Unlock Coconut Oil's Potential: 10 Surprising Uses Beyond Cooking

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Build a Better Meal

Not only does it rally as an all-in-one beauty, health, and household MVP, but coconut oil is good enough to eat—literally. Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, FITNESS advisory board member and author of The Flexitarian Diet, recommends swapping in the oil for butter and other fats used in cooking. "There's evidence that lauric acid—a medium-chain fatty acid that the body processes better—raises HDL cholesterol levels (the good kind)." Still, more research needs to be done to really nail down the health benefits, so use it in moderation, and keep unsaturated fats like nuts, seeds, avocado and olive oil in your diet.

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Refresh Your Face

Forget spending tons of cash on high-end makeup removers—this all-natural option does the trick just as well. Apply a nickel-size amount with your fingers, then wipe off with a facial cloth or rinse with warm water. While it's gentle enough to be applied directly, this elixir can handle the toughest of makeup-remover jobs. Goodbye, end-of-day smoky eyes, waterproof mascara—the works!

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Keep the Dentist Happy

Coconut oil works double-duty when it comes to oral hygiene. For a natural teeth-whitener, mix with baking soda to create a homemade toothpaste that can brighten up your pearly whites (or grab a storebought version if that's more your style). Game to take it to the next level? While the merits behind oil-pulling have yet to be backed up by Western studies, the 3,000-year-old holistic practice recently resurged, thanks to celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow. Swishing a couple tablespoons around in your mouth, like you would mouthwash, for about 10–20 minutes daily is thought to reduce gum inflammation and plaque while brightening your teeth and freshening your breath. Why? Research shows that the oil causes an increase in saliva production and helps draw out sulfides—bacteria-produced toxins—which you then spit out after your swish session.

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Score a Smooth Shave

Trade your canned shaving cream for coconut oil and score a shave so close you'll practically beg others to give you a rubdown. Bonus: You can skip the post-shower lotion. Celebrity nutritionist Kimberly Snyder notes that the oil is rich in fatty acids, which "helps strengthen underlying tissues and elasticity, and removes the dead skin cells that make your skin rough and flaky." Be careful if you're using it in the shower, though—the oil can make the floor extra slippery.

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Don't Sweat It

When it's time to #makefithappen, opt for coconut oil as an all-natural deodorant if you're not a super-heavy sweater. Research shows that lauric acid can help eradicate the bacteria that causes BO. Simply rub a small amount—no more than a teaspoon—under your arms before you head out for your workout.

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Pamper Yourself

Get your at-home TLC on and massage coconut oil into your nail beds to moisturize dry, cracked cuticles and help nails grow. Yes, you'll feel like you've just given yourself a spa-style mani. You're welcome!

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Brush It Off

To keep your makeup brushes bacteria-free (and your skin clear!), skincare experts recommend cleaning your go-tos as often as once a week. Clean your makeup brushes without drying out the bristles by mixing antibacterial hand soap with coconut oil, then following your regular cleaning routine.

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Banish Breakouts

Alleviate redness and skin irritation by swapping your pre-slumber moisturizer with coconut oil. Studies have shown that the oil's lauric acid has antimicrobial activity, making it a potential acne zapper. After washing your face with regular cleanser, apply a thin layer of the oil to combat aging (it can lessen the appearance of wrinkles) and dryness, often the culprit behind unwanted blemishes. Let the oil soak in for a few minutes before you hit the hay to make sure it doesn't rub off on your pillowcase.

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Make Your Stuff Shine

Use coconut oil to restore the high-shine finish of your patent leather flats or return your leather leggings to their original glory—and make them smell great. With a clean cloth, rub a small amount of the oil into the leather to moisturize it and make it sparkle. Remember, though: A little goes a long way.

Stay Healthy

Feel the onset of allergy season or the early beginnings of a cold? Yet another reason to turn to coconut oil: It's a great immunity booster. The antimicrobial lipids, lauric acid and capric acid (translation: acids with antibacterial and antiviral properties) that it contains strengthen the immune system. Hannah Bronfman, the entrepreneur and fitness guru behind HBfit, suggests adding a spoonful to a mug of hot tea, or mix up an at-home recharge. "[Coconut oil] is great in a daily shot along with lemon, cayenne, ginger, aloe and salt," she says.