This time last year I sang the praises of baking soda, now it's time for my second equally important favorite "body care" product. I could make do with coconut oil and baking soda alone, they are incredible. When the zombie apocalypse hits I'll take a jar of this for the win! My favorite uses include:
1. Toothpaste: I have a coconut oil and baking soda recipe here, super easy, inexpensive and natural.
2. Deodorant: You can replace the shea butter in this recipe with coconut oil and it's equally effective.
3. Body Moisturizer: Use it for your whole body. I'd spot-test on your face, it can cause break-outs for some. Touted to cure break-outs for others!
4. Cuticle Oil: I saturate my cuticles with the oil when I push them back, keeps them snag-free and photogenic. My hands appear in my product photos so I have to keep them free of distractions.
5. Sexytime Lubricant: I promise it's perfectly safe. Doctor approved. Even Dr. Oz recommended it for "menopausal dryness." Keep some in a small jar by your bed. *
6. Leave-in Hair Conditioner: Use a tiny dab, a little goes a long way. Avoid your scalp to prevent build-up.
7. Rinse-Out Hair Conditioner: Again, use this judiciously. You may want to shampoo it out depending on your hair texture. (Dry curly girls like me, not so much.)
8. Lip Balm: Use a little on your lips for a tasty, effective lip moisturizer.
9. Body Scrub: Mix with baking soda or sugar for an entire body scrub that will leave your skin baby-soft. You can use this on your lips, too. Yo Feetz: Add peppermint oil to make it a foot scrub.
10. Healing: Coconut oil has been reported to be helpful with healing skin irritations like bug bites and minor wounds.
*Really, it's safe! This is the one I get the most resistance on. How are chemical-laden lubes deemed safer than a 100% natural product? Does it sound safe to rub chemicals in sensitive areas? I don't get it...
Storage: Organic cold pressed oil is more fickle than your standard "beauty" product, it's a food and it will decay (oxidize) without proper care to prolong its life. Luckily coconut oil's 85% fat composition make its shelf-life relatively stable. Keep your jar lids tightly closed, use amber glass when possible to protect your oil from light exposure, and try separating your large jar of oil into several smaller jars. You want to keep your jars as full as possible because the oxygen at the top of the jar (this is called "headspace") contributes to oxidation.
Sanitation: Try not to dip into your original jar of oil. Instead pour the amount you'll need into your hand or keep separate jars where needed. The original jars I work with to create mixtures stays safely in the refrigerator.
Why Coconut Oil? Coconut oil is anti-microbial, inflammatory, anti-fungal, inexpensive, anti-viral multi-faceted and incredibly moisturizing. You can add a tablespoon to smoothies for creaminess and nutrition (improves skin texture and brain function) and a multitude of raw vegan recipes. It tastes great and helps increase nutrient absorption! I always keep some on-hand!
I've read hundreds of uses for coconut oil like sunblock and a large variety of internal/external cleaning and medical uses (hell, it's actually been proven to help with Alzheimer's disease, miracle stuff!) but haven't tested those yet. I think I'll have to test some of those theories and share results later!
I'll be back to share many more of my whole body care routines/whole living tips. I've been living this lifestyle for years and have never felt healthier/prettier. The natural stuff isn't just cheaper and better for the environment, it works better!
My neighbor always has this around her house. Every time I am there, I get some and smear it every which way. hands, feet, hair....just everywhere. I come home smelling like a coconut factory.....I guess I should really buy my own by now.
ReplyDeleteWhen we transfer it to jars for various recipes at work we always rub the excess on our legs/hands/hair. Love it and it's cheap and goes in my most of my smoothies at the moment.
DeleteI LOVE coconut oil!
ReplyDeleteMe tooo :D
DeleteI absolutely LOVE coconut oil. The smell of it is just an added plus! And it's good for baking too.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to check out your toothpaste recipe - sounds awesome.
Now following via GFC and will follow you on twitter and fb too!
Kim
2justByou
Thanks for following :) I use it for raw vegan no-bake deserts, forgot about the ability to bake with it, too!
DeleteI always buy coconut oil when I'm in India - its so cheap and plentiful there!
ReplyDeleteThese tips are awesome, I'm definitely going to try making some of them - thank you! xxxx
No problem. Try them, I can't recommend 'em enough. :D
DeleteI love the idea of the body scrub
ReplyDeleteThanks Charline, it's amazing!
DeleteWe make organic balm for my daughter using coconut oil. It's so great.
ReplyDeleteIt's perfect for kids, not harsh in the slightest for sensitive young ones.
DeleteI use it every few days as a hair moisturizer. Call it yucky if you want but I'm black so I need oil in my hair. It's SO much better than gunking my hair up with creams and hair lotions and all kinds of serums with ingredients in them that I can't event pronounce.
ReplyDeleteHell no I wouldn't call it yucky. I do the same. My granda ia afro-puerto rican and I inherited dry dry DRY ass curly hair from it. Coconut oil is so much better for your hair. I nonlonget recomend it for heavy scalp use because my aunt ( also obv. Part afro carribbean) says it gives you scalp build-up. I feel your pain dfending oil use as a mixed or black girl. We have "unconventional" hair needs the general public sonetines doesn't get. Like no washing hair daily. A no-go for my dry hair. I think I need to do a write up on being natural with textured hair. Not enough info out there.
DeleteYes, coconut oil is great to use in the kitchen and out! I knew about some of the uses on your list, but learned a few new uses, too. Thanks for posting :)
ReplyDeleteNo prob! More natural beauty stuff to come.
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