The health and beauty benefits of coconut oil are immense. Lauric acid is abundant in coconut oil, which accounts for most of the advantages it bestows. Lauric acid is a saturated fatty acid with antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory characteristics [1].
Coconut oil is also considered to be a superfood (a nutrient-rich food that distinctly boosts overall health and wellness), providing benefits when ingested as well as when used topically.
Coconut oil is a versatile component that can serve a multitude of purposes when integrated into your health and beauty regime.
Here are six uses for coconut oil in your health and beauty routine:
Table of Contents
Hair Care
- Coconut oil, unlike most other natural vegetable and mineral oils, can penetrate your hair shaft to strengthen your hair and restore its lustre [2]. Deep condition your hair by using coconut oil as a leave-in treatment. Massage coconut oil into your dry hair, wrap it up in a towel or shower cap and leave it on overnight. (If you can’t do it overnight, just a few hours will work too.) Add a beaten raw egg for additional protein benefits. Shampoo and condition as normal and observe how soft and shiny your hair is.
- Smooth a pea-sized amount of coconut oil through dry, styled hair (or just smooth over the surface of your hair if it is straight) to add sheen and tame frizz and static.
- Massage coconut oil into your scalp and the roots of your hair to relieve dry itchy scalp and eliminate dandruff.
- Coconut oil may help prevent premature graying due to suppressed melanin production.
- Coconut oil provides a barrier that protects your hair from damage caused by chlorine, the sun, and heat-styling.
Skin Cleansing
- When mixed with rose water and a mild liquid cleanser, coconut oil creates a moisturizing body wash full of non-drying natural fragrance.
- Add sugar or sea salt, honey, and/or lemon juice to coconut oil to create an exfoliating body scrub.
- When applied to areas of the body prone to bacteria growth and odor (such as armpits or feet), coconut oil’s microbial properties can serve as a deodorant as well as emit a lovely coconut scent dispersed via the natural heat generated by your body.
Skin Moisturizing
- One of the most popular uses of coconut oil is as a direct skin moisturizer. To enhance the effects, slather your skin with coconut oil and wrap yourself up in a heated towel. Or, smooth coconut oil onto your still-wet skin after bathing. Coconut oil not only moisturizes your skin, but it also creates a barrier that allows you to better retain your skin’s inherent hydration.
- Use coconut oil as a substitute for shaving gel/cream and as an after-shave moisturizer.
- Apply coconut oil as an after-sun skin reliever.
Cosmetic: Makeup Application and Removal
- Use coconut oil as a highlighter. Highlighter is sold as a separate makeup item that can be replaced with coconut oil. It is applied along the high end of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, mid-forehead, and mid-chin. Sweep coconut oil over your makeup in these areas to achieve a radiant, glowing effect. Coconut oil is already a base component of many highlighters on the market.
- Coconut oil makes a wonderful natural lip balm and lip gloss. It soothes chapped lips and provides a beautiful shine when used alone or over lip color.
- Coconut oil is a gentle makeup remover that will even remove waterproof mascara without excessive rubbing. It will also condition bare eyelashes to elevate their growth and pigmentation.
- Coconut oil is a great first step for cleaning your makeup brushes. Saturating your brushes with coconut oil prior to washing them with soap and water breaks down residue on the brushes and allows for more thorough cleansing.
Hands and Feet
- Coconut oil is an effective means of treating cracked, dry cuticles on your fingernails and toenails.
- Hand and foot moisturization work similarly to that of the rest of your body. Apply coconut oil to your hands or feet and wear gloves or socks for a few hours. Remove and observe the results: smooth, soft skin and relief from dry, cracked heels and knuckles.
- Soothe aching feet by soaking them in a warm-water foot bath containing dissolved coconut oil. (This bath mixture works for your entire body as well.) Feel free to incorporate other elements such as shea butter, eucalyptus oil, or lavender.
Healing and Overall Wellness
- The antibacterial properties of coconut oil and its ability to seal moisture into your skin by creating an effective barrier can relieve the painful, relentless itch of eczema and other allergic skin conditions [3 [4].
- Coconut oil forms a barrier layer that shields cuts, scrapes, and superficial wounds from external contaminants. Collagen production also stimulates skin healing and reduces the incidence of scarring. Applying coconut oil to minor skin abrasions speeds healing and protects from infection [5].
- When you have a cold or respiratory infection, a little coconut oil inside your nose or directly beneath it can help relieve nasal congestion, runny nose, and dry, inflamed nostrils.
Integrate coconut oil into your beauty regime today to reap the plethora of health and beauty benefits provided by this supercharged organic substance!
Resources
[1] Natural Oils for Skin-Barrier Repair: Ancient Compounds Now Backed by Modern Science (opens in a new tab)
[2] Effect of mineral oil, sunflower oil, and coconut oil on prevention of hair damage (opens in a new tab)
[3] Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils (opens in a new tab)
[4] In vitro anti-inflammatory and skin protective properties of Virgin coconut oil (opens in a new tab)
[5] Vegetable butters and oils in skin wound healing: Scientific evidence for new opportunities in dermatology (opens in a new tab)