9 Cool Beauty Products You Can Make With Coconut Oil

You know that saying: “If you could be stranded on a desert island, what’s the one thing you would bring with you?” The answer isn’t the Led Zeppelin catalog, “War and Peace” or Brad Pitt (well, maybe Brad Pitt). The one thing you really want to have with you? Coconuts. And lots of ‘em. Good thing they tend to be on many a desert island by default because coconut oil can make your life a whole lot simpler, healthier, and yummier.

Here’s what we know about coconut oil: it’s a Jill of all trades of the natural world. Loaded with good-for-you saturated fats and rare lauric acid, it can bring healthy fats into your diet and into your skincare routine.

Isn’t it nice to simplify your life a little bit? You are already making the healthiest most delicious foods for yourself, now it’s time to do the same for your skincare. Sure, there are great products out there already made that you can buy, but you can never go wrong making a few on your own too. Here are some pretty cool beauty products you can make fairly easily with coconut oil (and Brad Pitt).

1. DIY Scrubs

DIY Body Scrubs for Oily and Dry Skin Types – It may seem counterintuitive, but coconut oil does wonders for oily skin, especially when it’s sloughing off dead skin cells in these easy yet super luxe DIY scrub recipes. This DIY Whipped Coconut Cardamom-Vanilla Body Scrub is incredible.

2. Makeup Remover

There’s not much to make here: Just dip a cotton ball or tissue into pure coconut oil and wipe off your makeup. Rinse with cool water. Voila!

3. Whipped Body Butter

Ditch the Wrinkle Cream: Anti-Aging Properties of Natural Oils, and 5 DIY Formulas – It’s like dessert for your face. But not in the sugar-laden bad-for-you-icky-dairy way. These are rich, vegan, taste-good-and-are-good-for-you skin care recipes. Coconut whipped body butter? Oh-em-gee! 

4. Deodorant

DIY! How to Make Your Own Deodorant – Conventional deodorants are loaded with chemicals you certainly want to avoid at all costs. Plus, those funky fragrances kind of make you smell a little bit like you spend way too much time at the mall. Give your own DIY deodorant recipe a whirl. Coconut oil is key and the cornstarch really does the trick. Try this DIY Lemongrass and Coconut Oil Deodorant!

5. Lip Salve

Easy, Chemical-Free, Two-Ingredient DIY Lip Salves – You know how ah-mazing your lips feel after sucking down a pint of coconut ice cream? That’s not because you died and went to peanut butter chocolate coconut swirl heaven, but because that coconut oil is super moisture-locking and your lips are feeling the smooth love. Not that you should ever stop eating coconut ice cream, but you know, it might, just a little bit, not be appropriate to have a spoonful in your mouth all the time. For those other times, whip up this super simple coconut oil lip salve and pucker like your life depends on it. 

6. Bug Repellent

It may be hard to think about mosquitoes in the middle of winter, but they’re there in the future just waiting to ruin your hike. Hedge them off without the chemical cocktail by making your own bug repellent. Meltdown equal parts coconut oil and shea butter in a double boiler. Pour into a small mason jar. While still warm, add a few drops (about 10-15) of these potent essential oils: citronella, eucalyptus, cedarwood, lemongrass, and rosemary, and give it all a good stir. Let cool and then cover. Scoop onto naked parts like legs, feet, arms, and shoulders, or anywhere else bugs tend to bite you.

7. Muscle Rub

Sore Muscle Rub – If you hit the Barre class as hard as I do, you’re sore all over pretty much 100 percent of the time. It’s a good sore, but still. It can make typing, sitting, standing, walking and breathing kind of suck. Good thing there’s a super simple and effective sore muscle rub on my desk at all times. I’m particularly fond of this recipe, which also includes cayenne pepper. Keep away from your eyes.

8. Toothpaste

A healthy mouth is a priority, right? (Especially if you’re spending all of eternity on a desert island with you-know-who.) But here’s the thing about most toothpastes: They’re kind of BS. You don’t need all the flavors, fillers, and tubes that wind up in landfills. That is nothing to smile about. Coconut oil comes to the rescue once again: Mix enough coconut oil with baking soda to form a paste. Brush, floss, and smile big.

9. Hair Mask

DIY Coconut Banana Cream Pie Hair Mask – If your hair is anything like mine, it’s a big fat jerk. I have four different textures going at all times and the only thing they can agree on is that frizziness is the highest state of hair consciousness. I disagree, a lot. And since I have hands, and my hair does not, I get the final say. And that final say is this: I slather coconut oil on my head regularly. People have been doing this in India for years with gorgeous results. This hair mask recipe strays a bit from the ordinary by including whole fat coconut milk and a few other ingredients that will bring luster and order back to your head of anarchists. You can also just go traditional and scoop coconut oil onto your hair, covering it and letting it sit overnight before rinsing out for a revitalizing super luxurious hair treatment.

Recommended Resources on Natural Skin Care

Want to take care of your skin the natural way? Here are some articles on beauty tips and DIYs that might interest you:

• DIY Lemongrass and Coconut Oil Deodorant
• 5 Non-Toxic Ways Coconut Oil Can Help Improve Your Skin (and Health)
• 9 Cool Beauty Products You Can Make With Coconut Oil
• 5 Amazing DIY Hacks With Coconut Oil (VIDEOS)
• Coconut Oil Could Help Fight Tooth Decay
• Make Your Own Green Tea Matcha Face Mask
• The Benefits of Using Organic and Natural Skincare
• Ditch the Wrinkle Cream: Anti-Aging Properties of Natural Oils, and 5 DIY Formulas
• Tea-rrific! How to Use Tea to Clear Your Skin
• The 5 Best Essential Oils for Glowing Skin
• 10 DIY Exfoliators and Sugar Scrubs – So Good You Could Eat Them!
• How to Make DIY Natural Make-Up and Why You Should Make the Switch
• These 8 Foods Will Completely Change Your Skin and Make it Glow