I’m a huge fan of using virgin coconut oil for a variety of beauty-related purposes. It’s cheap, it’s ultra moisturizing and the smell just instantly puts me in a good mood (maybe it’s the similarity to delicious tropical frozen cocktails on the beach… mmm….rum and coconut…drool). Anyway! On to the point, lest I get distracted daydreaming about hammocks and palm trees.

Unfortunately, many conventional beauty products are loaded with chemicals and are usually petroleum based. This isn’t just a health issue (because we really don’t know the long term effects of these ingredients – not to mention pthalates, parabens, etc.), it’s also a matter of petroleum usage, something we all know we need to cut back on.

Virgin coconut oil is loaded with antioxidants, protects against free radical damage and keeps the skin smooth and supple. I use it for all of the following:

• All-over body moisturizer
• Hot oil hair treatment, combined with equal parts extra virgin olive oil
• Cuticle oil
• Eye makeup remover (even works for waterproof mascara!)
• Body scrub, mixed with brown sugar or sea salt
• Overnight foot treatment (slather it on & put on some cotton socks)

If you’re prone to breakouts like I am you might think that putting coconut oil on your skin would make it even worse. I’ve found the opposite to be true. I mix it with a little raw honey (for its antibacterial properties) and use it as a face mask every now and then, and my skin ends up clear and soft.

Another bonus is that using a single jar of coconut oil for all of these things cuts back on the amount of product packaging you’re throwing away. Just keep in mind, if you want to divvy it up between different reusable containers for various uses, that coconut oil solidifies at temperatures below 76 degrees Fahrenheit.

One thing that’s important is to make sure the company you’re buying from uses sustainable growing practices. I purchase Spectrum Organic Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil, mostly because it’s great quality but also because I know they put a lot of effort into making sure their organic farming practices are sustainable, protect the water supplies and soil and also protect us against harmful chemicals.