Coconut oil is everywhere at the moment. You’ll find it’s used as a cooking oil, in green smoothies, and some health nuts even put a teaspoon in their morning coffee.
So what’s all the fuss about coconut oil? Firstly, it’s praised for its high smoking temperature, as well as its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and weight loss properties.
But did you know this miracle oil is good for your skin, too?
Buy a jar for your beauty cupboard, and use it in the following ways:
#1 Moisturiser
Coconut oil is a great moisturiser. It penetrates deeply into the skin to moisturise without leaving a greasy residue on your face. The light coconut fragrance will make you feel like you’ve just got off a plane from the Bahamas.
bh tip: In summer, coconut oil turns to liquid so you can apply it directly to your skin. In cooler temperatures it solidifies, so you might need to run the jar under a warm tap before you rub it over your limbs.
#2 Shaving cream
Rub a good amount of coconut oil on your legs in the shower to ensure a super close shave, sans razor burn. But be warned: the oil won’t wash off as easily as shaving cream does, but that also means you’ll use less of it. The best part? It doubles as a moisturiser, so you’ll save time from your morning routine.
#3 Exfoliator
For an at-home exfoliator, mix one part coconut oil with one part raw sugar. Keep the mixture in a jar in the bathroom and use every time your skin needs a little bit of loving. We recommend you use it in the shower, as it can get a little messy!
If you can’t be bothered to make your own, why not try Elemis Frangipani Monoi Salt Glow? The body scrub combines coconut oil with Tahitian monoi oil and frangipani flowers to leave the skin fragrant and smooth.
#4 Make-up remover
Coconut oil is also a super effective, all-natural make-up remover. Apply the oil to the face and eyes with a cotton pad, and wash off with a warm washcloth. It will even get rid of that waterproof mascara and stubborn foundation you always struggle with.
#5 Insect repellent
Do you hate the smell of Aeroguard and other insect repellents but are forced to use it anyway? Give coconut oil a go. It will keep those darn mosquitos at bay, plus, its anti-bacterial properties mean it’s a great treatment for inflamed bites.
#6 Lip balm
Apply a tiny amount of coconut oil to dry or cracked lips for ultimate hydration. If the taste is a little too much for you to handle, try out a lip balm with coconut oil as a main ingredient. Burt’s Bees Replenishing Lip Balmcombines pomegranate oil with sunflower oil, sweet almond oil and coconut oil to replenish and soften the lips. Beeswax and lanolin also provide a protective coating, to prevent lips from drying out.
#7 Lubricant
In true bh style, we’ve saved the cheekiest for last. Coconut oil is a great as a personal lubricant as it’s free from any nasties. Just make sure you swap your latex condoms for polyurethane ones. For more ways to use coconut oil in the bedroom, check out this article.
Do you like to use coconut oil on your hair, skin or body? What’s your favourite coconut oil based product?
