Posted: Tuesday, July 8, 2014
By Allie Holzman | 0 comments
Coconut oil seems to be the jack-of-all-trades when it comes to beauty routines. Last summer, I heard a lot of hype regarding coconut oil and its many uses and decided to pick up a jar to see if it was as versatile as my family and friends had made it out to be. Turns out, it was!
Last summer, I paid $6 for a 16-ounce jar. one year later, I still have half the jar left — a little goes a long way! It is easily accessible; many grocery stores carry it, and it’s available online here.
At room temperature, the oil is a white solid, but turns to liquid if you put a small amount in your hand. There are many ways to incorporate coconut oil into your beauty routine, but here are some of my favorite ways to use coconut oil in the summer.
1: As a makeup remover. There’s no need for expensive makeup remover when you have a jar of coconut oil. Simply dab a cotton swab (or your finger) into the oil and use it to remove stubborn eye makeup. I’ve had luck removing even the most stubborn waterproof mascara easily with coconut oil.
2: As a hair mask. In the summer, my hair tends to get dry and brittle. To restore moisture, I use a spoonful of coconut oil through the ends of my hair, leave it in for 30 minutes and wash it out. I notice my hair is a lot shinier — but not greasy — and feels healthier after doing this.
3: on a sunburn. Sometimes, no matter how much SPF I wear, I still end up with sunburned skin. When this happens, I use coconut oil as a lotion before I go to bed and notice that my burn will be almost (if not all) gone by morning. You could also use it as a lotion, even if you don’t have a sunburn.
4: As a shaving cream. Rather than spending money on pricey shaving lotions, I prefer to use coconut oil as I would any shaving cream. Lather it on your legs while in the shower, and not only does it work just as well as a shaving cream, but it also moisturizes and smells good too!
5: As a lip balm. Coconut oil has the same moisturizing properties for lips as it does for skin. Before I go to bed I use it as a lip balm and my lips feel softer than ever in the morning.
Because of its versatility, it’s helpful for traveling. It works as an all-in-one lip balm, moisturizer and conditioner. To bring a small amount on a trip, heat up your jar of coconut oil in the microwave, and while it’s in its liquid state, transfer it to a travel container.