6 Beauty Products You Can DIY with Coconut Oil Right Now

Number four has me SHOOK!

Listen, I am NOT that crunchy. I am all about natural, organic products, when necessary, but only if they work just as good, if not better, than the mainstream alternative. I’m also an extremely loyal customer; I’ve been using the same mascara since 8th grade, still own a pair of shoes I bought at 17, and refuse to wear anything but Levi jeans.

Needless to say, I do not like trying new things when it comes to my body. Once I find something that works, I’ve even been known to stock up, just in case. If you’re looking for an abundance mindset coach, I’m definitely not your girl lol. But recently, I’ve been inspired to simplify my life and after taking a quick inventory of my bathroom, I realized that was the easiest place to start.

I’ve always been a big fan of coconut oil, even back in the day when a regular-sized jar would set you back something like, $15. Does anyone else remember those days?

Anyway, I had mainly kept the coconut oil in the kitchen–bringing it out for the occasional DIY face mask or last-resort makeup remover. It wasn’t until I inconceivably ran out of facial moisturizer one day that I began to consider coconut oil as an alternative to some of my typical favorites.

Turns out, there are actually tons of benefits to using coconut oil topically that are actually approved by dermatologists! Just a few of those benefits include water and fatty acid absorption, inflammation reduction, and even increased skin elasticity.

So, here is my fairly exhaustive list of all the different beauty products I have replaced with coconut oil, thus far. Like Frank’s Red Hot Sauce–I put that shit on everything!

Mouthwash

Before you write this one off, remember, I am seriously not that crunchy! Now, you’re definitely not going to experience the minty freshness that Crest and Colgate promise, but coconut oil is a much healthier alternative that provides benefits to your body that fluoride never could (no tea, no shade).

Oil pulling was first introduced some 5,000 years ago in the ancient holistic healing system of ayurveda. It is believed to literally “pull” out toxins from between the teeth and gums to eliminate bacteria and improve mouth health.

Experts suggest pulling the oil through your teeth for 8-20 minutes to experience the full effect, ideally on an empty stomach. I started oil pulling a few months back, using the time I spend in the shower to swish the coconut oil around in my mouth–habit-stacking FTW! It’s a little weird at first, the oil has a funky texture, but you get used to it, and it’s actually super satisfying.

Antibiotic Ointment

Bleck, anyone else hate the word “ointment”??

Anyway, I grew up in a house that used products like Neosporin and Hydrocortisone on everything from bug bites to scraped knees. But guess what? Studies prove that the level of monoglycerides and fatty acids in coconut oil actually holds antibacterial properties similar to that of it’s OTC colleagues.

I put this theory to the test this summer after being stung by a wasp on two different occasions (long story). The first time I was stung, I used Neosporin on the affected area, like I always have done. Unfortunately, that sting took forever to heal, resulted in some gnarly swelling, and once it started to heal, itched like freaking crazy.

Cut to a couple months later where I was stung again (bugs in the Low Country USA don’t mess around). This time, I was in the middle of my epic coconut oil experiment and decided to use it on my stings instead of Neosporin.

Well, as you can assume, the coconut oil, used topically on my stings this go-around, healed my wounds MUCH QUICKER. Within just a couple days, the swelling had subsided and I experienced minimal itching. Call it coincidence, but I truly believe it is the power of plant medicine!

Scalp Serum

For as long as I can remember, I’ve struggled with dry, itchy scalp around the changing of the seasons. The only regimen I’ve ever found to work included a 3-product process, not including shampoo and conditioner–ain’t nobody got time for that.

By switching to a coconut-oil based scalp-care routine, I’ve been able to cut out my scalp serum, scalp scrub, AND special dander-ridding shampoo!

You can find tons of different DIY scalp scrub recipes, some only containing coconut oil and sugar! Once per week, I use this scrub I found from My Merry Messy Life, using tea tree as my essential oil of choice.

Facial Moisturizer

Yup. This was one of the most surprising products I found I could easily replace with coconut oil. I’d been using Cetaphil moisturizer on this face since high school and only recently had branched out to more well-known face oils.

I had the same reservations you probably do. What if it’s too heavy? Too oily? Doesn't absorb into my skin?! I mean, this is our money-maker we’re talking about!

While dermatologists don’t recommend using coconut oil on your face if you are acne-prone, this combination-skinned face has been LOVING IT! Not only are the dry patches on my face cleared up, but I’ve also noticed some of the redness I typically experience around my nose and cheeks have started to fade. I even feel like my foundation goes on easier, even without using a primer–that’s another product from the makeup bag that I can eliminate. That’s a freakin’ win in my book!

Final Thoughts

If you’re planning to hop aboard the coconut-oil-in-the-bathroom train, there are a couple things to look for when shopping around. First, be sure that the coconut oil you choose is food-grade. As the biggest organ on our body, our skin deserves the same gentle care as our stomachs. I’ve been working with the mantra: if I wouldn’t put it in my mouth, I’m not putting it on my body.

Other terms that will point to a higher-grade coconut oil include “organic” (duh) and “non-hydrogenated”. “Cold-pressed” or “expeller-pressed” are also terms to look for, as that means that the oil was extracted in its purest form. This coconut oil can be used topically and internally and has over 67,000 reviews on Amazon!

As everything in life, what works for one person, may not work for you. I am not a dermatologist or doctor by any means. I’m just sharing what has worked for me, in the hopes that it can also help to simplify your life!

With that being said, if making the switch from one of these products has worked for you, I’d love to hear about it! Feel free to leave a comment down below, or shoot me a DM on Instagram @haley.being :)

So much love,

Haley