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I love coconut oil and have been meaning to share my favourite uses for coconut oil for an absolute age. If you don’t know already coconut oil usually comes in a jar in it’s solid state, unless you are in the tropics or have your coconut oil sitting on a radiator. To get it into liquid form you need to melt it. If using coconut oil for cooking this can be done in a pan or microwave, if using as part of your skincare routine it will melt in warm hands.
8 Reasons to use coconut oil…
Eat it
Coconut Oil has many many health benefits including killing bacteria, weight loss and improving blood cholesterol levels. Some studies suggest eating a tablespoon of coconut oil after lunch to reduce hunger.
Eye make up remover
This is my absolute favourite use; after years of trying to find an eye make up remover than doesn’t blind me for about two hours after using it I suddenly wondered one day last year what it would be like using coconut oil. It was an epiphany, it gets rid of the toughest mascara. So gentle there is no pulling of the skin leaving me with super soft moisturised skin. I use about a 1/4 tsp of solid coconut oil and melt in my hands then use my fingers to gently rub over my eyes to remove make-up. I use a hot wet muslin to remove the panda eyes I inevitably have.
Cleanser
That leads me on to my second favourite use, after discovering how fab coconut oil was at removing my eye make up I thought why not try it as a cleanser for the rest of my face. It has transformed my life…I have extremely dry skin and whilst it is still not perfect I managed to get through the winter without tearing my hair out in dismay at my dry skin. This may not be for everyone, especially if you have really greasy skin but for anyone that can tolerate it I can’t recommend it enough. After years of use I have now dispensed of my expensive cleansers and eye make up remover. Again use a hot wet muslin cloth to remove the oil and make up from your face and finish off by rinsing the skin with cold water.
Moisturiser
I don’t use coconut oil on a daily basis as a moisturiser but maybe once a week I use it at night. I slather my face in it before washing my hair in the shower (this prevents my skin from going red and sensitive), as a hand cream, and as a body oil. You would be surprised how quickly your skin laps it up.
Fry with it
For stir fries. I am not going into the science but coconut oil is a good one to use when frying at high temperatures. You can get some oils that don’t leave any taste of coconut but I like the subtle taste and fragrance. It is also good for frying eggs too.
Bake with it
In baking, coconut oil makes a great substitute for other fats and is a fabulous dairy free alternative, used in recipes such as these Chocolate Brownies.
Hair
If you have frizzy hair try melting a small amount of coconut oil in the palm of your hands and use to tame those tresses. For a dry hair treatment use more oil, leave overnight and wash as normal the next morning.
Oil pulling
Something I have only recently tried is oil pulling, not confined to coconut oil (you can use sesame, olive or sunflower oils too) this involves swishing a tablespoon of oil in the mouth for twenty minutes to rid the body of toxins. If nothing else it leaves the mouth feeling very clean and is supposed to help reduce bacteria, whiten teeth and improve oral health.
Make sure you buy raw virgin coconut oil, it isn’t cheap but when you think how much you’ll be replacing it will be well worth it. Coconut oil usually comes in a large jar and I decant some into a smaller jar to leave in my bathroom.
Let me know how you get on or if you use coconut oil for anything else.
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This post contains affiliate links, which means when you click on the link & purchase something I may earn commission from that sale at no extra cost to you. However, all opinions and words are my own.
I love baking with coconut oil it is so so delicious.
I keep meaning to try oil pulling but am certain that either the phone or doorbell will ring!
I am a huge fan of coconut oil. I but lower quality ones to use as hair masks, cleansers etc and then a good one like the vita coco one which is delicious for cooking and baking. I’ve made quite a few successful bakes with it lately as we have a toddler with multiple allergies and I love the flavour it gives.
I’ve been wanting to try coconut oil for ages and have read so much good stuff about it. I thought it was expensive but having just read all the fabulous uses you have listed for it, it sounds like a bargain! Mascara removal is my favourite!
I keep reading great things about coconut oil, but not tried it for myself yet – must remedy that!
I have some coconut oil and I was wondering what to do with it
wow i never knew there were so many uses for coconut oil
Wow, good old coconut oil – I do love it and think it’s amazing that it has so many uses.
I have some coconut oil but haven’t used it yet. I love that you can get so many uses out of it!
What?! I never knew you could use it as eye make up remover that is amazing! I would love to try oil pulling too but not yet got round to it. x
I know!!! Such a revelation last year. x
I have been sent some but had no idea what to do with it…….now I do
I love using it on my hair and in my baking!
i have to agree coconut is fantastic with so many uses x
I never even knew it had so many fantastic uses/properties. Where do you buy yours from please?
When I first started using it I had to buy from specialist shops but I get it with my supermarket shop now. 🙂
I love coconut thats fresh, grated, desicated but I don’t like coconut oil isn’t that funny???
I use a shampoo that has coconut through it. It love the smell of it and my hair looks fab. Will try coconut oil for the other things you mentioned too
I am seeing coconut oil recommended everywhere at the minute! Thank you for the specific uses, I’m going to have to give it a try I think!
I tried coconut oil for cooking a while back and was really impressed with it. I’d certainly buy it again. Sadly, I didn’t notice any weight loss, but neither did I gain any when we were using it.