10 Uses of Virgin Coconut Oil

Coconut oil may already be in your home as a cooking oil but did you know that it can also be used topically for skin and hair care? Coconut oil can help with everything from soothing a dry scalp, providing the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair to helpng skin ailments like psoriasis, dermatitis and eczema.
Below are 10 uses for coconut oil. Coconut oil is available refined and unrefined. All references below are referring to unrefined cold-pressed coconut oil which still retains the beneficial fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.

10 Sunscreen
There are many reasons not to use store bought sunscreen these days. The biggest being that sunscreen blocks your body's ability to process the sun and make vitamin D (which is actually an enzyme we make, not a vitamin). Mix one part shea butter, melted, into 2 parts of coconut oil and apply like any other sunscreen. If you are more concerned about sun exposure, you can also add one part zinc oxide. I am incredibly pale, live in the Sunshine state and have never had to add zinc oxide to prevent burning.

9 Moisturizer
Coconut oil can be applied topically to the skin to use as a luxurious moisturizer. It is solid when kept cold, but melts at room temperature and to the touch. Reach into a jar and apply to the skin. Coconut oil quickly absorbs into the skin. Coconut oil has antioxidant properties as well which can help prevent aging and wrinkles.

Many of the skin products sold in stores have coconut oil as a main ingredient. Rather than purchase a product with lots of additives and chemicals, skip all those excess ingredients and use 100% coconut oil.

8 Deodorant
Most of the reason that we have body odor is from bacteria growing on our skin. Coconut oil has antibacterial properties so applying it as deodorant works wonders.
Store bought antiperspirants and deodorants contain aluminum (which although has not been 100% proven) may contribute to Alzheimer's, breast cancer and other diseases. Even if you don't buy that, store bought deodarnts and antipersperants contain many other toxic chemicals that many people want to avoid.
Coconut oil melts at is just 76 degrees. Adding baking soda and cornstarch will give it a thicker consistency, but you may still want to keep it in the refrigerator during warmer months! Mix together 1/4 cup each baking soda and cornstarch and 1/3 cup of coconut oil. Mix well then store in a jar with a tight lid or transfer to an empty deodorant container.

7 Toothpaste

Many of the uses listed are for items that may be filled with toxic chemicals. Toothpaste is no different. Most toothpastes contain SLS or sodium laurel sulfate. A recent study published in the Journal of The American College of Toxicology showed that concentrations as low as 0.5% of SLS could cause irritation and concentrations of 10-30% SLS caused skin corrosion and severe irritation. Sounds like SLS is something to avoid.
We use a solution of 1 part Dr. Bronners peppermint liquid soap to 5 parts of coconut oil. Store in a jaro or in a pastry bag with a piping tip and apply to your toothbrush brushing as normal.

6 Lip Balm

 

Many lip balms on the market contain petroleum by-products which actually dry the skin rather than moisturize. Coconut oil can prevent chapping and help moisturize lips. You can use it just straight from the jar, or make your own lip balm with a few simple ingredients. The below makes about 8 tubes of lip balm.
Melt the below ingredients and mix together:
1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil
2 Tablespoons Sunflower Oil
1 Tablespoon & 1 teaspoon Beeswax
Pour into lip balm tubs and let cool.

5 Hair Conditioner
Whether you have frizzy curls or limp straight hair, coconut oil is a great hair and scalp treatment. The same way it can nourish your skin, coconut oil can nourish your hair. Apply a small amount (pea size for shoulder length hair) to washed hair then rinse. Coconut oil makes a wonderful detangler as well.
If you apply a small amount as a leave-in treatment, coconut oil can defrizz and even hold curls. You can also use it on straight hair as a leave-in treatment and it will hold your style.

4 Lubricant
Many couples use store bought chemically based lubricants. Coconut oil is natural, inexpensive and if you can use it for all these other things, why not use it for lubricant.
While it is solid in the jar and below 76 degrees, when it is wamred, it easily dissolves into the skin. Coconut oil is harmless to the tender tissues of the vagina and has antiviral and antibacterial properties that can be beneficial. Somehow coconut oil kills the bad bacteria but does not harm the beneficial bacteria in the body. Another advantage is that coconut oil is completely edible and pleasant tasting. I won't go into detail why this is an advantage to other store bought chemical lubricants.
Do be mindful though that oil of any sort is incompatible with latex and should not be used with diaphragms or condoms.

3 Nursing Mama Cream
For mamas who nurse and have tender, cracked nipple tissue, coconut oil can not only be soothing, but also help to heal the cracked skin. Not all nursing mothers experience cracked nipple skin, but for those who do, coconut oil can also help prevent thrush from getting into those cracks.
There is no need to add anything to the oil, just apply straight from the jar. If you or your baby have any sensitivities to coconut though, you would want to avoid this application since it will be ingested by baby.

2 Cradle Cap Remedy

If your infant or child develops cradle cap, there is an underlying issue that needs to be dealt with. Cradle cap is a fungal infection usually due to an imbalance in internal yeast and bacteria. To soothe baby's head while you deal with the underlying issue, you can use coconut oil. Gently work the coconut oil into baby's scalp. Work it into the scalp well, and gently ( it is important to remember that your baby still has a soft head). Now, take a fine toothed baby comb and use it to gently remove the flakes. This will take a few times to get rid of it all. If the underlying issue is dealt with, this will be gone, and you won't have to deal with it again. If cradle cap comes back, then see a natural minded doctor for help with dealing with the internal issues.

1 Makeup Remover
Coconut oil is a great moisturizing make-up remover. Simply apply coconut oil to a cotton ball and wipe over eye makeup, and the rest of the face. Wash your face again as you normally would, or just leave the coconut oil on your face for an added moisturizing treatment. No need to mix anything in with the coconut oil, just apply straight from the jar onto the cotton ball and wipe away all that makeup. Coconut oil can remove the toughest of make-up including mascara. It is gentle on the face and in delicate areas of the face, like the eyes.

copy and paste from: http://www.fasttopten.com/list/top-ten-uses-for-coconut-oil-other-than-cooking