A Dozen Uses for Coconut Oil

I have been talking a lot about coconut oil lately, and with last week’s Tropical Traditions sale, I felt it would be prudent to discuss how our family actually uses all of that coconut oil. After all, a gallon of the stuff is a LOT!

1. Baking and Cooking

I love using coconut oil in recipes like my tasty Banana Nut Bread. You can also melt coconut oil {it becomes a solid at 76 degrees} and use it in just about any recipe that uses for oil, especially those that call for high-temperature frying. The only baking substitute I would not use it in is pie crusts, because it just doesn’t set up right… at least for me it doesn’t!

2. Homemade Deodorant

Yes, you read that right. I make my own deodorant. I do it for several reasons, a few of them being it is much cheaper, it lasts longer, and there are no yucky, unpronounceable ingredients. And yes, it DOES work! 😀

3. Homemade Facial Cream

Ohhhh how I love my night cream! It is so easy to make and apply. You could whip it up and store it in a jar like Stephanie’s body butter, or you could just grab a dab of coconut oil and mix it with Myrrh Essential Oil in the palm of your hand. Either way, it is ah-may-zing.

4. Bum Cream

We have rarely dealt with baby bum issues this time around, but when we have, we use a nice mixture of coconut oil and essential oils. See how to make your own here.

5. Hand Lotion and Homemade Body Butter

You don’t have to make anything fancy to use coconut oil as a hand lotion. Simply open up the jar and slather it on. Same goes for body butter… while adding essential oils is nice and decadent {and GREAT for your skin}, if you need a quick lotion, a bit of plain ‘ole coconut oil will work just fine. Coconut oil is also helpful in combating dry and itchy skin.

And speaking of body butter, this stuff is incredible. I do love how the whipped version is so smooth and easy to apply.

6. As a Carrier Oil for Essential Oils

I’ve discussed my undying love for essential oils, and 99 percent of the time, the carrier oil I choose is coconut oil. It is easy and safe and is so fantastic for skin, that it is a natural choice for diluting my beloved oils.

7. Itch Relief

Itch relief says it all! Coconut oil is very soothing.

8. Makeup Remover

I use the Oil Cleansing Method, but coconut oil also works, and I have used it when I misplaced my OCM bottle. {Yes, somehow it walked off. Ha!}

9. Homemade Sugar Scrub

Use coconut oil in place of olive or almond oil in your homemade sugar scrub recipe for a luxurious shower scrub.

10. Homemade Coffee “Creamer”

Add coconut oil to your coffee for a healthier creamer. I don’t add the butter, but I have added a bit of coconut oil and milk for a wonderful flavor. I may or may not have topped it with whipped cream. Ahem.

11. Nursing Cream

Breastfeeding mommas, use coconut oil on your sore or cracked nipples as a healthy alternative to lanolin. Coconut oil is the only thing I have ever used, and let me tell you, it is wonderful and really works well!