Looking for some natural solution to health problems? Let us check out some of the best coconut oil life hacks that will save your life!
Coconut oil—different people may start to think of different uses and benefits of this versatile and incredibly common household ingredient. While some may think of skin and hair benefits, some advocate for its health benefits. As the world moves more and more towards sustainability and natural products, natural beauty devotees, medical professionals, and scientists are starting to see the multiple benefits of humble coconut oil.
Let’s find out how coconut oil can positively save your life!
Why Adopt Coconut Oil In Your Life?
Coconut oil is a unique oil that packs loads of benefits because of the numerous nutrients and natural fats it contains. These help treat the skin, hair, nails, and even overall health. For example, the fatty acids present in coconut oil contain linoleic acid, which helps alleviate acne. The 50% lauric acid present in coconut oil has hydrating and antimicrobial properties.
Besides that, it can also help improve skin and oral health and has shown weight loss potential in certain studies.
According to a 2018 review of research published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer and also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, helping reduce the signs of aging.
Of course, the main reason you should welcome coconut oil is its beautiful smell. Who wouldn’t love an oil that smells like cookies?! We know we surely do, and thus, we bring you some of the best coconut oil hacks that will make you reel!
Coconut Oil Hacks For Your Face
1. Use it for Double Cleansing
Coconut oil has in-built anti-microbial properties that make women from all over the world swear by using it as a nighttime moisturizer. Of course, it goes without saying that you cannot and should not do this if you have oily or acne-prone skin.
But if you have normal to dry skin and are not allergic, all you have to do is massage coconut oil into your skin in circular motions and then rinse away the residue with a gentle face wash.
2. Make a DIY Face Pack for Dry Skin
Pamper yourself and reap the benefits of this awesome DIY coconut oil face mask, which includes turmeric, lemon juice, raw manuka honey, and melted virgin coconut oil. These ingredients can help soothe irritated skin, alleviate acne, brighten the skin, and, of course, add hydration.
Leave it on a clean face for at least 15 minutes and repeat twice a week!
3. DIY a Lip Scrub
You must have seen how so many of your existing lip scrubs contain coconut oil as their base. Well, why not create your own? Your DIY version can be created simply with some coconut oil, brown sugar, and honey mixed together till you get a smooth texture.
Not only will this scrub give your lips much-needed exfoliation, but it also moisturizes them. Not to mention, it is pretty delicious!
You could apply it overnight and wash it off with a damp cloth for softer, plumper lips every morning!
4. Create a DIY Lip Balm
Now that we have covered a DIY coconut oil lip scrub, here’s something that you can wear all the time: a DIY lip balm!
Combine 2 tablespoons each of coconut oil, cocoa butter, grated beeswax, or beeswax pellets. In a small pot, add water, and then the measuring cup should be filled with the above ingredients so only the bottom two inches are submerged. Stir till all the ingredients are melted.
Pour into lip balm containers when you are happy with the consistency, stirring in 2 drops of cinnamon essential oil. Refrigerate these, let them cool, and you can even share them with friends!
5. Create a DIY Lip Gloss
Now that we are already on the subject of lips, how can we forget lip gloss?
Do away with flaky, chapped lips and even add color to your pout in an au naturel way with DIY tinted lip gloss. All you need to do is mix bits of your favorite lipstick with some coconut oil! You get the color, AND you get the moisturizing action. It cannot get better than this!
6. Use it as an Eye Makeup Remover
Coconut oil works when you put on makeup (Case in point- tinted lip gloss), and it works when you want to take off makeup! The best part is coconut oil, which even works when you want to take off waterproof mascara.
So, when you run out of your cleansing lotion, just put a little coconut oil on a cotton ball, sweep it over and under your eyes, and voila! The oil not only does away with waxy, heavy eye makeup but leaves the area hydrated as well!
Once done, you can wash your face as usual with your favorite face wash.
7. Dab on as eye cream
While several options for hydrating eye creams are available on the market, chances are they are loaded with bad chemicals. If you are looking for an inexpensive, all-natural alternative, coconut oil works like a charm.
When you are dealing with dry under-eyes, whether due to cold weather, aging signs, or dehydration, the moisturizing effect of coconut oil can really rejuvenate your complexion.
All you need is a light layer of coconut oil dabbed with your right finger (for the right pressure) on your under eyes before bedtime to hydrate and protect the delicate skin.
Best Coconut Oil Life Hacks For Your Skin and Body
9. Use in place of lotion
Coconut oil is commonly used as a hydrating oil in its raw form or as a base ingredient in moisturizers. You can quite easily use coconut oil as your go-to moisturizer.
Not only is this a cheaper option, but it also smells amazing and can even make your skin feel smoother and more nourished than using a store-bought moisturizer/ lotion!
10. Hydrate dry hands
Thanks to its moisturizing properties, coconut oil can work like magic on dry, itchy skin. Keep a jar of extra virgin coconut oil around the sink or laundry room where you know you might be washing your hands more.
This will always keep those hands extra smooth and extra soft!
11. Shave your legs
Conventional shaving creams are generally chock full of chemicals that you really don’t want or need on your skin. For a nice, clean shave on your legs or underarms, you need a natural, gentle product, and that is coconut oil!
Even if you may be quite surprised, you can actually use coconut oil as a shaving cream in all areas of your body! Naturally anti-microbial and hydrating, coconut oil makes for an inexpensive and divine-smelling shaving cream or gel, leaving your legs hydrated and your skin soothed!
12. Slather on as a massage oil
We all love to be pampered at some point or other in our busy schedules. But even when doing it at home, we gravitate towards those expensive store-bought massage oils, forgetting the fact that these generally tend to have coconut oils as their base. So why not choose the inexpensive option, i.e., coconut oil?
Cut out the expensive middleman and go straight to the bottle of coconut oil for a slipper-soft, skin-friendly, and extremely moisturizing massage every home spa session!
13. Create a luscious body scrub
DIY a luscious body scrub for yourself with ingredients you already have in your home! Great for the skin, absent of chemicals, and inexpensive, you can make a DIY body scrub for yourself in a jiffy with ingredients like coconut oil, brown sugar, or salt and your favorite essential oils!
All you have to do is melt ½ cup of coconut oil on low heat and store well with 1 cup of brown sugar. Add in five drops of essential oils like lavender or eucalyptus for a relaxing scent. You could also get creative and add some pure vanilla extract for a srub that smells so delicious you will want to eat it!
14. Nourish dry cuticles
Nails are often an overlooked part of the body, but dry cuticles are something most of us struggle with often.
Massaging coconut oil on your dry cuticles can bring back some of the much-needed moisture. You will also be able to get rid of cracked skin, moisturize brittle nails, and prevent hang nails.
15. Relieve psoriasis
If you are not aware of what psoriasis is, it is an autoimmune disease that causes rough, red, scaly patches on the skin after skin cells start building up. A safe, natural remedy that you can try if you suffer from psoriasis is coconut oil.
Consult your dermatologist, and when you get the go-ahead, you can make a hot bath even more luxurious by adding a few tablespoons of coconut oil to the water to help soothe itching skin.
16. Soothe eczema
Eczema is yet another condition wherein you find itchy, red, swollen patches of skin, and many eczema patients often use coconut oil as a natural remedy with their usual medications to relieve the effects of the disease to some extent.
If you have eczema, applying virgin coconut oil to the affected areas of your skin can help a lot.
17. Treat your feet
Triggered by sweaty feet, Athlete’s foot is quite a common infection and one that coconut oil can help soothe. After you apply your prescribed Athlete’s foot medication, you could top it off with a layer of coconut oil to help with healing the infection and reduce flaking skin.
Considering these benefits, it is no surprise that coconut oil works really well on cracked heels as well.
18. Apply as a natural lubricant during sex
Pure, 100% coconut oil’s super-slippery nature makes it an excellent natural lubricant. But before using it, you must keep a few things in mind.
First of all, you should not be allergic to coconut oil. Secondly, do NOT go for copious amounts of coconut oil, as more will get messy.
Last but not least, ensure that you are using any other form of contraception instead of a latex condom, as pure oil will lead the latex to degrade, and you might end up risking pregnancy or STDs. You must also ensure both and your partner have been tested for STDs.
Best Coconut Oil Life Hacks For Your Hair
19. Minimize dandruff
Dandruff is caused by the increase of a particular fungus already present in the microbiome of your scalp. Coconut oil can help alleviate the levels of this fungus, thus reducing inflammation and dry, flaking, and itching skin.
You can heat 2-3 tablespoons of coconut oil until it melts. Ensure it is lukewarm before you start massaging it into the sections of your hair. Leave it in for 30 minutes before rinsing off with shampoo.
20. Deep condition
If you look through the ingredients in several brands of hair conditioners, you will find coconut oil listed. And that is honestly no surprise because coconut oil easily penetrates each hair strand, preventing protein loss. This ensures deep conditioning and nourishment for your hair.
Apply coconut oil to your hair, protect it with a shower cap, and leave it in overnight. Rinse it off with shampoo the next morning. Doing this once or twice a week will yield great results.
21. Tame frizz
Struggling with static and frizzy hair? Well, you cannot now tame your mane with a simple household ingredient, and of course, we are talking about coconut oil!
Rub some coconut oil between the pads of your fingers and run it through the parts of your hair that are particularly frizzy to make them look shiny, smooth, and polished. You could also pick serums made for frizzy hair that contain coconut oil.
22. Create a DIY hair mask
Have the best hair spa right at home for beautiful hair right after! This simple DIY hair mask involves 3 to 5 tablespoons of refined, organic coconut oil with 20 drops of rosemary oil.
Massage this mixture onto your hair and let it sit under a shower cap for half an hour to a full hour before rinsing off with shampoo.
23. Add shine
If you have dark hair that looks dull and lifeless, we have the perfect and simplest solution for you. All you need to do is rub some coconut oil between your fingers and apply it to the ends of your hair and on the parts that you feel could use a bit of shine. However, do not overdo this, as your hair might just go from shiny to greasy in a jiffy!
Best Coconut Oil Hacks For Your Health
24. Freshen your breath
Often associated with Ayurveda, a traditional medicine system in India, oil pulling is an ancient practice of swishing oil in your mouth to help remove bacteria and promote oral hygiene.
Well, guess what? Oil pulling with coconut oil can actually help you get rid of disease-causing bacteria in your mouth, as per research, thanks to the generation of antioxidants that kill these microbes.
Swirl coconut oil in your mouth for 10 to 20 minutes till it turns a milky white color, and throw it in the trash (doing it in the sink can lead to clogged pipes) before rinsing with water.
25. May encourage fat burning and can be a quick source of energy
Coconut oil contains a high amount of energy-giving saturated fats and medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). According to a study in 2023, MCT supplementation, when combined with a low-calorie ketogenic diet, helped with a reduction in body weight, BMI, and even waist circumference.
However, coconut oil is high in calories, so if you overdo it, you will gain weight instead of losing it.
26. May have antimicrobial effects
Coconut oil has antimicrobial properties, including antifungal properties, because of its MCT content and the presence of 50% lauric acid.
Studies show that this lauric acid can act as a bacteriostatic agent, meaning it kills bacteria before they can multiply, thus inhibiting the growth of disease-causing microorganisms in the body.
27. May help lessen hunger
Yet another benefit of coconut oil’s MCT content is that it can increase one’s feeling of fullness or satiety. This will help one reduce one’s food intake, especially if one is trying to lose weight.
Though coconut oil is definitely one of the best sources of MCTs, more research is needed on how much it can help keep you full.
28. A good antioxidant source
Coconut oil is a great source of antioxidants, which attack or neutralize the damaging molecules called free radicals. These antioxidants also aid overall health thanks to their anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and brain-protective effects.
Thus, coconut oil can be a good supporter in your journey to reduce the risk of degenerative and chronic diseases.
29. Special heart health considerations
In recent years, coconut oil has been said to be beneficial for heart health, thanks to some evidence showing that it can help lower LDL, or bad cholesterol, levels while increasing HDL, or good cholesterol levels.
However, some studies have also produced contradictory evidence showing that coconut oil can increase LDL, too.
The key is to limit your intake of coconut oil and ensure that it is only as much as 10% of your total calorie intake per day.
30. Reducing stress
Since studies suggest that virgin coconut oil has antioxidant properties, some researchers also believe that coconut oil may help reduce stress arising from various aspects of life and could help with certain signs of depression.
However, there is still a lot of research to be done on this.
31. Mend your dog’s paws
Last but not least, here’s a beauty/ health hack for your dog because our furry friends deserve all the love and pampering in the world! If you have an outdoorsy pup, it is not unnatural to see their paws cracked or raw from the stress.
In such a case, you can rub a little coconut oil on their paws for healing and moisturizing. Though coconut oil is generally safe for dogs, consult your vet before going forward with this hack.