8 Beauty Products You Can Replace With Coconut Oil

My poor, poor skin and hair suffers every single winter and every single winter, I go through a multitude of beauty products to rehydrate my skin and hair. I’d hate it think how much I spend on beauty products yearly. I basically get every ounce of beauty advice from Pinterest and I’ve tried many, many things (including olive oil + avocado on the hair). I’ve seen coconut oil advertised as the ultimate go-to beauty product, but it sounded too good to be true. And the fact that I’m not a huge fan of coconut made it less appealing.

But I took the plunge. And I’m happy I’m did. I tested eight ways to implement this eighth wonder of the world into my beauty regimen to see if it really worked.

Daily Moisturizer

Since coconut oil is made up of medium-chain fatty acids that enhance the barrier of your skin, it’s known to work better than most lotions. While it does make your skin significantly smoother than a traditional lotion, you’ll end up having to wait at least 20 minutes for it to soak in. Totally worth it though.

Eye Makeup Remover

Who knew? I’ve been spending all this money on makeup remover wipes when all along coconut oil works just as well. It’s a much better alternative since it’s safe and natural compared to the harsh chemicals that can be found in most makeup removers. Just dab a little on a cotton ball or cotton pad (I prefer the pad) and wipe away stubborn eye makeup.

I used Carrington Farms’ Coconut Oil ($16.99 for a 54 ounce jar)

Deep Conditioner

Like I mentioned previously, I had tried olive oil on my hair and it was a hot mess. My hair felt oily and dirty after, so I was most hesitant about trying this.

I warmed the coconut oil in my hands and just used it on the ends. I then wrapped my hair in saran wrap and left it on for about 30 minutes. I used my usual shampoo and conditioner and actually did notice a difference. Coconut oil contains proteins not found in other hair oils, which helps hair retain its natural moisture.

Chapstick

Chapped lips = my worst enemy in the winter. Flaky and cracked lips could quite possibly be the least sexy thing on earth.

Simply mix coconut oil with about a teaspoon of sugar and exfoliate away — you can do this about once a week. I also found it made my lips much softer when I put it on before I went to bed at night.

Frizz Fighter

Coconut oil does wonders for frizzy hair, which I am quite familiar with. Tame the frizz with a dime-sized drop of coconut oil making sure not to go overboard. Use a toothbrush dipped in a little coconut oil to lock down flyaways, too.

These little guys are perfect for on-the-go use!

Wrinkle Cream

While I’m not too worried about wrinkles at my age, it has been found that if you apply it under the eyes, it can help prevent wrinkles and hydrate the skin.

Teeth Whitener

You’ve probably heard of oil pulling, but does it really work? Evidently, yes. By swishing a tablespoon of coconut oil in your mouth for 10 to 15 minutes a day, you’ll notice your teeth will be whiter, while also improving your overall oral health. It’s one of the toughest of the beauty routines to stick to, but if you can manage to throw it into your morning or nightly routine, I would highly recommend it.

Shaving Cream

Now, for my favorite. Coconut oil is amazing for a shaving cream replacement. Not only that, but it also helps soothe the skin and leaves it super soft. Oh, and did I mention it significantly helps prevent razor burn? Booya!

Have you ever tried any of these coconut oil beauty tricks? If so, how’d it go for you? —Erika