So, you’ve heard about of all of the amazing benefits of coconut oil and now you’ve got your jar of unrefined, organic cold-pressed CO sitting there in front of you. It’s beautiful. It’s magnificent! It is the divine cornucopia of pristine natural health and penultimate well-being the likes of which you’ve never experienced before in your entire life!!!
There’s just one little problem.
What do you do with it? If you’ve never used it before, that first touch of thick, gooey coconut oil on your fingertips can be a bit daunting. Then, like the antithesis of a certain candy-coated chocolate morsel which shall remain nameless – it begins to melt all over your hands, drip onto the floor, and make a big mess.
Okay, so I’m being a bit dramatic, but the point is that the “How” behind the “Why” of using coconut oil may not be the most intuitive thing in the world. Never fear. That’s why we’re here.
Dive into these 10 clever ways to replace your personal care products with coconut oil so you can look great, feel even better, and show that jar of coconut oil who’s boss!
Starting at the top:
1. Deep Conditioner for Hair
As a outdoorsy-type and farm girl whose lovely long locks see more than their fair share of the elements, this is my personal favorite use for coconut oil.
You will need:
- 1 – 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
- 2 – 4 drops of essential oils
- something to cover your hair
Directions:
Warm your coconut oil until it liquifies (76° F / 25° C) by spooning it into a small glass container and placing in a bowl of warm water. Once the oil is melted, add essential oils and mix gently. I use my fingers for this, but a wooden popsicle stick works very well, too. Massage the oil directly onto your scalp and enjoy the sensation of all of that warm, skin-nourishing goodness soaking into your skin. (Mmmmmmm… so relaxing!) Comb the oil through to the ends of your hair until the oil is evenly distributed then wrap it all up and tuck it under a shower cap or an old bandana (my personal preference) which you don’t mind getting saturated with coconut oil.
This treatment works better the longer you leave it in. I sometimes wear it for over 24 hours!
To remove the oil, you will probably need to wash your hair twice. Then, go back in with a small amount of coconut oil – about the size of a garbanzo bean – and massage this in, starting at the tips of your hair and working your way up to give it a nice healthy shine.
Suggested essential oils: I like to use 2 drops of clary sage and 1 drop of eucalyptus. Other oils to try are rosemary, sage, peppermint, vanilla, geranium, lavender, or grapefruit.
Recommended Reading: 6 Clever Ways To Use Coconut Oil For Gorgeous Hair
2. Face Moisturizer
While using a heavier oil like coconut on your face may take some getting used to, I’ve found nothing else that leaves my skin feeling as soft and smooth as this natural moisturizer.
You will need:
- 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
- 1 – 2 tablespoons of shea butter
- one vitamin E capsule or 1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil
- 2 – 4 drops of essential oils
Directions:
In a glass bowl, warm up the coconut oil and add your shea butter. (Experiment with your quantities until you are happy with the resulting consistency.) Measure and add a teaspoon of vitamin E oil or pierce the vitamin E capsule and squeeze its entire contents into the bowl. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil and mix well.
Before applying coconut oil face moisturizer, I cleanse first with witch hazel and a single drop of tea tree oil on a cotton ball.
For those with sensitive skin, consider using the witch hazel by itself as tea tree oil is very potent stuff!
Suggested essential oils: Neroli oil is wonderful for fading lines around the eyes, mouth, and brow. Also try carrot seed, rosehip seed, lavender, geranium, pomegranate seed, rosemary, or grapefruit.
3. Lip Balm
For moisturizing dry lips, I used to keep a small tin of plain, unrefined coconut oil on me at all times. Then a few months ago I started adding beeswax and a drop or two of spearmint essential oil to the mix. The results were fantastic!
You will need:
- 1 – 2 teaspoons of coconut oil
- approx. 1 teaspoon of beeswax
- 1 – 2 drops of essential oils
Directions:
Heat your coconut oil until it becomes liquid. Add beeswax and continue to heat until the wax melts. Stir together and mix in a drop or two of your favorite essential oil. Store in small resealable containers like these and take them everywhere you go!
Suggested essential oils: any mint oil or if you aren’t a big fan of minty lip balm, try hazelnut, almond, orange, or vanilla.
4. Homemade Toothpaste
While using oil to brush your teeth may sound a little strange, remember that coconut oil is one of nature’s most efficient anti-microbials. Try this homemade toothpaste as a healthier alternative to store-bought, chemical-laden pastes and be amazed at how good it makes your mouth feel.
You will need:
- 1/2 cup of coconut oil
- 4 – 6 tablespoons of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of powdered xylitol or stevia
- 15 – 20 drops of essential oils
Directions:
Warm your coconut oil until it becomes soft, but not liquid. Add baking soda, essential oil, and your sweetener of choice. Mash the ingredients together so they are well incorporated, then whip the mixture until it becomes light and creamy. Store in a shallow resealable jar.
When applying homemade paste to your toothbrush, you can dip the bristles directly into the jar. However, I find it easier to use a wooden popsicle stick to scoop the toothpaste out and dab it onto the brush.
Suggested essential oils: Most people will probably want to add peppermint for flavoring. If you have trouble sleeping, however, consider using a different flavoring or no flavoring at all as most forms of mint are powerful stimulants.
Surprised to know that your minty toothpaste might be keeping you awake at night? Find out more in this great article: 11 Natural Sleep Remedies That Really Work!
5. Hand & Cuticle Cream
Once I started using coconut oil as part of my day-to-day health and beauty routine, I noticed that my cuticles were much softer, grew more evenly, and just looked better in general. So I started making a moisturizer just for my hands, cuticles, and nails.
You will need:
- 2 – 3 tablespoons of coconut oil
- 4 – 6 drops of essential oils
Directions:
This is an easy one. Simply heat up the oil until it becomes liquid, gently mix in your essential oil, and pour into a resealable glass jar. Use daily to soften hands and keep cuticles manageable.
Suggested essential oils: For this one, I like to use sweet orange or bergamot. You may also want to try eucalyptus, lemon, neroli, lavender, or a mixture of lavender and vanilla.
6. Natural Deodorant
I lost track of how many times my friends and family have tossed “dirty hippie” jokes at me since I stopped using “normal” deodorant. Of course I know they’re just teasing and it’s all in good fun because this stuff really works! After all, it’s the bacteria on our skin that causes body odor and coconut oil has scientific backing as a natural anti-microbial. Don’t believe me? Give it a try and see for yourself.
You will need:
- 1/2 cup of coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons of baking soda
- 6 tablespoons of arrowroot powder
- 10 – 15 drops of essential oil
Directions:
Warm up the coconut oil until it’s soft enough to work with a spoon or small spatula. Add baking soda, arrowroot powder, and your essential oils of choice. Mix all of the ingredients together until you’re happy with the consistency of your deodorant. Transfer to a resealable glass jar for storage between uses.
(After applying your natural deodorant, you’ll probably want to wait a little while before dressing to avoid getting oil all over your clothes!)
Suggested essential oils: I like to use thyme, tea tree, and wintergreen. However, you can use any oil or combination of oils that you like.
7. Salt Scrub for Bath Time
For keeping my skin soft and smooth, nothing quite compares to a warm bath and this coconut oil salt scrub!
You will need:
- 1 cup of coconut oil
- 1/2 cup of epsom salt
- 1/2 cup of dead sea salt
- 15 – 20 drops of essential oils
Directions:
Warm up your coconut oil until it becomes soft, but not liquid. Mix in salts and essential oils and stir until all of the ingredients are well incorporated. Store in a resealable glass jar.
I apply this to my entire body at least once per week after a shower. Then – without removing the oil and salts – slip into a warm bath and soak in all of those wonderfully nourishing minerals to keep my skin looking soft, smooth, and deceptively young… (wink wink).
Suggested essential oils: For relaxation, I love to use lavender and vanilla (at around a 2:1 ratio) for this. To clear the mind and the sinuses, try eucalyptus essential oil in your scrub. Also, for a cool and refreshing scrub, peppermint is an excellent choice. If you want to experiment, another great combination that I’ve found is approximately 5 drops eucalyptus, 7 drops sage (Salvia officinalis, not clary), 4 drops tea tree, and 3 drops cedarwood essential oil. It smells green and earthy, and the scent lingers much longer than using single oils like peppermint or eucalyptus alone.
Recommended Reading: 23 Stunning Scrub Recipes
8. Everyday Skin Smoothing Moisturizer
I love coconut oil as a general use body moisturizer, especially in the colder months when the air gets really dry.
You will need:
- 1 cup of coconut oil
- 10 – 15 drops of essential oils
Directions:
Heat your coconut oil until it becomes liquid. Drop in essential oils and stir gently. Pour the mixture into a resealable glass container. To apply, I simply dip my fingers into the jar, reheat the scented coconut oil in my hands and smooth on wherever I have dry skin.
Suggested essential oils: My two main go-to combinations for this moisturizer are 2 parts clary sage to 1 part eucalyptus for soothing and healing severely dry skin or 2 parts Australian sandalwood to 1 part vanilla for when I’m planning to go out and I just want to smell great. Otherwise, you can use any essential oils that you like.
9. Shave Cream
Many many years ago – even before I started looking for ways to replace chemical products with natural alternatives – I was utterly overwhelmed with disgust at having to dispose of empty metal shaving cream cans. Also, the smell of commercial shave creams bothered me and always seemed to linger no matter how hard I tried to remove them. Thus I began shaving with plain ol’ soap… and getting razor burn every time.
(Don’t do what I did back then. There is a better way!)
You will need:
- 1/4 cup of coconut oil
- 1/4 cup of shea butter
- 1 – 2 tablespoons of sweet almond oil
- 10 – 15 drops of essential oils
Directions:
Heat your coconut oil and shea butter until it gets nice and melted. Once the mixture is completely liquid, stir in sweet almond oil (or you can substitute olive oil) as well as your essential oils. Place the bowl in your refrigerator to let it cool down a bit. To get the right texture, you will then need to whip the oil mixture. An electric hand mixer works very well here. Otherwise, fill a larger bowl about halfway with ice water. While the oil is still warm and soft, place the bowl containing your coconut oil mixture into the ice water and whisk vigorously as it cools and solidifies. (In addition to all-natural shave cream, you’ll get a great arm workout while you do this!)
Store your shave cream in a resealable glass jar.
Suggested essential oils: I like to use lavender and vanilla for this one (at a 2:1 ratio.) I also plan to try eucalyptus, tea tree, sage, and citrus oils for future batches.
10. Healing Foot Scrub
Whether you spend a lot of time or your feet and you want to soothe away an ache or you simply like to indulge in some healthy pedi-pampering, this coconut oil foot scrub will hit the spot every time!
You will need:
- 1/4 cup of coconut oil
- 1 – 2 tablespoons of epsom salt
- 1 tablespoon of sweet almond oil
- 5 – 10 drops of essential oils
Directions:
Warm up your coconut oil until it is liquid, but not hot. Gently stir in sweet almond oil (or substitute olive oil) and essential oils. Add epsom salt and work all of the ingredients together until well incorporated. Store in a resealable glass container until ready to use.
Suggested essential oils: I have made and enjoyed this scrub with peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree, orange, and lavender used individually in separate batches. Also on my “to try” list are basil, lemongrass, bergamot, sandalwood, and geranium oils.
Notes On Mixing and Equipment
For mixing the above recipes, please note that all measurements are approximate. I have a bad habit of eye-balling my ingredients to save time on clean-up, thus you may have to play with the quantities to get the recipes just right for you.
As for equipment, I use a Le Creuset mini cocotte with a tea light warming stand. It heats the oil very slowly, maintains an even temperature for a long time, and won’t shatter from rapid cooling as some glassware is known to do. I am also pleasantly comfortable with the knowledge that Le Creuset’s enamel-coated stoneware won’t contaminate my personal care products with hidden heavy metals or petroleum-based toxins. However LC is top-of-the-line and proportionally expensive, thus the mini cocotte. If you want something a little more affordable, all you need is a glass dish and a bowl of hot water.
Finally, try to avoid using metal utensils. For mixing oils, I recommend using silicone (like this whisk) or bamboo (like these awesome little spoons!)
Where To Buy Coconut Oil
If you’d like to try using more coconut oil in your life, then you can buy a tub (or two or three or four!) of Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil from this page on Amazon.
Hungry for more coconut-y natural health goodness? Refresh your coconut oil awareness with the wildly popular 23 Reasons You Should Have A Spoonful Of Coconut Oil Today