All these years, I have always used coconut oil to massage my hair. A bit of methi seeds thrown in the oil and half a camphor was an excellent remedy to keep the migraines and dandruff at bay. And yes, I did know that it was also used in cooking. And if someone told me that coconut oil had more uses that just these, I probably would have ignored it and would have blissfully unaware of the zillion fantastic uses it has.
A few months ago, a series of mails in my inbox had me interested about the various uses coconut oil had. Quite curious, I interacted with the person behind the brand and one thing led to another and I was sent a bottle of the oil to sample.
Once I got half a litre of the oil I was unsure if I actually wanted to try the benefits it had. And after a long thought I did and I must say that I’m amazed at the number of benefits it has. I am talking about Merit VCO Extra Virgin Coconut oil and you can buy it here.
Let me introduce you to the wonderful product and the ways I used it! I am sure there are other ways to use this natural coconut oil, but this is my list for now!
So, what are the benefits of Merit VCO Extra Virgin Coconut oil?
Natural Skin Care
Coconut oil is natural and is very gentle on your skin. It has been for years used in many of the natural body care products. So whether it is an organic shampoo or organic body care products, you’ll find this listed in ingredients as a base. Listed are some uses of coconut oil for natural skin care. Of course, there are lots of beauty tips one can think of when using coconut oil, but these are what I have used the oil for.
1. Make up remover
Image source: Pinterest
Yes, you read that right! For all those of you who love the make up, this is one of the most natural, safe and effective ways of wiping out the paint off your face. Dab some oil in the cotton and stroke your face in upward movements to wipe out make up completely. Yes, you will need to use a gentle face-wash to clean the oil residue. Isn’t this a good way to indulge in some natural skin care too?
2. A massage oil
Use it as is or mix a few drops of your favourite essential oil to make it a personalised massage oil. I use this oil as a base and add a few drops of peppermint oil when I indulge in a head massage.
3. Home made scrubs
I am always experimenting with the base of the scrubs that I make at home. I have used olive oil, sesame oil, the Rustic Art massage Oils and now coconut oil. I have half a litre bottle and I thought I may as well make good use of it. So there, I created some awesome hand scrub for myself the organic coconut oil. Using the coconut oil in the scrub left my hands soft and moisturised post the wash. And I use as hot water as I can bear to wash my hands so that it relaxes my hands.
My Tip: With the onset of winters, my feet and hands get extra dry. I take one drop of my favourite essential and mix it with a tablespoon of coconut oil and I use this to massage the hands and feet. Did I also mention that it works as an awesome lip balm if you like the taste of coconut oil!
BUY MERIT VCO COCONUT OIL HERE
Natural Health Product
Pic Credit: heavenlyhomemakers
Did you know that you can substitute butter with coconut oil for a healthier meal. Not just that it is easier to digest in comparison to the other cooking oils. It is also loaded with amazing health benefits. It helps to improve digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and other nutrients. Research has shown that coconut oil improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose, which makes the ideal oil to be used in cooking for diabetics.
Using coconut oil for cooking not only makes your heart stronger and improves cardiovascular health, but also helps in normalising the blood pressure. You can make awesome coconut cakes or cookies for kids that serve as healthy snack options in comparison to the burgers and pizza. My boys love lamingtons and I don’t stop them from eating it because it has the goodness of coconut in it .
Did you know that people who consume coconut on a daily basis are known to be healthy and lesser prone to illnesses?
For the expecting mom,the new mom and the baby
For the expecting mom, use coconut oil to massage on your belly will help to reduce the itching that is normally caused with the stretching of the belly and no, it will not help get rid of the stretch marks. Nursing moms can include coconut oil along with Vitamin D to increase the milk supply and nutrients for the baby.
Massaging your baby with coconut oil gives the bones the strength and the skin adequate nourishment. A head massage also promotes the growth of thick and healthy hair. And for the mom’s who use a diaper for the babies, you can apply coconut oil as a natural and safe alternative for a diaper rash.
Note: For all the tips shared above I have used the Merit VCO Extra Virgin Coconut oil.
Awesome tips I love using coconut oil for my skin care always <3
I’ve used coconut oil post pregnancy and while it did not eliminate stretch marks I feel it did lighten them, or maybe it was just time 🙂
Thanks for the tips.
No no coconut oil does not get rid of the stretch marks, that is what I stressed on, but yes, it makes the skin softer and less itchy!
Shefalli, massaging warm sesame oil mixed with turmeric powder helps in fading stretch marks. You should start this from as early as 6th / 7th of pregnancy to get more benefit.
Coconut oil is awesome and you have listed some very good uses here. It is also great on baby’s bum after a diaper rash or even before to keep it smooth and supple.
Yes I know, I have used it for my boys and so mentioned that too! 🙂
Being a Keralite, we have always been using Coconut Oil at my mother’s place. it indeed is much lighter compared to other oils. At my in-laws (from the Northern part of India), coconut oil is banned because they don’t like it’s taste. I have used it for my kids massage and to save them from diaper rash. Didn’t know about the use for Diabetics though. Great tips! Thanks.
Coconut oil is simply awesome for the hair. I’ve been using coconut oil on my hair all my life and it’s still thick and glossy. I know of a baby girl born bald who I s now 5 years old and has thick long straight hair only because her mom regularly massages her head with coconut oil.
You know me! I am a fan of head massages and nothing works for me as well as the coconut oil!
Isn’t it wonderful that we’re going back to all the natural stuff our grandmoms swore by? Coconut has been rediscovered afresh and that’s wonderful!
Loved your tip about adding an essential oil to cocunut oil to massage your hands and feet. Going to try that out this winter. Thanks, Prats.
I have always used it but I wasn’t aware of the other uses till very recently. Do try the tip, just use a teeny portion of the EO though 🙂
Have heard the benefits of coconut oil but haven’t tried it my self coz my skin is already too oily. 🙁
Hi, maybe you should try it even though your skin is oily. Coconut oil has good balancing qualities.
I was using oil for oily hair.
Before I had to wash my hair every second day. After using coconut oil I am washing it every 5th day. Little bit paradox but for me it works like this.
And for sure nothing bad will happen. Just get natural one, homemade. 😉
As a keralite my mom swore by coconut oil so much so that when I think of my childhood I can distinctly smell coconut oil. And not the parachute ones, but the real deal, painstakingly made by my uncle back in Kerala. But of course as kids you want to rebel against everything your parents say so I ditched coconut oil in favor of the fancy oils. But as I grew older and wiser, I realized the olive oils and the other fancy options had nothing on the good old coconut oil. So it occupies a proud place in my house now. 🙂
Trust me after those fancy Dove Elixir, Olive oil and Castor oil and what not,I have been using coconut oil and trust me I have seen the difference in my hair.
I use the Omved ones and they are just brilliant!
Great article. Didnt know that coconut oil can help with migraines. Being a migraine sufferer for years will definitely give it a try the next time!
Pooja, I mix a bit of peppermint EO with the oil for fast relief from migraine :).
Aha you mentioning coconut oil’s use as makeup remover reminds me of my wedding reception…I had the reception in the evening on the same day as the wedding ceremony, which was in the morning….after I came home the beautician asked me for coconut oil to remove the makeup and I don’t know how but I didn’t have it….I had bought some makeup remover, VOV I think… which wasn’t very soothing for removing eye makeup….made my eyes red and I needed to them to get back to normal ASAP because I had to wear contacts for the reception…how I wish I had coconut oil handy that day 🙂
been hearing a lot ’bout this and also the Rubco Nutri-KO Virgin Coconut Oil! BTW rats, Rustic Art has launched it’s own coconut oil too 😀
Prathiba, Not only coconut oil is useful is in massages and cooking it also helps in improving mental health in condition like Alzheimers, Epilepsy etc., There are lot of researches done on this.
I am using coconut oil since I came to India and found out how amazing it is and I really use it for everything.
As ayurveda student and masseuse I am trying all different different kinds of oils on myself and people who are next to me at that time :))) and from all the oils coconut is simply the best!
As you mentioned:
*cooking and even baking (cakes have light and different taste)
*as a masseuse I use mostly coconut oil because its balancing the body and is awesome in summers because it has cooling effect /in winters or for painful joints and muscles its not good to use coconut oil/
*because of its antibacterial properties oil is amazing also for teeth brushing instead of tooth pastes which contain chemicals and harmful fluoride
*it heals also skin disorders like eczema, or any scars and clears of your skin
*we use it also instead of hair gel
And one more funny thing :))) my puppy also loved it. Its smell and taste especially :))) Oil is good not only for humans but also animal benefit out of it.
It improves immunity, quality of the hair and fights with cardiac problems.
So I use it everywhere 😀
Thank you for the wonderful tips!
Amazing blog. I wish I had seen this earlier. Following now
never too late for anything 🙂 I am happy to see you here 🙂 <3