A salve for the body, inside and out
Made from the white “meat” of the coconut, coconut oil is solid at room temperature and great for high-heat cooking, with a bundle of benefits outside the kitchen, too.
This pantry staple removes makeup, soothes scrapes and bug bites, heals dry skin and parched strands and even keeps leather looking smooth and supple.
Here are five out-of-the-kitchen applications for coconut oil:
- Skin Moisturizer: Warming a bit in your fingers, apply coconut oil directly to damp skin after a shower for silky-soft, sweet-smelling skin. The naturally occurring fatty acids in coconut oil, including linoleic and lauric acids, are deeply hydrating when applied topically.
- Makeup Remover: Even waterproof mascara slides off easily with a touch of coconut oil. Warm a tiny bit on your fingertips and dab gently onto skin. Let makeup melt for a moment, then simply rinse away or follow with your regular cleanser.
- Nourishing Hair Healer: Coconut oil deeply nourishes dry hair because it penetrates strands and protects against protein loss. It works as a moisturizing mask, frizz eliminator, shine-enhancing styling cream and protectant during at-home hair lightening. To use as a mask: Warm a generous glop of coconut oil in your hands and apply to dry hair — from scalp to tip or just to the ends. Leave in for an hour or more (even overnight), then shampoo and condition as you normally would. To use as a styler or frizz-killer: Warm the oil on your palms and smooth over the surface of your hair, paying extra attention to frizzy spots. To protect hair before lightening: As with the mask, apply liquified coconut oil to dry hair then proceed with bleach or hair-color mixture according to package directions. The oil will protect your strands and won’t diminish the efficacy of the bleach.
- Itch and Scrape Soother: A gentle, all-around skin calmer, coconut oil is also anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial, so it naturally soothes minor scrapes, burns and itchiness from bug bites.
- Leather Conditioner: A little dab of coconut oil can keep your leather jackets, bags, belts, shoes and furniture shiny and supple, and even remove some scuffs and stains. Start small and apply solid coconut oil to the leather item with a soft cloth. Work it into the leather, let it sit for a minute, then buff gentle with a clean cloth. Works like magic for neglected pieces.