Weekend Beauty: 6 Ways Coconut Oil Will Totally Change Your Life
Lately, like most of America, I’ve been completely awestruck by holistic superstar Shailene Woodley’s approach to natural beauty. Not only does The Fault in Our Stars actress have an epic natural cure for anything imaginable (please write a book, Shai! ), but her magical beauty tips always have me coming back for seconds. Shailene’s pushed me to get in touch with my own Gaia-loving, tarot-reading earth goddess and I’ve been going back to nature’s roots (exploring health food stores, farmer’s markets and so much more) to find raw, natural beauty solutions.
Absolutely one of my favorite kitchen staples has to be coconut oil, as its smooth texture and amazing health properties are great for boosting immunity and make some seriously yummy treats. But if you didn’t already know, coconut oil can also create some kickass beauty shortcuts too. Plus, it’s hydrating and antiviral properties can really be game-changing for your usual routine. (It’s also very cheap—an average jar costs about $14.) Shailene swears by it and so do I, so without further adieu, here’s six ways coconut oil will change your life. I’m not even kidding.
1. Fragrance Booster
No matter how many times you spritz on your favorite perfume, it never seems to last longer than the minute you put it on. To give your scent an instant boost, after spraying, rub some coconut oil (I love Whole Foods Organic Virgin Coconut Oil!) onto your wrists and neck to seal in your perfume. Coconut oil can go on a bit thick, so just a dab here or there goes a long way.
2. Hair Mask
Coconut oil is a perfect (inexpensive) hair mask—it conditions split ends and combats unwanted dryness fast. To make your own mask, whip up some honey and melted coconut oil together, and coat your ends for about an hour. Rinse and wash out and say hello to VERY SHINY hair. If you are a fan of oil treatments, try making your own strengthening hair treatment by heating up some coconut oil and applying onto your ends once a week. For even better results, leave on overnight and rinse out the next morning.
3. Moisturizer
Coconut oil can be used as body moisturizer! It’s a nice treat post-shaving or a handy remedy for eczema and scaly summer dry skin—just rub it onto your skin whenever you need that moisturizing fix.
4. Oil Pulling
The whole oil-pulling trend (which, with just a 20-minute commitment to mouth swishing, promises everything from cleaner teeth to no joint pain) really took the Internet by the storm a few months ago. If you haven’t tried this health trend yet and want to, all you need is a spoon and some oil and you’re good to go. Just simply place one tablespoon of coconut oil into your mouth, and swirl around once a day, for 15-20 minutes. Yup, it’s really that easy, if you can be patient with oil in your mouth for around the time it takes to watch an episode of Friends.
5. Makeup Remover
Makeup removers can sure be costly, so if you want to save the mullah for more important things, using coconut oil can dissolve away waterproof mascara and bulletproof foundations in no time. Dip a cotton ball into some oil, follow with a cleanser, and voila! Adios makeup!
6. DIY Scrubs
Making my own scrubs is one of my favorite things to do, so when I’m feeling really creative, I love to create an all-purpose facial and body scrub with raw turbinado sugar and coconut oil. Great for shedding away dead skin cells and dry skin, this scrub can be used two to three times a week after cleansing for beautiful and glowing summer skin. To give your scrub a pleasant aroma, add your favorite essential oil ( I love lavender).
(Images via Shutterstock and via TheEveryGirl)
