The 20 Best Beauty and Cooking Benefits of Coconut Oil

The 20 Best Beauty and Cooking Benefits of Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is incredibly useful for a large assortment of health issues. Whether you want to moisturize your skin or keep food fresh longer, you can use coconut oil.

Many people use coconut oil for moisturizing their skin, but it can provide so many other uses. In fact, coconut oil has a never-ending number of uses. You can find coconut oil being used in cooking, hygiene, pet care, medicine, and other industries.

Why is Coconut Oil a Super Ingredient?

Why is it that coconut oil can provide so many different uses? It contains antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Some studies even suggest that it can help fight the spread of cancer.

When choosing coconut oil, keep in mind that there are two different types available – refined and unrefined. The unrefined coconut oil may be more beneficial for any of the uses provided below. The refined coconut oil goes through a refining process that can eliminate some of the nutrition of the oil.

Below, you will find 10 great uses for coconut oil in cooking and 10 great ways to use coconut oil in your beauty routine.

Coconut Oil, Uses for Cooking:

First, you should explore some of the many uses of coconut oil for cooking. Here are 10 ways that you can use coconut oil for everything from greasing your pans to replacing your coffee creamer.

Sauteing sliced mushrooms in a skillet
Replace Butter or Vegetable Oil

Butter and vegetable oil both contain high levels of fat. You can use coconut oil as a direct replacement for vegetable oil or butter. Simply use the same amount of coconut oil that you would butter or vegetable oil, when sautéing food in a frying pan.

Benefits of Coconut Oil grease fry pans
 Grease Your Frying Pans

Use coconut oil to grease your frying pans. You can use coconut oil just as you would vegetable oil, olive oil, or Crisco, except that coconut oil is a much healthier option. Use a moderate amount of coconut oil in your frying pans or to grease baking pans before cooking baked goods.

Cherry smoothie, coconut milk, yogurt and honey . Stone background
Improve the Consistency of Smoothies

If you make smoothies on a regular basis, consider adding some coconut oil. Many people have found that adding a small amount of coconut oil to their smoothies can improve the consistency of their drinks, while adding a handful of beneficial nutrients.

coffee with creams
Coffee Creamer

Use coconut oil as a coffee creamer. Instead of adding milk or creamer to your coffee, add a small amount of coconut oil. As with adding coconut oil to your smoothies, this will give your morning coffee a nutrition boost.

Benefits of Coconut Oil toast
Use a Toast Spread

By combining coconut oil with a few other ingredients, you can make a nutritious toast spread. Combine coconut oil with some honey, cinnamon, and nuts. You may find that this is easier when you use a food processor. After mixing the ingredients, place the mixture in a jar and store in your fridge.

pancakes and ingredients
Replace Sweeteners

Get rid of sweeteners, such as sugar and stevia, and replace with coconut oil. Coconut oil has a mild sweetness that works as a good replacement for sugar and artificial sweeteners.

Texture of slices of fried stew
Prevent Freezer Burn

If you are getting tired of dealing with freezer burn, add a very thin layer of coconut oil on top of the food before placing in the freezer. This works best with sauces and other liquids. The layer of coconut oil will create a seal, which will prevent freezer burn.

Used Plate
Clean Your Baking Dishes

When you are having trouble getting caked-on food off your baking dishes, use coconut oil. The coconut oil will help to lubricate the stuck food, making it easier to clean your dishes.

Benefits of Coconut Oil salad dressing
Make Your Own Salad Dressing

Replace high-fat salad dressings with your own homemade salad dressing. Use coconut oil with a few other ingredients for a healthier salad dressing. In addition to salad dressing, you can use coconut oil in homemade granola and ice cream recipes.

As a side note, even though it is recommended that you use unrefined coconut oil for most purposes, you may find it easier to use refined coconut oil, when making homemade foods, such as salad dressing.

Mayonnaise in bowl
Make Your Own Mayo

Another food that you can make using coconut oil is mayo. Simply combine 2/3 cup of coconut oil, 2/3 cup of olive oil, one-teaspoon of mustard, and a tablespoon of lemon juice. After mixing these ingredients, add four egg yolks. This will create a light, healthy mayo.

Coconut Oil Uses for Beauty

Now that we have covered some of the uses of coconut oil for cooking, it is time for you to explore how you can use coconut oil in your beauty routine.

Closeup on young woman applying hair mask
 Moisturize Your Hair

Probably one of the most popular uses of coconut oil in a beauty routine is to moisturize hair. If you tend to have a dry scalp, you should consider using coconut oil. Place a small amount of coconut oil in your hands and massage into your scalp and hair. Try not to use too much coconut oil. In fact, some people find it easier to add a small amount of coconut oil to their conditioner.

Young woman pushes with fingers on closed eyes. Isolated over white.
Moisturize Your Skin

Along with moisturizing your hair, you can use coconut oil to moisturize your skin. Again, apply the coconut oil without diluting it or combining it with other ingredients. Use a small amount on your hands, feet, face – just about any part of your body.

Mature beauty
Help Prevent Acne

For acne sufferers, you could use coconut oil to prevent acne – if your acne is due to dry skin. Many people assume that too much grease is the primary cause of acne; though, it turns out that dry skin is the main reason for blemishes. When your skin is dry, your body produces an abundance of oils, clogging pores and causing zits to form. Apply a very small amount of coconut oil to your face and massage into your skin.

young woman washing her face
Create a Face Wash

Make your own face wash. This will help eliminate dirt and debris, while moisturizing your skin. Mix and equal amount of coconut oil and castor oil.

tears in her eyes
 Eliminate Puffiness Around Your Eyes

Get rid of any puffiness around your eyes. Place a small amount of coconut oil on your fingertips and rub under your eyelids. Make sure that you do not get any coconut oil in your eyes. You may want to try this remedy before bed – when you wake up, the puffiness should be reduced.

Man shaving
Use as Shaving Cream

Use coconut oil to replace your shaving cream. About a half hour before shaving, apply the coconut oil to your face. It might take a little getting used to, using coconut oil instead of shaving cream, as it creates a smoother surface, but you should notice a reduction in razor bumps.

Young happy man applying cream.
Use as Aftershave

Along with using coconut oil to replace your shaving cream, you can apply it after shaving as an aftershave. People enjoy the smell of coconut oil and it can also help soothe irritation from shaving.

Acne treatment
Use to Exfoliate Your Face

Some people try using baking soda to exfoliate their skin, but find that it is too rough. Try mixing an equal combination of baking soda and coconut oil, to create a beneficial cream for exfoliating your face.

Women's hands take care of cuticles with oil
 Improve the Health of Your Cuticles

If you have dry or flaky cuticles, use coconut oil to moisturize your nails. Apply a small amount of coconut oil directly to your nails. Massage into place to help heal your cuticles and also fight infections or nail fungus.

Stretch marks of skin on the thigh
Get Rid of Stretch Marks

The final suggestion for using coconut oil, as part of your beauty routine, is to use coconut oil to help prevent or get rid of stretch marks. Actually, you cannot get rid of stretch marks, but you can diminish the appearance of stretch marks. Massage the coconut oil directly on your stretch marks. Use this method every day to begin reducing the appearance of stretch marks.


There you have it – coconut oil is incredibly useful. You can incorporate the use of coconut oil into a variety of your daily habits and routines. Start using coconut oil in your cooking and in your beauty routines.

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