For me, the smell of coconuts is the smell of my sister. And since my older sister is like the coolest person I know, I’ve always been drawn to anything and everything coconut scented. Candles, lotions, shampoos, conditioners, wax melts, car air fresheners. You name, I have it in a coconut scent. Coconut oil might not strictly smell like coconuts, but it’s amazing in its own right.
I first started using coconut oil during my extremely crunchy phase when my kids were babies. And now I will never, ever stop. This stuff is great for just about everything guys. Are you using it? Do you cook with it, sauté with it? What you need to do is add it into your skincare routine.
Coconut Oil as a Moisturizer
Maybe it’s because I live in such a dry climate, but I live by the mantra of moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Ideally, you want to use a gentle moisturizer with SPF in the mornings. But at night? You probably don’t want to slather sunscreen on your face.
Forget expensive eye creams and face lotions for bedtime use. Get yourself some straight up coconut oil and you will thank me. You don’t need a lot, just warm some between your hands and then work it into your face like normal. Worried about oil? Fear not! When used in small amounts (think ½ teaspoon) and thoroughly worked in, your face won’t be oily. Just deliciously soft and moisturized.
Coconut Oil in the Shower
Body scrubs are fantastic for exfoliating your skin and making you feel silky soft even before you lotion up. You can easily make your own body scrub for cheap, and using melted coconut oil in your preferred recipe is perfect.
My favorite method is to combine:
½ cup coffee grounds
½ cup sugar
¼ cup melted coconut oil
That’s it! Mix it together, store it in a sealed container in your shower, and use when you’re done washing. Bonus if you use this recipe: Your shower will smell like a big pot of brewing coffee as you finish up. You’re welcome. Not a fan of coffee? Try this Coconut-Lavender Body Scrub or this Body Scrub with Ginger, Coconut Oil, and Sugar.
Coconut Oil for a Makeup Remover
Scrubbing off mascara with a makeup remover can be harsh on the sensitive skin around your eyes. For myself, even removers that promise to moisturize always seem to leave that area red irritated. Instead, I use coconut oil! Surprise!
Put a small amount onto a cotton pad or soft wash cloth, then work it gently across your lashes. Afterwards, wash your face as normal and finish up your skincare routine.
I was skeptical about adding coconut oil to my skincare routine since I have fairly oily skin. Those fears totally left my mind when I actually tried it out, and now you’d have to pry my coconut oil from cold, dead, slightly-but-not-totally crunchy hands. Go ahead and try it in your skincare routine and see how you feel!
