is also used as an alternative for butter to make popcorn. Sometimes, it can also be used to sauté veggies or for frying for certain recipes. Although the use of coconut oil in cooking is somewhat controversial, you can always trust a health expert or nutritionist to guide you about it, based on your personal health.
14. For Babies
For babies, organic coconut oil can be used in more than one way. It can be used as a rash cream, massage oil, and baby lotion. It is definitely inexpensive and much safer than chemical-infused stuff found in stores. The trick is to apply a thin layer of extra virgin coconut oil over the affected areas as a lotion or in the treatment of rash. And for massages, mix equal parts coconut oil and olive oil.
15. For Your Home!
Coconut oil can be used for stuff around your home as well! You can mix equal quantities of baking soda and coconut oil in order to make a natural, DIY stain remover. Be it a stain on your new carpet or some upholstery, this mix is sure to help. And another interesting use is to polish your wooden furniture! Just make a mix of liquid coconut oil, white vinegar, some lemon juice, and your homemade polish is ready to spray.
(Bonus: You can unjam any zipper with coconut oil. And even add it to your candles for a better scent, and to make them last longer).
So these were The Top 15 uses of Coconut Oil. Now you know how this simple kitchen ingredient has tons of applications and benefits. Now it’s up to you, how you want to make it work for you.
Note: Application on skin or intake as food should always be with organic, virgin versions of coconut oil as they’re unrefined and free from chemicals. Also, getting confirmation by an expert in the respective field is always advisable.
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