10 Amazing Things You Can Do With Coconut Oil—Plus: What Do You Use it For?
Friends! If you’ve read the book or hung out here for a while you know we’re fond of oils, and coconut oil in particular because it’s an amazing and cost-saving multitasker that has lots of qualities to recommend it.
It’s a rich moisturizer, it’s cheap, it’s versatile, it’s antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial, has a decent amount of antioxidants, and it smells like baked goods. What’s not to love? Well, some stuff.
You can get it at any good health food store in the cooking oil section, just be sure to spend the extra buck or two to get raw, organic, virgin coconut oil. Now, without further ado: Here are the 10 specific things I’ve tried it for, with honest assessments of how that worked for me:
1. For cooking at high heat. Coconut oil has earned itself a bone fide health halo, which you can read about here. Because some oils are not safe at high temperatures, I’ve swapped in coconut for a lot of my roasting, and some frying. I have tried and liked it in the oven for potatoes, sweet potatoes, Brussell’s sprouts, carrots, asparagus, broccoli rabe, red onions and other veggies, too. I’m not fond of how it tastes with eggs or mild-tasting white fish—but it’s great with salmon.
2. As a cheekbone highlighter. Sweep a little on top of makeup (sounds weird, go with it) and leave it alone. It looks like your skin but glowier, which is why Rosemarie Swift, of RMS Beauty, uses it in her amazing Living Luminizer, “Un” Cover Up, and Lip-2-Cheek pots.
3. To shave my legs. So good! You get a real close shave and don’t have to worry about moisturizing after.
4. As a deep-conditioning hair treatment for my totally wrecked ends. There’s a reason lots of conditioners use coconut oil: According to this study, coconut oil is better able to penetrate the hair than is mineral oil (shocking!) and sunflower oil—which is good news because I’ve been dealing with a little heat damage over here. Because I don’t want to cut off the damage—I’m liking my hair long right now—I’ve been trying to get the ends looking OK as I grow it out. Knowing full well there is no way to physically repair fried ends (I even confirmed this with a cosmetic scientist named Colin, who isn’t a clean guy, but he’s nice and he’s smart) I’ve been loving this method: once a week, I sleep with a handful of coconut oil in my hair. I rub it in, comb it, pile it in a loose bun on the top of my head, and call it a night. In the morning I shampoo and it seems to make a big difference in the look and feel of my ends.
5. To take off my eye makeup. Put a little on a cotton ball or a piece of toilet paper and sweep it over your eyes gently. It even works on waterproof mascara.
6. As a personal lubricant. Saucy! Let’s be brief: It totally works by yourself or with a buddy, but it’s not compatible with condoms (oil + latex = babies).
7. As a face moisturizer. I do not like this. I’ve read about acne-prone women who have used it to great effect because it’s naturally antibacterial, calming, and moisturizing, but I won’t put coconut oil—or any product that contains it—anywhere near the part of my face that breaks out (hi, chin). I tried the oil-cleansing method when we were writing the book and I got the absolute worst cystic acne ever which, yeah, yeah, might not have been the oil’s fault, but did I want to wait another month to find out? Hells no.
8. As a body moisturizer. See above (shaving). I recently met my friend Jessica at yoga and before class started she yanked up her pant leg and told me she’d been using coconut oil on her whole body. How’d they feel? So soft. So! Soft! And the smell doesn’t linger, for the record.
9. As a day-time hair tamer. Cute on your ends but I wouldn’t put this on the top of your head, especially if you’re blonde, because it looks really, really greasy.
10. Gluten-free and vegan baking. It’s a staple. It tastes really good and, it seems to me, is the only thing that can mask the chalky taste you get with most gluten-free baking. (Mmmmm Babycakes.)
What am I missing? Or what have you tried and loved—or hated?
So glad to see this post! I’ve been talking up coconut oil to my friends for a long time. I am a huge fan of coconut oil, for skin/hair/food. For a while I was using it on my color-treated hair as an overnight conditioner a couple times a week, and it got my hair in such great shape I only need it sporadically (and I switched to henna). I use it for shaving when I need some extra moisture. Good for small cuts and scrapes too, helps heal quickly. My current two favorite uses are as a lubricant (so great for that sensitive area, and if you have any yeast issues so soothing), and to make my own raw chocolate bars/sauces/truffles. Cooking is a great use too, but I don’t do that much as I’m mostly raw.
I like coconut oil as a moisturizer, but prefer argan oil, especially in conjunction with an argan oil cleanser. I’m definitely going to try coconut oil for shaving, though, thanks to your suggestion. However, as an eye makeup remover, coconut oil — any oil — irritates my eyes. I know you guys are big fans of using oils for that purpose, but I just retried RMS’s coconut oil again this morning and sure enough, my eyes are irritated. So…I know this is straying off-topic, but what’s an alternative for removing eye makeup (that doesn’t cost $40 and isn’t laden with chemicals)?
Great ideas, thanks! Regarding number 10, though…I don’t use coconut oil in my gluten-free baking (though I’m going to try it!) and my baked goods are anything but chalky! I wouldn’t eat chalky-tasting anything! I think you have not yet been lucky enough to sample really yummy, unable-to-tell-they-are-gluten-free home-baked goods, so I should bake you some :) I bring stuff in to work and no one knows it’s gluten-free – they are THAT delicious. But, I agree there ARE a lot of crappy gluten-free baked goods out there and coconut oil would probably help. Love your website, thank you for all the great info! OXO
I love coconut oil! I use it to remove my eye makeup, to clean up the ends of my hair, and as a body moisturizer. My husband, blessed with perfect skin (!!!), uses it on his face, but I just cannot go there. Love the idea of using it as a highlighter. I might give that a go. I also read somewhere that you can use coconut oil as a deodorant.
@Allison, I was just put on a GF diet yesterday and am a bit devastated. I’ve been a vegetarian for years and rely on complex carbs for a good portion of my diet. Anyhow, would you be willing to share some delicious recipes with me? I would so appreciate it! You can email if you’d like: ladyoflittlemeans@gmail.com
Thank you!
The coconut oil that I have been using needs to be heated before i can use it because it is solid in it’s normal state. This makes it sort of a pain to use, to be honest. I don’t want to have to heat the thing every time I need moisturizer, makeup remove, etc. Is this typical? Is it available in liquid form and I am just purchasing the wrong kind?
Hey Allison! Can you come over and teach me how to bake? :)
Also, @Elizabeth, I’ve been GF for years now and don’t really eat meat and I am pleased to tell you you’ll be just fine! It takes a little time to adjust but I eat very delicious food, and very healthy food. Maybe we should do a gluten free recipe call from readers–seems a common thing here.
In the mean time, maybe Allison can send us one to nomoredirtylooks at gmail and we can post!
Hey Lala yeah its solid-ish at room temperature but if you put a spoon or your hand in the jar you can scoop it out super easily. I’m not sure what you bought–but this is definitely not normal!
I use coconut oil as a base for my homemade toothpaste. I love the slightly sweet flavor and the super squeaky clean feeling of my teeth afterward!
I don’t use coconut oil in my GF baking either. Siobhan, I must send you my favorite choc chip cookie recipe EVER.
@Elizabeth, I have been gluten free a couple of years, and it’s great! Try checking out some raw foods websites (just do an internet search, there are lots) as most of the raw foods stuff is gluten free. I highly recommend using buckwheat (nothing to do with wheat/gluten) either raw or cooked – great for complex carbs and protein. If you have an iPhone there are some great gluten-free related apps, just search the app store. Good luck!
lala, coconut oil melts at 75 degrees or so, it should melt easily in your hand when you scoop it out of the jar.
I use coconut oil for just about everything – baking, body moisturizer, shaving, makeup remover, hair conditioner. And I’m totally one of the women who uses it as a face moisturizer. I had a liver/digestive system issue that causes my face to be (all at once) dry, flaky, sensitive, red, itchy and EXTREMELY acne-prone. I tried the oil cleansing method too, in a last-ditch effort, and it made my face worse, but coconut oil has totally changed the way my face looks and feels. Almost every pore on my face was clogged (we’re talking blackheads, whiteheads, cystic acne, bumps that looked like someone had used my face as a dart board) and I was trying all kinds of different, very expensive products to calm my face down. But, the only thing that has worked is a super gentle, pH balanced cleanser and coconut oil. I don’t use anything else now.
If all else, fails, give it a try! Also, rms beauty’s raw cocount cream = fantastic. Thanks so much for your amazing blog, book and tips!
I used coconut oil on my hair overnight a few days ago and the next day after I washed it, my hair was still super stringy and greasy. Has this happened to anyone else? Perhaps i put too much or maybe my fine hair can’t handle all the moisture? Thoughts??
Other than that, I use it to take my makeup off and I put it on my eczema and I love it!
@Cameron – have you tried Apricot Kernel oil? I know it’s still an oil, but my eyes were irritated by some of the other common oils too (olive oil, grapeseed oil) but the Apricot Kernel oil works perfectly and does not irritate my eyes at all. I get mine at Whole Foods for $4.49 for a 4 oz bottle, which is lasting a long time, but you could probably find it cheaper online with a little searching.
I LOVE, love, love coconut oil and use if for most of your 10 tips. I made myself a hair balm (light shaping wax) using coconut oil mixed with beeswax. Depending on how light or stiff you like it, change up the proportions. I use a 2 to 1 ratio, coconut oil to beeswax. You don’t need much or indeed it can look greasy, but a little dab will do ya!
Prevent sunburn! I am not going to guarantee it and definitely wear a natural sunscreen on your face, but i have used only coconut oil for years without getting burned. I even rubbed it on one time before going tanning in a tanning bed and I didn’t get anything. If you want to make it stronger buy some titanium dioxide from http://www.pvsoap.com and mix it up with the coconut oil. I have also done this and had other people use it and it prevented sunburn.
I also love spreading coconut oil on gluten free bread, pancakes, waffles and muffins.
I use it for a moisturizer and hair treatment. My cousin eats a tablespoon a day and swears it has helped her with her candida issues and weight loss.
What brands of coconut oil do you recommend? I, too, purchased coconut oil that is very solid at room temp, and requires heating!
@Joanna Yeah go a little lighter, or wash your hair with a gentle shampoo twice!
I like coconut oil for moisturizer, although I was told if you use too much it can be drying. I´ve also tried it for shaving, even got my husband to try once, although he thought the conditioner idea was better. Also,Tried it as kind of a conditioner, but my hair gets greasy looking fast.
It´s semi solid at room temperature, but if you go camping in April, bring a knife or spoon, because it turns really solid when it´s 40 or 50.
@Brittany You want to use Virgin,Cold Pressed coconut oil. It is solid but scoop it out with a spoon and it melts in your hand. For baking I put in a metal measuring cup and set it on the stove as the oven is warming. It is perfect by the time I need it. Coconut oil makes baked goods richer tasting. It is amazing for vegetable sauteing. yummy!
We keep a huge jar in the kitchen and a medium size in the bathroom.
@Tosha Thanks for the lead. I have used coconut oil plain and got a sunburn. Will try it with the titanium dioxide.
I have coconut oil! I’ve used it as a moisturizer at night, because in the daytime is way too greasy for me! And for my legs, and my lips. I’ve also used it on the tips of my hair, on the ends, and it makes it soft.
One thing I don’t like about the oil is that, it’s oily. Granted, it’s supposed to be, but it does make me have to wash my hands afterwards, but I guess that’s a small price to pay.
I use it on my face/lips/neck/hands. I also use it as a dipping sauce for my organic strawberries. It’s actually pretty decent and HONESTLY I was so full! I’m not a small girl either, I can eat, and constantly want to eat! But after that, I didn’t want to for a long time- about 3 hrs (pretty good considering it was only that for b.fast)! So interesting~
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great post! i like coconut oil as a simple spread on bread, rice cakes and stuff.
also read somewhere that in ayurveda it is being used to treat heavy dandruff / flaky scalp? supposedly you rub it onto your scalp over night a couple of nights in a row and wash it off in the morning? can anyone confirm? that would be great and worth a try then because i seem to have some heavy psoriasis going on that i have not found a way to treat otherwise for now.
Hi Kelu, Coconut oil works great for dandruff/psoriasis. My husband has the most appalling flakes I can imagine and coconut oil really makes a significant difference. He keeps his hair super short so I’ll just rub it on his scalp and leave it til the next shampoo. His hair is shiny and smells great! Now if I can only get him to use it regularly without me bugging him about it…
I eat it on occasion to help with joint/heart/candida/weight but i must say i havent done it enough to see a big difference…I use it to remove my eye make up, i use it on zits to help heal, i use it for lotion (all over my body; it has IMMENSELY helped reduce the look of cellulite and stretch marks on my bum), i use it as lube, and i have used it to heal cuts, scrapes. Once, i spilled boiling tea water all down my leg (crotch, feet, thighs) and immediately covered all the red spots in coconut oil and went to bed. Woke up to nothing!! I really figured my foot would blister… but it wasl ike it never happened. It’s an amazing oil! I am currently using grape seed oil to moisturize my face as i found coconut to be a little much, but i still use it on severe acne. I am still searching for the perfect oil for my face, as the grape seed still seems like too much ( i think ill try the apricot next, or perhaps safflower!) Love this post!!
oh and i use it on my hair!! if i use too much it does cause my thin blonde hair to be greasy for days, but i still find it is worth it! I have been on a mission to grow my hair out for about a year and it has really helped me avoid the shears!
thanks for the tips everyone! i think my problem is that I bought the oil in a bottle type container that you can’t get your fingers into, so i never realized that it melts in your hand! problem solved. Purchasing a TUB today!
BTW, I like to keep in in the shower (it liquefies on it’s own in the warm air) and put it all over when I am still wet. It makes my boyfriend go “oh honey you smell like a cupcake…”
coconut oil is great for all the things above.. try using unrefined coconut oil to cook with you dont have the coconut flavor its great. we cook alot of things with it even eggs. .. I put a spoon full in tea. It gives me some energy since the oil is know for that.. if you have problems showing up in your skin go to a doctor ( I recommend a holistic person) usually your body is telling you about some thing that is going on that needs to attended too.
I am celiac so I have been gluten free for over 3 yrs now and dairy free as well. I started my own business in coaching people to live and eat gluten free and enjoy it and have freedom. I agree if the person above there are crappy gluten free baking but there are some great stuff and you dont know that anything is gone like gluten. :) If someone would like to contact me around this .. my email is sea.note.connie@gmail.com .. I am contribution to the gluten free community .. you can be healthy , enjoy food ..
Many thanks for the group cheer-up about going gluten free! Feeling better already :) And yes, a GF post or two with a call for recipes would be a dream come true.
@JoAnna, for us ladies with fine hair, yes, coconut oil might be too heavy. However, I use it much in the same way as I use a heavy conditioner–only on my ends. If you’re seriously weighed down by the oil, try rinsing your hair with a little vinegar. Good luck!
I’ve heard a friend say she used it nightly as a tummy lotion when throughout her entire pregnancy…. not a stretch mark to be found!!
Approximately how much would one use for the ends of their hair? A smaller amount than the amount of conditioner I use?
Also, while I love how coconut oil makes my skin feel, the grease factor prevents me from using it in the morning. And when I use it at night, I leave a body shaped oil splotch on the sheets, which I think it pretty sweet.
Body scrub. Equal parts coconut oil and sugar (or kosher salt), a drop or two of your favorite essential oil or a sprinkle of clove or cinnamon or a few drops of vanilla, whatever, it is optional. Scrubs and moisturizes. I keep mine in a mason jar in my shower caddy.
Use bath tub treads, and spritz your tub floor after showering with whatever tub cleaner you use.
@Ashley, a pea-sized amount on your ends? That’s what I do. Play around with it though and see what works. Maybe lentil-sized to start :)
My mom has used coconut oil in her “hot oil treatments” to my hair for as long as I can remember. I was actually pampered with another treatment when I went home for Easter (is it ok to admit that I go home not only to see my parents but to receive an amazingly natural spa treatment from my mom…pedicure included??). I usually leave my hot oil treatments up to my mom, but I frequent coconut oil in cooking. I actually use coconut milk (from a can) and when cooking with veggie stock, I usually replace half of the stock with coconut milk for a thicker and more flavorful sauce! I really want to try it out as a moisturizer though!!
I LOVE coconut oil for it’s versatility! To get the vast array of health benefits from it I always make sure it’s unbleached, unrefined & undeodorised. I have clients using it as a facial cleanser, pre-shave, body moisturiser, hair treatment and it makes a great massage medium. I also eat is raw every day, put it in smoothies, cook with it, use it as a scalp treatment & hair conditioner (while in the sauna – the heat makes it the perfect conditioning treatment)… it’s my MUST HAVE product.
Ironically, I was standing in the isle last night at Whole Foods pondering Coconut Oil…and now I know what to do with it! Thank you!
I am happy to report that I use coconut oil as a facial moisturizer with glowing results! I put it on and allow it to set for as much time as I have to spare. I tissue off the excess then apply makeup. I am not acne prone so cant comment on that aspect of it.
@janice – i just whipped up a batch of beeswax/coconut oil hair balm and i can’t wait to try it!
@tosha – i’m very interested in mixing my own zinc/titanium dioxide into carrier oils for summer body lotions w/ spf, but pvsoap doesn’t seem to list the size of their titanium particles. any tips on where i could find this info? also, what *is* considered a safe size, anyway?
thanks!
@Valerie — Thanks for the tip about apricot kernel oil. At $5, I am more than willing to give it a try, since all the chemical-free, non-oil make-up removers are hugely expensive.
@soapwallachef — Any plans to sell that homemade toothpaste, or share the recipe? I’m a huge fan of your cream deodorant and face serum!
Coconut oil is a fantastic diaper cream for babies too! It lasts forever, because you don’t use too much of it like liquid oils. It works really well to prevent rashes, it smells super nice, and it doesn’t negatively affect cloth diapers.
I’ve been lusting after coconut oil for months now, but putting it off and purchasing other natural beauty products first…can’t buy them all at once. i’ve thought of like 6 great reasons for me to use it, but i think the cellulite one just tipped the scale! so getting it my next trip to whole foods! i use almond oil as my moisturizer (argan on the face) but i’m thinking i’ll need something thicker/richer for the winter. one of the many uses i’m looking forward to!
Thanks for the great post.
I use coconut oil ( & a few others) as a hot oil treatment, as well as a frizz tamer during the day.
I did find another use for it last week when I had a reaction to some makeup wipes, I ended up with red bumps and itching around my eyes. The coconut oil helped reduce the itching and within 2 days the rash was gone.
-Hayley
Great article!
I’ve been massaging coconut oil into my growing bump and breasts twice a day since I was 8 weeks pregnant. Now at 38 weeks and without a single stretch mark :)
Thanks to Rebecca for the thumbs up regarding coconut oil and scalp treatment!
I just remembered last month i used coconut oil to treat a tonsillitis. I took a spoonful of coconut oil several times a day and gargled with it. The tonsillitis did not inflame further and in comparison to previous times i did not have to take antibiotics. My tonsils calmed down well during the course of one week. And i found the oil to be also very soothing.
I have used coconut oil in cooking, baking and skin care for 7 years. Now my product line is coconut oil based. Check it out at:
http://www.olaponoaromatherapy.com
Aloha
@ Eilzabeth – you poor lamb! I was devastated, too, when I found out I had Celiac and had to lose the gluten. I will email you. I’m so sorry you have to deal with this at all, but Siobhan is right – you will see that you can still eat healthfully and deliciously! There is SO much info online now and gluten-free products are so much more readily available. I won’t say it’s still not a pain to adhere to (I miss gluten, and eating out is still stressful), but in the two years since I’ve been diagnosed, the knowledge-base seems to have exploded! You will be fine! Promise!
@Siobhan – Ha! Would love to teach you – I’m so NOT a chef in any sense of the word though, but I love to cook and bake. Will send you an email – just converted an Italian anise cookie recipe I found online to gluten-free and it is perfect (it is VERY easy to convert many baking recipes – if I can do it, anyone can!). Will send you an email. Thanks!
Now I am off to buy some coconut oil and try these awesome ideas…
Love this! Just a quick question regarding coconut oil storage. Is it best to be kept refrigerated or is room temperature ok? (I know for some oils, like olive oil, keeping it in the fridge is best to avoid free radicals and keeping it stable). So just was curious. Thanks!
A really great book about the benefits of coconut and other healthy fats is Eat Fat Lose Fat by Sally Fallon and Mary Enig. Also, I had the exact same issue with using coconut oil as a face moisturizer, made my face dry and break out. Never going to do that again.
@Allison, thank you!! and @Rachel, my jar says to store the coconut oil in a cool, dark place. I leave it in the hallway just outside my bathroom.