Coconut oil has always been a staple in kitchens — and for good reason. It has a subtle taste and is suitable for cooking at high temperatures. This humble ingredient also has great benefits for our bodies. It can soothe eczema, fight bacteria, prevent dandruff, and more.
Coconut oil combines healthy fats, antioxidants, and antimicrobial agents. They all help maintain our skin and hair. Let’s take a look at a few benefits of coconut oil.
Hydrates Lips
Lips need hydration during the cold season. Coconut oil is rich in antioxidants that can help chapped lips regain moisture.
Have chapped lips? Putting some lip balm on can be an instant relief. It also restores hydration to your dry skin and prevents peeling. You can even make it yourself at home its so simple; mixing it with beeswax and essential oils makes it even better!
Promotes Hair Growth
Hair growth occurs when the scalp is healthy. Coconut oil helps keep the scalp healthy because of its moisturizing and antibacterial properties.
Want to grow your tresses? Rubbing some coconut into your scalp brings it into the hair follicles. Letting it act overnight makes its effect even stronger. Just remember to wear a shower cap to protect your pillowcase.
Takes Care of Feet
Coconut oil is a wonderful oil with many benefits. It can repair and hydrate cracked heels and even effectively treat athlete’s foot.
Use this wonderful all-purpose oil with an antifungal cream to treat your affliction. Wear cotton socks throughout your treatment period to let your feet breathe.
Reduces Congestion
When the flu hits, you need help with your cough and congestion. Combining an essential oil, like peppermint or eucalyptus, with coconut oil makes a balm you can apply to your neck and chest. You can also pour coconut oil into your broth or tea to soothe a sore throat or lingering cough.
Maintains Fresh Breath
Another benefit of coconut oil is that it has the ability to maintain fresh breath and prevent infection. Coconut oil benefits from natural antimicrobial properties that can remove bacteria from your mouth.
I use coconut oil for “oil pulling,” where I swirl it in my mouth for a few minutes each morning before breakfast. Because of its antibacterial properties, coconut has soothed my gums more than once. It’s one of the best things you can do besides visiting your dentist regularly.
Cleans the Face Gently
We already know that coconut oil is high in antioxidants, which aids in regenerating our skin. However, it can also cleanse the skin, helping to massage it gently and reduce the visibility of any blemishes. I usually remove the coconut oil with wipes and put on my moisturizer for my skincare routine. You can also follow up with a mild facial cleanser.
Prevents Dandruff
Coconut oil is deeply hydrating for hair. It provides moisture to the hair shaft and restores the hair’s glow. Coconut oil is also rich in antioxidants, which help combat dandruff and reduce scalp irritation. My other go-to for dandruff prevention is olive oil. It’s just as versatile as coconut oil, yet it may be easier to find.
Makes Baths More Enjoyable
Making your own bath melts is a wonderful way to get the wonderful benefits of coconut oil and enjoy a pamper session simultaneously. Simply combine coconut oil, shea butter, and essential oils. You can add these melts to your bath and enjoy coconut oil’s refreshing, hydrating effect on your whole body.
Works as Lip Gloss
Is there anything this awesome oil can’t do? Coconut oil also helps replace commercial lip gloss. It’s shiny and rich in antioxidants. You can create a versatile lip gloss by combining coconut oil with other ingredients, like tints. It’s easy to make your own — one great example is my DIY lip gloss, which looks and feels great.
Substitutes for Shaving Cream
Did you know you could also use coconut oil to help shave your legs? It’s perfect to coat your skin. It also helps maintain skin hydration in areas you shave, which can become excessively dry and itchy. Because coconut oil has antimicrobial properties, it may also protect the skin if you nick yourself. It’s much healthier than chemical-laden commercial shaving creams.
Scrub Lips
Coconut oil is not a natural exfoliant. Mixing it with sugar and slathering it on your lips helps the sugar exfoliate them and eliminate dead skin. This is important for anyone who wants soft lips.
Its best application as an exfoliant is in a natural lip scrub. My recipe combines coconut oil with cocoa butter and white sugar. You can add a couple of drops of essential oil for an unforgettable taste.
Relieves Eczema
Eczema can be a debilitating skin condition. Making sure your skin is properly hydrated is essential. Coconut oil can help with this.
Moreover, because coconut oil is soothing for itchy, irritated skin, it’s perfect for combatting the itchiness associated with eczema. If you want to find other ingredients great for eczema, check out my DIY eczema cream recipe for more information.
Moisturizes Body
Coconut oil is also very hydrating for our skin, in general. One of its best features is that it’s not greasy, so it doesn’t leave a film on the surface of our skin.
For this reason, it may be the best skin moisturizer for all skin types. Give my raspberry oil body butter recipe a try to see how coconut oil and shea butter work wonders to nourish your skin — and smell good enough to eat.
Scrubs Skin All Over the Body
Coconut oil is also great for hydrating the skin and helps it renew itself faster. It does this by combining with salt and other abrasive ingredients. In my experience, blending coconut oil with salt cleans the skin and helps renew skin cells without causing dryness.
Treats Cuticles
I’ve always had trouble keeping my cuticles hydrated. They would dry out and cause painful and ugly hangnails. I now use coconut oil on my nails and cuticles and add aloe vera to treat hangnails that may still occur. Coconut oil speeds up healing, and it keeps my nails and cuticles healthy and attractive.
