The 20 Best Beauty and Cooking Benefits of Coconut 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.