The Marvel That Coconut Oil Is!

The incredibly popular, affordable and natural alternative available in every household!

I have been big into beauty and makeup since forever, but my obsession with skincare began only after the pandemic began. I started questioning myself (like many others) about the products and the ingredients I was putting on myself and if there are better and more organic alternatives available for the same. Surprisingly (or not), a unanimous and absolutely safe answer to most of my skin and hair concerns was COCONUT OIL!

I have always been a fan of coconut oil and have used it religiously as an affordable and natural beauty solution for years. Over the years, I have been using it for multiple purposes including moisturizing and removing makeup. But I continue to be enamored by the numerous other ways in which I can use this plant-derived ingredient for my health, household and beauty needs.

In addition to being organic and non-toxic, the best part of using coconut oil is that it reduces the number of items in the bathroom cabinet, courtesy of its versatile properties. Multiple shelves lined up with vessels and bottles can be now reduced to just one jar of coconut oil, without any significant change in the skin or hair texture. Not only does coconut oil help in reducing that lineup, it substantially minimizes waste generation and money spent on any extraordinary beauty regimes.

While coconut oil is readily available, it is important to remember that neither all coconut oil is the same, and nor is all of coconut oil manufactured ethically. A couple of brands that I swear by for virgin coconut oil are Fabindia, Kama Ayurveda and Forest Essentials. These are popular Indian brands that I have grown fond of through their radical transparency and exceptional customer service.

As I am on a continuous quest of searching more and more ways of using coconut oil for my skin care and beauty routine, below mentioned are a few ways that I have been regular with. My list is constantly growing, so if any of your coconut oil swaps are not mentioned below, please do share them in the comments so we all can give them a try:

1. AS A MAKEUP REMOVER

This is my favorite use of coconut oil (outside the kitchen). I cannot remember the last time I brought a product labelled as a makeup remover or micellar water. I use a tablespoon of coconut oil on a reusable makeup pad to remove every inch of makeup, from foundation to eye makeup. It is gentle on the skin and the eyes and makes for a great natural makeup cleanser.

2. AS A MOISTURIZER

For people with dry skin, coconut oil is a god sent product. While everyone does love a good natural body lotion, coconut oil is an excellent substitute for hydration and nourishment. After an exfoliating body scrub, it is a wonderful idea to mix some coconut oil with your favorite body butter and lock in all the moisture.

Please note: Since coconut oil is comedogenic, it can clog your pores. While I have used it as a body and face moisturizer without noticing any build-up, anyone reading this should test it on your skin before fully incorporating it in your skincare routine.

3. AS A LIP BALM

Coconut oil is a great solution for chapped lips. A lot of us tend to keep losing our lip balms quite frequently (guilty as charged), and coconut oil can come to our rescue during those days. The best part? It is nontoxic and completely natural without any parabens or BHA or petrolatum. You can dab it on its own or mix coconut oil with another of your favorite oil (Jojoba or sweet almond for instance)

4. AS A LIP EXFOLIANT

Speaking of lip woes and remedies, coconut oil also works as an excellent base for a homemade lip exfoliant or a natural sugar body scrub. For the lip exfoliant, coconut oil with sugar and honey works like a charm. And if you are fans of sugar body scrubs, you should try mixing sugar, coconut oil and a shower gel for a wonderfully aesthetic and Instagram-able scrub.

5. AS A NAIL AND CUTICLE OIL

This one is a pretty obvious one. Coconut oil is a great moisturizer that works wonders for our body, from head to toe, and our nails and cuticles are no exception to this. You can mix a small dab of coconut oil to Vitamin E oil and massage it on your cuticles at night to strengthen nails, heal any cracks and make nails feel much healthier.

6. AS A LEAVE-IN HAIR CONDITIONER

This has been the best use of coconut oil for me for years. Coconut oil makes a wonderful leave-in hair conditioner, especially for people who have thick locks or whose hair is prone to frizziness.

For an overnight mask, you can apply a pea-size amount to the ends of your hair just before bed (but do make sure to wash it out in the morning). You can also use the tiniest bit to run through your hair after styling as a natural remedy to control frizz.

7. BONUS: AS A PET COAT

Please consult your vet before giving your pet any oils.

Coconut oil isn’t only great for our skincare routine; it is great for pets as well. You can add a small spoonful to their food each morning to help in healing dry and flaky skin. You can also massage it into their coat post bath - it would make their coat shine like a diamond!

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How fond are you of coconut oil in your daily life? Is there any use of coconut oil that I missed? I would love to know what you think of these uses and (any) fresh uses that you would wish to share.

Xx, AG