Benefits Of Coconut Oil For Skin, 17 Uses And 27 Nourishing Coconut Oil Recipes

1. Hydrating and repairing for face
2. Moisturizing and conditioning for hair
3. Itching and dandruff
4. Tanning - protective with SPF4
5. Antibacterial for cuts, acne, infections
6. Pet sunscreen
7. Fungal infections
8. Body butters
9. Foot scrub deodoriser
10. Butter for eating
11. Calms stomach upsets
12. Dental hygiene/protection
13. Baking and frying
14. Mental acuity, staying sharp
15. Furniture polish
16. Upholstery conditioner
17. Shoe leather protection

Coconut oil is truly a wonder oil for skin, body and around your home. I love using it, well a more accurate description is addicted to using it actually, (you're about to find out why) for all kinds of things from making nourishing and conditioning treatments for skin and hair, from tanning and baking to numerous household uses. It's very much in the the one product wonder category.

Coconut oil is rich in vitamins, essential fatty acids and protective compounds. When you understand all the benefits coconut offers, it will come as no surprise that it's been used for thousands of years by indigenous cultures to protect skin from the sun, heal wounds and defend against infections.

You can even use coconut oil around your home as a UV and conditioning treatment for wood, upholstery and leather care!

Below I've compiled a list of all the uses of Coconut oil plus some recommendations for choosing the right brand to suit your use. (Not all brands are equal and some can contain some not so nice additives left over from the extraction process).

After you've read this post, you'll be hooked like me (with hundreds of thousands of other coconut-nuts around the world) and want to keep at least one pot handy so you never run out of the stuff!

Coconut oil is packed with skin pampering nutrients including:

• A natural emollient, emollients help protect the skin by reinforcing the lower moisture barrier deep in the lower epidermis of the skin. Other natural emollients that you can combine with coconut oil include:

Apricot Kernel Oil, Avocado Oil, Borage Seed Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Hazelnut Oil, Hemp Seed Oil, Kukui Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Mango Kernel Butter, Organic,, Rose Hip Oil, Organic Sesame Seed Oil, Organic Shea Butter, Organic Sunflower Oil, Safflower Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, Shea Butter, Sunflower Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Wheat Germ Oil.

• Beneficial fatty acids, Lauric acid, an important essential fatty acid that penetrates deep into the skins layers not locking in moisture protecting skin against moisture loss, but also taking with it any vital nutrients and minerals added to it to feed, repair and regenerate skin cells at their deepest level.
• Antibacterial, coconut oil is naturally antibacterial making it is great for acne, eczema, dandruff and many other skin conditions.
• SPF protection, coconut oil has a natural SPF factor of around 4, making it popular around the world for tanning lotions and after sun care. It is often used in tanning products or sunscreens for this reason and has been used in the islands for centuries for this purpose.
• Wounds and healing, It is naturally rich in Vitamin E. which helps to repair damaged skin healing wounds and and reducing scarring.
• Brain function and digestion/weight loss, Mental acuity, weight loss and aided digestion are also reported benefits from taking 2 or more teaspoons of coconut oil every day.

These factors make coconut oil an excellent and obvious ingredients to use in body butters, moisturizers and serums.

Coconut Oil Skin Care Recipes

Here are some easy as pie recipes to make at home. They moisturize and benefits skin on many levels.

Coconut Oil Moisturizing Mask

This is a very moisturizing mask for normal to very dry and mature skin types. It's a blend that combines several ingredients all with beneficial properties working synergistically together to feed your skin.

• 1 tablespoon of coconut oil (extra virgin see brand choices segment)
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• half a teaspoon of avocado or almond oil
• (optional add three drops of carrot seed, or tamanu oil to hep with cell regeneration)
• 1 tablespoon mashed avocado, papaya (my personal favorite) or banana for moisturizing

Blend these ingredients together well and apply to skin. Leave on 10 to 20 minutes then wash off. If you want extra hydration and antiaging benefits add a few drops of rosehip seed oil. You may also wish to add three drops each of neroli and rose oil for very dry or mature skin.

Coconut Butter Oatmeal Soothing Mask

If you have itchy or inflamed skin or have been out in the sun and wind this recipe is super soothing.

• 1/4 cup coconut butter
• 3 tablespoons of oatmeal finely ground
• 1 teaspoon of honey or aloe vera gel
• 1 teaspoon of plain yogurt (optional)
• 1 teaspoon of cucumber juice (optional)

Blend together well and apply to skin for ten minutes, then wash off.

Coconut Oil Skin Serum

This is a seriously hydrating and nourishing moisturizer serum that you can add essential oils to give your skin a hydrating and repairing boost.

If you want an anti-wrinkle blend for around your eyes add Macadamia, Carrot, Rosehip and essential oils. Add neroli, sea buckthorn and frankincense for an anti-aging boost.

• 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon of almond or sweet apricot oil
• few drops of avocado oil (optional)
• 5 drops of carrot seed and rose hip oil or borage oil (smooths lines and repairs sun damage)
• For very dry skin add some rose oil (not rosewood, but rose oil)

Blend these ingredients together well, pour into and store in a glass bottle. Apply a few drops a day for smoother clearer skin.

Simple Almond and Coconut Oil Serum

This is the easiest serum ever, just mix half and half or extra virgin coconut oil and almond oil (can also use Jojoba, Argan or Apricot oils) together. If you want to add essential oils of carrot seed, rosehip and others you can for extra nourishment. Whisk for ten minutes then pour into a container.

Apply in the shower, after your shower or just as an everyday rich moisturizer.

Here's another recipe I created to make a moisturizer version of this recipe

These are just a few amazing recipes that use coconut oil. It is such a low cost but highly beneficial way to get vital hydration and nutrients into your skin.

For more recipes like these (over 200) check out Natural Homemade Skin Care Recipes.

Coconut has soothing anti-itching and antifungal compounds. If you suffer from itchy scalp and dandruff then you'll enjoy this easy recipe.

Mix one tablespoon of coconut oil with 10 drops of tea tree oil. You can add a few drops of lavender oil or neem also to help soothe itching (these are amazing for instant relief). Neem is also healing as well as antibacterial, antifungal and soothing.

Massage this mix into your scalp for a soothing conditioning treatment. it stops itching fast and also targets bacteria.

You can also use this recipe as anacne wash.

Why use is this mixture good for itchy scalp? Simple. The fungus or bacteria that cause itchy scalp or a reaction to sulphates in shampoo is the likely cause. There ingredients all help to counteract these issues.

The Lauric Acid in coconut oil is what makes it anti fungal and anti microbial. It is also a natural emollient and soothing which helps alleviate flaking and dryness.

Coconut is naturally antibacterial.

Due to several antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties of the medium chain fatty acids/triglycerides (MCTs) it contains. Research has shown that microorganisms that coconut oil triglycerides target include bacteria, yeast, fungi, and enveloped viruses. Source: Dr. Mary Enig Ph.D.

This makes it great for many skin infections, acne, and even conditions like eczema and tinea.

Benefits Of Coconut Oil For Acne Treatments

1. Coconut oil is soothing and inflammatory helping to reduce the redness and discomfort associated with acne.
2. Extra virgin coconut oil does not clog pores and cause blackheads or breakouts because it is non-comedogenic unlike it's many other synthetic counterparts.
3. One of the many beneficial nutrients in Coconut oil is lauric acid. This acid targets acne at it’s source. Lauric acid has potent and powerful anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties making it perfect for even the worst types of acne such as cystic acne. By using it with tea tree oil lavender oil, rosemary oil or neem oil – all of which have antiseptic, antibacterial, or anti-microbial properties, you can create very powerful and effective homemade acne treatments.
4. Coconut oil is used in many skin care products for its antibacterial, moisturizing and healing benefits.

Use it for acne treatments like the recipe below (see video):

Coconut Acne Wash And Serum

• Mix together 2 tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil and olive or Almond oil
• Take 3 drops tea tree and/or lavender oil and add to serum

Use this antibacterial mix as a cleanser and moisturizing serum daily to clear up pimples

Rinse with water and squeeze of lemon or few drops of tea tree oil added to the water or use aloe vera juice.

Gentle on skin and highly antibacterial!

Acne Facemask

• 1 fresh avocado or 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 3 drops tea tree or neem oil
• 3 drops lavender oil
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon plain yogurt (optional)

Mix together well and apply to skin in a thick layer. Leave on for approximately ten minutes, then wash off. Apply this mask three times a week for best results.

You can also make acne serums using coconut oil and essential oils in Natural Homemade Skin Care Recipes book with over 200 recipes and 97 different ingredients to choose from.

Coconut oil has a natural SPF protection factor of around SPF4 as does sesame seed oil and zinc.

Use these oils on your skin for mild sun protection and for the repairing softening emollient benefits they provide.

Yep it's also an excellent furniture polish, rub a little on a polishing cloth to protect and seal wood or the dashboard of your car. Remember the SPF protection factors, it's not just useful for human skin!

Use coconut oil on horses noses, and other pets for sun protection and to help with skin conditions like eczema.

Whipped Body Butter Recipe

An easy DIY recipe for homemade relish body butter that is excellent for any skin type and completely natural

• ½ cup Shea Butter
• ½ cup Cocoa Butter or Mango Butter
• ½ cup Coconut Oil
• ½ cup light oil like almond, olive or jajoba
• Optional: Essential Oils for fragrance and their beneficial properties (see Natural Homemade Skincare Recipes or the chart below)

Instructions

1. In a double boiler or glass bowl, combine all ingredients except for the essential oils.
2. Warm until just combined stirring constantly until all ingredients are melted.
3. Remove from heat and allow to cool a little.
4. Set in fridge for about an hour until soft but not completely set.
5. Use a hand mixer to whip for 10 minutes until fluffy.
6. Put back in fridge for 10-15 minutes to set.
7. Store in a glass jar with a lid in a cool place to keep its consistency. Use as you woud any normal body butter.

Homemade Whipped Coconut Oil Body Butter

Ingredients

• 1 cup of Organic Coconut Oil
• 6 tablespoons of Vitamin E oil, Rosehip oil or Borage oil (all optional but feels lovely)

Instructions

1. Use a hand mixer to whip for 10 minutes until fluffy.
2. Leave in fridge for 10-15 minutes to set.
3. Store in a glass jar with a lid in a cool place to keep its consistency. Use as you woud any normal body butter.

Homemade Body Butter Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup cocoa
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup sweet almond oil

Instructions

1. Use a hand mixer to whip for 10 minutes until fluffy.
2. Leave in fridge for 10-15 minutes to set.
3. Store in a glass jar with a lid in a cool place to keep its consistency. Use as you woud any normal body butter.

Upset stomach? crack open a fresh coconut and drink the juice. The lauric acid in coconuts calm a sore stomach and attack any bugs.

Great for children, adults and on vacation in those places where you spend more time in the bathroom than on the beach!

Many medium chain fatty acids are vitally important for our health, with the age of diet and weight management becoming a huge focus, people often forget to maintain a good intake of "good" fats which can lead to memory loss and lack of adequate support for our neurological and brain function.

As we age, medium chain fatty acids can help prevent cognitive laziness and loss of memory, taking a teaspoon morning and night of coconut oil has shown in some studies to help prevent the onset of conditions like Alzheimer's and other brain related diseases

Again coconut oil is a "good" fat and so including this in your diet is a good idea.

Coconut oil is great for frying ad baking, it can be heated to a very high temperature before losing is beneficial properties (and doesn't smoke the house out).

It's delicious in cakes, muffins and many recipes and even smoothies!

The antibacterial properties of coconut oil make it a fabulous ad easy mouthwash. Ok its doesn't taste as refreshing as listerine, but by rinsing it around your mouth for 30 seconds and then swallowing or spitting it out, you can help to neutralize bacteria and significantly improve your chances of preventing gum disease.

Here are some easy coconut scrubs that also contain other beneficial and exfoliating ingredients for skin.

Apply all of these scrubs in a gentle circular motion for 5 to 10 minutes then wash off.

Payaya Coconut Scrub

• 1 cup brown sugar, demerara sugar or molasses
• 1/2 mashed papaya (or use a pineapple or kiwifruit)
• ¼ cup coconut oil, melted (extra virgin)
• ¼ cup jojoba oil
• Squeeze of lemon, lime or orange juice

You'll ant to leave this scrub on for a few minutes (up to15 min) to allow the enzymes in the papaya to work their magic dissolving dead skin cells), then wash off.

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

Basic Coconut Scrub

• 1 cup organic cane sugar
• ¼ cup coconut oil, melted (extra virgin)
• ¼ cup jojoba oil

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

Citrus Blast Sugar Scrub (add essential oils to this)

1 cup brown or demerara sugar
¼ cup coconut oil, melted (extra virgin)
¼ cup jojoba oil
10 drops each of lemon, lime, and tangerine (or orange) essential oils

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee Sugar Scrub

• ½ cup organic cane sugar
• ½ cup organic coffee grounds
• ¼ cup coconut oil, melted (extra virgin)
• ¼ cup jojoba oil
• 15 drops vanilla and/or cinnamon essential oil (optional)

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

Honey Vanilla Chamomile Sugar Scrub

• 1 cup organic cane sugar
• ¼ cup coconut oil, melted (expeller-pressed or virgin)
• ¼ cup jojoba oil
• ¼ cup raw honey, liquefied
• 10-15 drops each of vanilla and chamomile essential oils

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

Citrus Neem Blast Sugar Scrub

• 1 cup brown or demerara sugar
• ¼ cup coconut oil, melted (extra virgin)
• ¼ cup jojoba oil
• 10 drops each of lemon, lime, and citrus oil (or use tea tree, lavender and neem for feet)

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

Coffee Peppermint Invigorating Sugar Scrub

• ½ cup brown or demerara sugar
• ½ cup organic coffee grounds
• ¼ cup coconut oil, melted (expeller-pressed or virgin)
• ¼ cup jojoba oil
• 15 drops vanilla, orange or lavender or any other scented essential oil (optional)

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

Honey Vanilla Calming Chamomile Sugar Scrub

• 1 cup brown sugar or molasses
• ¼ cup coconut oil, melted (extra virgin)
• ¼ cup almond or jojoba oil
• ¼ cup raw honey (runny)
• 10-15 drops each of lavender and peppermint essential oils

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container.

Antibacterial Exfoliating Foot Scrub

• 1/2 cup extra virgin coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 5 drops tea tree oil
• 5 drops neem or lavender oil (can use both - its better and more potent)
• squeeze lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Mix and scrub all over feet, leave to soak then wash off after ten minutes.

You can find many more scrubs in Natural Home Made Skin Care Recipes

A really easy hair treatment is to mix melted coconut oil and honey together as a leave in conditioner in your hair - in the shower of before shampooing. Here are some easy coconut oil based at home conditioners.

Coconut Oil Honey Conditioner

• 4 tablespoons of melted coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 teaspoon argan oil (optional)

Massage through hair or add this to your conditioner in the shower. Leave on for at least 20 minutes (if applying before washing) and then wash normally.

Coconut Oil Deep Conditioner

• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon jojoba oil or wheatgerm oil (very good for hair protein & cuticle conditioning)
• 3 drops of essential oil of your choice (peppermint and orange both smell divine, lavender is good for dandruff and is moisturizing - also smells great)

Melt all ingredients together except essential oils. Allow to cool, then add essential oils.
Apply to the hair from roots to ends, paying particular attention to any dry areas. Leave on for 15-30 minutes then wash out.

Deep Aloe Conditioner Recipe Adaption: You can add to the above recipe:

• 1/2 cup of aloe vera gel
• 1 tablespoon beeswax
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable glycerine

Add these to this mix to make a luxurious conditioner.

Simply warm all ingredients together except essential oils, then allow to cool. Before it sets add essential oils and whisk thoroughly until light and fluffy.

Store in a cool place in a jar or old conditioner bottle.

Coconut butter is one of my favorite coconut products. It has a rich creamy coconut flavour.

It is most often used as a substitute for butter but I like including it in baking and cooking recipes.

What Is Coconut Butter

Coconut Butter is made from raw dried shredded coconut pureed in a blender or food processor for about 25 minutes. Yes it's that easy. You can buy ready made coconut butter (see below) but its much cheaper to make at home.

Pour a bag of shredded coconut (not the defatted type) into a food processor or blender. Turn it on full and leave it on for 25 minutes (I do this in the spare room as it's not the sort of process I want to do while my family is watching listening to TV). You'll need to stop your machine every 5 minutes or so to scrape the sides, as it will cling to the walls.

Be patient, and you'll watch your coconut transform into a rich creamy butter.

Other names for Coconut butter are coconut spread, coconut cream concentrate and coconut manna.

It is rich and creamy and is wonderful for skin when used in homemade facial masks and scrubs.

How To Use Coconut Butter

A lot of people like to use coconut butter as a spread for their toast or on sandwiches.

I like to eat if directly off a spoon for it's beneficial benefits for health including protecting brain cells (some say alzheimers preventative), digestion benefits and skin health.

Coconut oil is also nature’s richest source of Lauric acid, an abundant fat found in human breast milk. It is also antibacterial so it can help protect children against fungal and viral infections, especially when taken early on where it supports a baby's immune system development much like breast milk does.

“Dr. Thomas Cowan: Another food worth mentioning is coconut butter, which should be started in the first month that the child is eating food. Coconut oil is nature’s richest source of Lauric acid, one of the predominant fats in human breast milk. This valuable fat helps protect the child against fungal and viral infections, thereby giving them a chance to build up their natural immunities.”

Coconut butter recipes below

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Coconut Butter, homemade (or buy below)
• 1/4 - 1/2 cup Honey, use UMF active honey for extra health benefits
• 1/2 cup Coconut oil, extra virgin (see brands below)
• 3/4 cup Coconut cream, (use the cream off a can that's been left in the fridge for an hour)
• 1/2 cup Cocoa or carob powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon (pinch) Salt
• 1/4 cup Almond, hazelnut or other nut butter, (Optional if you like a nutty flavor)

Instructions

1. Slowly melt coconut butter and coconut oil over low heat in small saucepan or double boiler until combined then take off heat and allow to cool.
2. Add remaining ingredients and leave in the fridge. It will have a similar consistency to other nut butters.
3. If using as a skin mask, apply it to skin for ten minutes then wash off. Add a teaspoon of brown sugar to make a scrub or ground oatmeal flakes. Makes around a pint.

Coconut lemon butter paleo cupcake muffins (or lemon cakes)

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Coconut Butter, homemade (or buy below)
• 1/2 cup Honey, use UMF active honey for extra health benefits or brown sugar
• 1/4 cup Coconut oil, extra virgin (see brands below)
• 1 cup Almond or Coconut flour
• 1 cup shreddedCoconut
• 2 whisked eggs
• 1/2 cup Cocoa or carob powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon (pinch) Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 320F or 180C
2. Grease cupcake tin and set aside
3. Mix together all wet ingredients and sugar (if used).
4. Add dry ingredients without over mixing. Should be a thick cam mix texture, if not add more flour.
5. Spoon into cupcake tins and bake for 15 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean. These are delicious and good for you.

There are any more coconut recipes you can make in the cookbooks I have listed below :)

Coconut butter is easy to make and sooo good for you!

My favourite brand of Hexane free coconut oil is Banaban. It’s great value and of the best quality brands. There are also several other listed below that are safe and of a good standard of quality.

Two ways coconut oil is extracted:

• The cheap way is to extract the oil from the copra, the low grade element of the flesh. It goes off faster and has a lesser antibacterial potency. It can go rancid and be vulnerable to being eaten by insects and so is treated with pesticides and chemicals to keep to keep it stable longer.
• Another chemical often used in the extraction process is Hexane, a petroleum like substance that is known to be toxic to skin and other body cells. This is a good reason to buy Hexane free coconut oil.
• The Cold-Pressed Virgin Certified Organic variety of coconut oil is the perfect choice for frying, baking, and for topical use in coconut oil recipes for your skin. It is derived from fresh ripe coconuts and is dried, squeezed, left to settle then finely filtered. Cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil is pure and natural hexane and pesticides free. It is also free of preservatives. Great for eating and skin care.

So in summary:

Look for HEXANE free coconut oil

Look for cold pressed (or expelled) organic coconut oil