Coconut Oil Uses: Skin, Hair and Home

Coconut oil comes from the meat of the coconut. It works for your skin, your hair, your kitchen and even around the house. Here are its most practical uses and three scrubs you can make at home.

Which one to choose

• Virgin (unrefined): keeps the coconut smell and taste. It is the one most used on skin and hair.
• Refined: has almost no smell or taste. It is used more for cooking.

It turns solid when it is cool and melts when it is warm. If it is hard, set the closed jar in hot water for a while.

Uses for your skin

• Moisturizer: a little on your body, neck and face, on clean skin.
• After shaving: a thin layer leaves your skin soft.
• Makeup remover: a little on a cotton pad, wiped over your makeup.
• Lip balm: a dab with your finger to keep your lips soft.
• Massage oil: as much as you like, rubbed over the area.

Uses for your hair

• Conditioner for the ends: a teaspoon on the ends, then spread it through the rest of your hair.
• For frizz: a very small amount between your palms, then run them over your hair.

It is also part of our carrot hair mask.

In the kitchen

It is used for cooking and baking, instead of butter or another oil. Virgin oil gives food a touch of coconut; refined oil does not change the taste.

Around the house

• Removing gum from hair: put it on the gum, wait about 30 minutes and pull the gum out with your fingers.
• Shining wood: mix it with a little lemon and wipe it on with a cotton pad.

3 homemade coconut oil scrubs

A scrub removes dead skin from the surface and leaves it soft. Use them with gentle movements, without rubbing hard, and rinse with warm water. If you are allergic to any of the ingredients, do not use them.

Coconut and lemon scrub for hands and feet

Ingredients:

• Half a cup of white sugar
• The juice of half a lemon
• Coconut oil, enough to make a paste

How to make it: melt the coconut oil, add the sugar and then the lemon juice. Mix until it is creamy and thick. If you want it grittier, add a little more sugar.

Coconut and orange body scrub

Ingredients:

• Brown sugar
• The juice of half an orange and its grated peel
• Coconut oil
• A teaspoon of olive oil (optional)

How to make it: melt the coconut oil and pour it over the sugar. Add the juice, the grated peel and, if you like, the olive oil. Mix until it is medium thick. It leaves your body soft.

Coconut face scrub

Ingredients:

• Half a cup of white sugar
• Coconut oil
• Olive oil

How to make it: melt the coconut oil, add the sugar and then the olive oil. It turns out a little sandy. Pass it over your face very gently, keeping it away from your eyes.

Coconut oil and MCT oil are not the same

MCT oil comes from coconut, but it is not the jar oil you use on your skin or in the kitchen. It is one part of its fats, the medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), and it is sold as a supplement to take.

In our store we carry Buried Treasure Coconut MCT Oil. This is what its label says:

• What it is: coconut MCT oil standardized to 95%, dietary supplement, 16.54 fl oz (496 ml) bottle.
• Per teaspoon (5 ml): 4.75 g of medium-chain triglycerides (caprylic acid, capric acid and lauric acid). It has 96 servings.
• How to take it: shake well. Adults: 1 teaspoon up to 3 times daily, alone or mixed with your favorite beverage. For best results, before exercise.
• In the kitchen: it may be used as a substitute for conventional oils in salad dressings, sauces or cooking. Not recommended for frying due to its low boiling point.
• Free of: wheat, gluten, soy, yeast and dairy.
• Cautions: pregnant and nursing women should check dosage with their healthcare professional. Keep out of reach of children. Contains tree nut (coconut).

For your skin

If you are looking for more for your routine, everything we carry is in skin care products.

For more details, call us at 787-304-0458.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.