10 amazing beauty tricks with coconut oil

• To soothe dry hands
This won ’t work for dry digits when
you’ re on the go, but at home, coconut
oil can work wonders on your
dishwashing - parched hands . “I keep a
jar of organic extra virgin coconut oil
by the kitchen sink and put a little on
after washing my hands to keep them
soft and moist,” says Dr . Low Dog. And
if you cook with coconut oil —you can
sub it for butter in baking recipes
because it ’s solid at room temperature—
scoop out a little extra for your hands ,
too . “ Whenever I cook with coconut oil ,
I make sure to moisturize my hands with
it too ,” says Katrine van Wyk , a holistic
health and nutrition coach based in New
York .
• As a cheekbone highlighter
Nothing perks up a tired face like a little
highlighter, but you don’ t need store -
bought products to achieve the same
effect . Simply sweep a small amount of
coconut oil on top of makeup and leave
it alone. It looks like your skin but
glowier, which is why many natural
makeup brands use it as a base
ingredient in their formulas. If you’ re
looking for a more portable option , try
the cult favorite Living Luminizer by
RMS Beauty , which has a coconut -oil
base and light reflecting pigment.
• To shave your legs
Conventional shaving cream is an
expensive cocktail of chemicals that you
don’ t need to get a nice clean shave on
your legs or underarms. Coconut oil , on
the other hand , is inexpensive , naturally
antimicrobial , and smells divine . Plus ,
its skin -soothing properties will leave
your legs looking hydrated (but never
greasy ).
• As a deep- conditioner
There’ s a reason many conditioners
contain coconut oil : It ’s better able to
penetrate hair (and prevent protein loss )
than mineral and sunflower oil ,
according to research . “ I use it in my
hair and on my skin for deep
conditioning, ” says Tasneen Bhatia , MD ,
an integrative doctor and owner of the
Atlanta Center for Holistic and
Integrative Medicine. Apply a quarter-
size dollop to your hair, comb it , and
then pile it into a loose bun . You ’ll want
to place a soft towel over your pillow or
sleep in a shower cap. In the morning ,
shampoo as usual with a gentle cleanser .
• To remove eye makeup
Yes , coconut oil even works on
waterproof mascara ! Put a little on a
cotton ball and gently sweep it over
your eyes, paying attention to your
under -eyes as well. The oil does a great
job breaking down waxy , inky eye
makeup , and leaves the delicate area
hydrated, too . Once you’re done , wash
your face as usual.
• As a body moisturizer
A recent animal study found that when
applied topically , virgin coconut oil can
speed up wound healing, and a human
study found it to be effective in
increasing hydration and reducing water
loss in seriously dry skin. Sounds like a
recipe for a really good lotion to us! It ’s
a health - expert favorite, too . Says Wyk :
“ It smells delicious, is very affordable ,
and leaves my skin feeling nourished
and smooth.”
• To clean your face
Because coconut oil is naturally
antibacterial, antifungal , moisturizing
and, according to research , great for
atopic dermatitis , many women swear
by its use as a nighttime moisturizer for
their face , too . Try the double - cleansing
method : Simply rub the oil in circular
motions all over your face and neck ,
giving yourself a gentle massage as you
go . When you’re done , wash off the
residue with your favorite cleanser. (If
you’ re adult - acne prone , avoid this
technique unless you know your skin
tolerates coconut oil. )
• To add shine
Smooth a tiny amount of coconut oil
onto your ends to add a little shine, or
on flyaways if you have dark hair .
Remember that a dab will do you: Any
more and your hair might appear
greasy .
• In a luscious body scrub
Here ’s a little DIY beauty secret: That
store - bought body scrub you save for
special occasions? It ’s a waste of
money . That ’s because you can make
one yourself with ingredients you
already have in your kitchen. Dr. Low
Dog agrees . “ I love to do this. It ’s
wonderfully moisturizing, great for the
skin , inexpensive, and blissfully absent
of chemicals you can’ t pronounce!” To
make your own , Dr. Low Dog suggests
melting 1 /2 c of coconut oil at very low
heat . Pour it over 1 c of brown sugar or
salt and stir well. If you have some on
hand , add in five drops of your favorite
essential oil or some pure vanilla extract
for a scrub so fragrant you’ ll want to
eat it .
• For a little rubdown
Many store - bought massage oils have
either coconut or jojoba oil as their
base . Cut out the middleman and go
straight to the bottle. It ’ s slippery, skin-
friendly , and moisturizing, too .
Source : www .prevention. com