Years ago, if someone would have told me that there was one product that would single handidly solve dozens of health and beauty woes, chances are I wouldn’t have believed them. I mean, one product that you can use to cook, moisturize your hair, remove makeup, and hydrate your skin – really? Doesn’t that sound too good to be true? Well, this secret weapon does exit and it’s 100% natural unlike all the fancy beauty and cooking products out there. This little miracle is none other than, coconut oil.
If you’re a Pinterest guru like me, chances are you’ve read about the many benefits of this natural wonder. Despite all the praise, it never occurred to me to give it a try until several months ago when a pricey serum left my face irritated and dry. One evening in desperation I walked to our pantry, and standing their in my PJ’s I generously applied it all over my face and neck. The results were astounding. To my surprise I woke up the following morning feeling refreshed and hydrated. So, this got me to thinking, “What all could I replace with coconut oil?” Needless to say, coconut oil has become part of my daily routine, and today I’m sharing five ways you can incorporate it into yours…
- FACE & BODY MOISTURIZER – Coconut oil is much more hydrating than average store-bought lotions, because the oil penetrates deep layers of the skin and actually helps to strengthen underlying tissues (Huffington Post). You can certainly use it in place of your facial moisturizer, but I like to apply it under my eyes and on my lips before bedtime. For my body, I mix equal parts coconut oil and body lotion together to create an ultra hydrating cream, and I apply it right when I get out of the shower.
- MAKEUP REMOVER – One of my favorite uses for coconut oil that I learned by default is its ability to remove makeup. Before going to bed one night, I was applying it under my eyes when I began to notice a little discoloration from some extra mascara that hadn’t washed off with my face wash. Now, before washing my face, I apply a small amount to a Q-Tip and gently stroke downward on my eyes and eyelashes to remove all my makeup for the day. Tip: it’s okay if you don’t rinse it completely off afterwards, the residual oil on your lashes can actually help them grow a bit.
- HAIR MASK – Prior to my coconut oil craze I would invest hundreds of dollars in fancy conditioning treatments that would produce average results. However, I quickly discovered that just as coconut oil works wonders on your skin, it will also give your hair a silky texture and tons of shine. Once a month, I will use coconut oil as a hair mask after I’ve washed my hair. Here are my steps to doing a hair mask: 1) Simply heat up 3 to 5 tablespoons of coconut oil in the microwave, until it is a warm liquid. 2) Then apply it to your hair, concentrating on your ends. 3) Put a plastic shower cap around your head, and secure everything with a small towel. 4) Apply heat directly to the towel using a blow dryer. This allows the hair follicles to expand, and absorb more coconut oil without causing damage.
- COOKING OIL – Coconut oil is a great ingredient to have in the panty because it is one of the healthiest oils to use when cooking. Unlike animal fats and other saturated fats (butter), which is made up of triglycerides (LCT), coconut oil is made up of medium chain triglycerides (MCT). MCT’s are easier to digest, and actually help improve levels of “good” HDL cholesterol.
- ENERGY – Coconut oil is great for providing a natural energy boost. When consumed, the medium chain fatty acids in coconut oil mentioned above are sent directly to the liver and quickly converted to energy, and not body fat, speeding up our metabolism (Huffington Post). Try putting a dime size amount in your coffee tomorrow to help kick start your day!
Tip: Always buy unrefined, extra virgin coconut oil, since it goes through the least process and is closest to its natural state. For cooking, make sure your coconut oil indicates that it can stand high-heat, not just medium heat.
As always, I would love to hear your feedback. Also, if there are any fellow coconut oil users out there please share some of your tips and tricks.
xx Taylor-Rae