12 Ways To Save Money & De-Clutter With Coconut Oil

We’re all guilty of hoarding un-loved products in our bathrooms. Vanities overrun with bottles, jars, lotions and potions. It can be so hard to part with these little “miracle experiments”, especially when you remember how much some of them cost you!  What if you could clear your shelves, uncomplicate your routine and save both time and money while still looking your optimum best?

Celebrities such as Gisele Bundchen and Kourtney Kardashian have reportedly turned their back on complex and expensive beauty routines, instead favouring an all-natural, purely organic fix with virgin, cold pressed coconut oil being heralded as their new favourite go-to beauty product.

A must-read: SAVE MONEY FOR SHOES: DIY BEAUTY

Coconut guru and author of Going Coconuts Brynley King, uses coconut oil for just about everything and she shares some of her secrets on what this wonder oil can do for you below.

1. Makeup remover
Unlike harsh makeup removers that seem to take off the top layer of skin along with your foundation, coconut oil is effective at cleansing the face but gentle enough to nourish the skin as well. Apply a small amount to your face, eyelids and eyelashes before gently wiping off with a moist cloth. And even those stubborn waterproof mascaras and long stay lipsticks – gone, with a smear of coconut oil and a gentle wipe.

2. After-sun lotion
Spent a little too long soaking up the vitamin D? The anti-inflammatory properties in coconut oil will aid in repairing the damage done by the sun’s harmful rays, relieving any burns and redness, and preventing wrinkles caused by sun exposure.

3. Hair treatment
Indulge lack-lustre, frazzled and over-styled locks with a DIY coconut oil treatment that will leave hair soft, shiny and with that ‘just-stepped-out-of-the-salon’ look. Comb a dollop through the ends of your hair for a quick frizz fix, or coat the whole hair (including scalp), cover with a shower cap or towel and leave in for 30 minutes or overnight for an intensive, fragrant and super charged moisturising treatment.

4. Exfoliator
Create an inexpensive DIY body and face exfoliator by mixing 1 ½ cups of coconut oil with 1/3 cup coffee, salt or sugar for an all-natural solution to removing dead skin. Adding vanilla bean, cinnamon, chai tea or orange grind will create a subtle burst of flavour for delectably silky smooth skin that smells amazing.

5. Toothpaste
Coconut oil is perfect to promote oral health due to the bevy of anti-bacterial and detoxifying properties it contains. If you are looking for a whiter, brighter and sweeter smelling smile simply combine 3 tablespoons of organic coconut oil with 3 tablespoons of aluminium free baking soda and 25 drops of natural peppermint oil to make your very own homemade toothpaste. It tastes great and is a fabulous natural alternative to toothpaste.

6. Eyelash Extender 
Coconut oil can also help strengthen (and lengthen) lashes and that’s especially good news considering it’s all too easy to damage those short hairs. Just apply some extra virgin coconut oil to a cotton swab and spread it onto your lashes before going to bed.

Essential reading: BEAUTY HOW-TO: TIPS AND TRICKS FOR GROWING LONGER LASHES (NATURALLY!)

7. Moisturiser
Dump your collection of expensive lotions, creams and ointments, and cut your morning and night routine in half. Coconut oil is the perfect organic moisturiser as it is absorbed into the skin deeper than regular lotions and hydrates without feeling greasy or oily. Try massaging into skin after showering in the evening and wake up with baby soft skin at a fraction of the price.

8. Detox Your Makeup Brushes
Clean brushes are critical for clean skin. Mix two parts antibacterial dish soap to one part cold-pressed coconut oil on a clean plate. Wet brush slightly with warm water first, then work the mixture into the bristles using the palm of your hand and fingers. Continue until the soapy residue is makeup free, then rinse (don’t let water seep into the handle part of the brush!)

9. Dandruff treatment
Instead of using chemical laden anti-dandruff shampoos, massage a dollop of coconut oil into your scalp and leave in overnight. The oil not only moisturises and soothes but protects the hair follicle, promoting hair growth for those long and luscious tresses you’ve always wanted without the flaking, itching or redness.

10. Eyebrow tamer
If your brows are looking a little less Cara Delevingne and a little more Jack Nicholson, smooth a tiny amount of coconut oil onto unkempt brows and sweep a comb through for brows for all day stay put power. Use regularly and will also discover over plucked brows can regain some fullness due to coconut oils hair growth-boosting properties.

11. Shaving cream
Achieve a clean shave by coating each leg in about a teaspoon of coconut oil before taking up the razor, for silky smooth pins without the cost of expensive shaving creams.

12. Natural face mask.
Boost your complexion through the application of a coconut oil and honey face mask. Mix the two for a hydrating, antibacterial mask that is good enough to eat. Leave it on for about 15 minutes, and then rinse.

To purchase an Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil and for more in-depth coconut info click here.

Are you a coconut convert? Let us know your favourite uses for coconut oil in the comments below!