10 Life-Changing New Ways to Use Coconut Oil

By Alanna Nunez

Photo Credit: Getty Images/Lauren Ahn

1. Shaving cream. Get a smooth shave and prevent razor burn by mixing coconut oil, shea butter, and jojoba oil together. Try this recipe.

2. Facial scrub. Slough off dead skin cells and get rid of blackheads with a simple mix of equal parts coconut oil and brown sugar.

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3. Makeup remover. Using your hands or a washcloth, rub a little coconut oil onto your skin. Let sit for a minute and rinse off with warm water. It can even remove that last bit of waterproof mascara — just be careful not to get directly into your eyes, or it could sting.

4. Cuticle oil. Winter wreaks havoc on your skin, especially your hands. Skip the lotion and just rub a little coconut onto your hands and cuticles to lock in moisture.

5. Lip gloss. Favorite tube of lipstick just about done? Scoop out the last bit of color with a Q-tip and combine with about a teaspoon of coconut oil in a new container, and you should have just enough for an extra swipe or two of lipstick.

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6. Makeup brush shampoo. Yup, this really works! Here’s how: Coconut oil is packed with anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial properties due to the level of medium-chain fatty acids that are present, Dr. Ariel Ostad, M.D., a New York-based dermatologic surgeon, says. “In fact, those fatty acids make up 80 percent of coconut oil, so they can definitely help keep your makeup brushes clean,” he says.Mix two parts anti-bacterial soap with one part coconut oil and work through brush bristles. Rinse under lukewarm water. Let dry completely before using your brushes again.

7. Deodorant. The lauric acid in coconut oil can help kill bacteria that causes your sweat to smell. But be warned: This doesn’t actually stop you from sweating, it just masks the B.O.

8. To soothe eczema flare-ups. Coconut oil is one of the few things that can actually restore damaged or diseased skin, due to the small molecular structure of it, which allows for easy absorption, according to Dr. Ostad. As with waxing, Dr. Ostad recommends testing the oil on a small patch of skin first to ensure that you’re not allergic to it.

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9. Lube. Coconut oil can be used as lube, provided that you don’t use it with latex condoms, as the oil can break down the integrity of latex, Dr. Ostad says. “Coconut oil is all natural and doesn’t contain any preservatives or added ingredients that can cause adverse reactions in people with allergies,” he says. “It’s also more lubricating than a water-based lube so it lasts longer, and its antifungal properties can help keep yeast infections at bay.”

10. To treat fungal infections. While coconut oil on its own won’t have the same effect that antibiotics do, you can use it in conjunction with them to prevent and treat fungal infections like athlete’s foot, Dr. Ostad says.


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