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8 Uses For Coconut Oil That Might Just Change Your Life

This trendy oil still reigns supreme, but we wanted to know: Is coconut oil a multipurpose miracle or marketing hype?
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Use For Coconut Oil: Night Cream
"Despite the fact that I pretty much loathe the smell of coconut, I have to say using coconut oil as a night cream was surprisingly rejuvenating. I had to keep it solid in the fridge, so after a little heating, it went on super smooth all over my face. All I needed was a little and my face felt like it was getting pampered all night long. Compared to my usual night serum or cream (depending on the day), it was a bit oily for my liking by the morning. But other than that, I quite enjoy this use of coconut oil." --Tiffanie, Former Assistant Editor

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Use For Coconut Oil: Cuticle Treatment
"After using coconut oil on my cuticles a few times, I can confirm that it is an effective cuticle treatment. But I should mention that one shouldn't use coconut oil on one's hands while in the bathroom with the door closed, because one might then find oneself trapped in the bathroom as a result of an inability to turn a doorknob with oily hands. Hypothetically, of course." --Megan, Former Production Intern

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Use For Coconut Oil: Whitening Toothpaste
"I was hesitant put oil all over my teeth, but this actually worked surprisingly well! I mixed in a bit of baking soda to build up the texture and began to brush. The coconut oil really polished the surface of my teeth, leaving them pearly, super white (even after a morning of coffee and a night of red wine), and with that smooth, post-dentist feeling you can't help but rub your tongue over. My teeth have also been a bit sensitive lately, but when brushing with coconut oil, I didn't feel any of the usual pain that the harsh chemicals in my regular toothpaste make worse. The only problem was the lack of minty freshness. I still felt like I needed to re-brush with my normal foamy toothpaste or rinse with a minty mouthwash for my mouth to feel completely fresh. So, I'm not quite ready to give up my regular toothpaste, but I'll definitely put in polishing sessions with coconut oil if I can remember to pick up peppermint oil to mix into the paste." --Erica, Former Assistant Editor

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Use For Coconut Oil: Lip Balm
"This definitely works as a lip balm, but it's a little too messy for my taste. I straight up scooped a bit of coconut oil on my finger and applied it to my lips, which probably wasn't the best idea, since it was super gooey and dripped all over my lips. After cleaning it up a bit and rubbing it in, the oil definitely nourished my lips and stayed on while sipping my green tea frappe. It smells really nice, and I would use coconut oil once in a while to nourish my lips at home, but while I'm out or on the go I'd stick to my regular lip balm because it's easier to carry around and apply." --Sophia, Former Editorial Intern

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Use For Coconut Oil: Deep Conditioner
"Confession: I am obsessed with coconut oil. Before this road test, I was already using coconut oil for everything, both in my cooking and my beauty routine. So slathering on coconut oil as a deep conditioner is a no brainer for me. I have dry, overly bleached, damaged curls that soak this miracle oil right up ... and surprisingly it doesn't make my hair greasy or gunky. This stuff works wonders if you work it through slightly damp hair (use a dime-sized amount if you have fine or short hair, and a generous handful if you have a massive head of hair like I do), then sit for as long as you can, ideally an hour, before you shampoo and condition your hair. I'd much rather inhale the sweet aroma of coconut oil for an hour than deal with any of those other natural deep conditioners (I'm lookin' at you, mayonnaise)." --Lila, Former Editorial Assistant

BY ERICA SMITH | FEB 10, 2015 | SHARES
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