Five Favorite Uses for Coconut Oil

I’ve been wanting share some of our favorite uses for coconut oil for a while now! I think you know I love, love, looooove to use it in the kitchen but we’ve found a few other uses for it that we love. I usually just buy the Kirkland Organic Coconut Oil from Costco, I think it’s cheaper to buy it in bulk and we use it so much we need a lot!

So  here they are….

^^ Cooking and Baking:

I almost always substitute coconut oil where I would normally use oils and butters in cooking and baking. I’m talking everything–greasing a pan, sautéing vegetables with it, brushing it over meat before seasoning, cooking, or grilling, and even using it to pop popcorn. 

Baking! If substituting coconut oil for butter or margarine, I usually substitute strait across. I don’t typically melt the coconut oil unless the recipe calls for melted butter. If I do melt the coconut oil, I make sure the egg(s) or any other liquids are room temperature. This keeps the coconut oil from hardening. 

These Coconut Oil Chocolate Chip Cookies are hands down the best! And one of the newest ways I’m using it in the kitchen is adding a tablespoon or so to our smoothies and protein shakes! Give this Coconut Berry Smoothie Bowl a try 🙂

^^Make-up Remover + Moisturizer

I like to keep a small jar of coconut oil in my bathroom and use just a little bit on a cotton pad to remove my eye makeup. It works SO well! My makeup just comes off so easily and I can do it gently. I don’t feel like I have to scrub my eyeballs out just to get my makeup off. 

I also occasionally make a brown sugar + coconut oil scrub for my face. 1/4 cup coconut oil + 1-2 tbsp brown sugar. Makes for a great exfoliator! Afterwards I just wash my face well with wash cloth and warm water. 

And when any part of my skin is really dry, I like to massage a small amount of coconut oil to the area. It works really well when my hands and feet are cracking. 

^^ Coconut Oil Mouth Wash (Oil Pulling): 

The official term is Coconut Oil Pulling. I know it sounds strange so let’s just stick with mouth wash. I haven’t been doing this one long and I don’t do it every day, just when I remember (which usually tends to be a couple of times a week). My sister-in-law introduced me to it while she was here visiting a few months ago. I gasped when I watched her put a spoonful of coconut oil in her mouth. I was like, “Whaaaa? You just straight up eat that?!” 

Then she explained oil pulling to me. Basically it’s an ancient technique of swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth for 20 minutes that’s said to improve oral health. It can help whiten your teeth, keep gums free of germs, less sore throats/strep, helps with digestion. The list goes on and on. The Wellness Mama has a great post all about coconut oil pulling. I’m trying to do it more frequently. It’s kind of like putting on the last serum. I just always forget! 

Essentially you swish a tablespoon in your mouth for about 20 minutes, spit it out, rinse with warm water and then brush your teeth. And try not to swallow any of it while swishing. 

^^Styling Kids Hair

A really small amount of coconut oil can help tame unruly hair, especially curls like Grahams. His bed-head game is strong, and even throughout the day his hair can get a little crazy. Massage the teeeniest bit of coconut oil between your fingertips and gently tousle the curls, works great! Owen has thick, course hair with stubborn callicks and just a teeny bit can help shape it. And Miles, well he undoes anything I try to do to his hair, hence the recent military haircut that needs no styling 🙂

You can also use it to give dull hair a little shine. But remember, don’t use too much or you’ll end up with a grease ball of a kid. 

Remember, use just a teensy tiny bit, massage it together, then disperse among the hair to style. Don’t add glops of coconut oil to the hair then rub it in. Unless you want a deep conditioning treatment, ha (which it can also totally be used for, just haven’t tried it)!

^^Use on Diaper Rashes, Bug Bites + Bee Stings

When it comes to diaper cream, Bordeaux has worked the very best for my boys. BUT there have been so many times when one of my babies has had a rash and I didn’t have any. That’s when I like to use coconut oil (plus I almost always have some on hand.) I won’t say it works the very best, but it works until I can get the Bordeaux. Just remember everyone’s skin is different!

Miles got his first bee sting last week and I instantly added a little coconut oil to help relieve the “sting.” It can also help relieve itchy or irritated skin from bug and/or mosquito bites, or help relieve the pain from burns. In this regard, coconut oil is the magic cure all for my boys!

What are some of your favorite ways to use coconut oil?! What do I need to try? What has worked for or what hasn’t. I’d love to give them a try!!