Today’s Happy Homesteading post is all about me trying out Coconut Oil as a Moisturizer. WARNING!! You may see pictures below of my face before bedtime with greasy looking Coconut Oil on it. It may scar you for life. I also cannot be held responsible for any nightmares my naked face may give you. 😉
A couple of months ago I asked you all on the HappyMoneySaver Facebook page how you save money on facial moisturizers. I had quite a few lovely readers say they used Coconut Oil and if I am being honest I was a bit grossed out. Coconut Oil? Wouldn’t that be greasy? I wondered if it would make my face break out or make my skin look gross.
Coconut Oil as a Moisturizer 30 Day Challenge
I decided to try out that Coconut Oil as a moisturizer for 30 days to see how it worked. Because if it does work I would be saving a lot of money!
Before I started this challenge I was using Sephora’s Instant Moisturizer (1.69 oz. for $20). I know! So flipping expensive.. If this would work I knew I would be saving a lot of money. But I anticipated breaking out or not liking the feel and going back to my Sephora kind (which I do love!)
DAY 1
Before I went to bed I washed my face with warm water, and took out my first bit of Coconut Oil from the container. For those of you who have never used Coconut Oil before it has the consistency of hard shortening. The heat of my fingers started melting the coconut oil which I quickly rubbed all over my face.
I won’t lie..it felt greasy. I felt like a greased pig. A greased pig in need of an eyebrow wax (hee hee). 😉
But in about 5 minutes it started soaking into my skin and I felt much better. Off to bed I went. I may or may not have had a dream that night of me working as the Greasy Fry girl for McDonalds…
DAY 2
Woke up in the morning, no new zits or breakouts! And my skin felt fine, not to dry or oily – Wow! That night I did the same thing, washing my face with warm water and adding coconut oil. No new breakouts all week long. It took some getting used to feeling that greasy feeling for 5 minutes, but soon it stopped bothering me.
DAY 7
After one week of using Coconut Oil I was happy with the results. I mean I wouldn’t say it was a miracle youth serum or that it does anything fancy except be natural and save me money, but I was happy. No breakouts, no zits, no big changes.
DAY 30
After using Coconut Oil for 30 days, I am happy with the results! It works as a decent moisturizer, and I didn’t get as many zits as I normally do during that (ahem) time of the month. I know these pictures are horrid of me with no makeup after a long day, but I wanted to keep it real and show you how this really worked.
I love the fact that I have Coconut Oil on hand and that jar will literally last me a year for around $5.00. That is some serious savings as usually I would spend $20 on that Sephora stuff and it would last maybe 2 months. I love this homemade natural way to trying things out. Next time I want to try a homemade body butter recipe and see how that goes. I am sure I will love that too.
The only concern I have is that there is no sunscreen in Coconut Oil and I need protection from that sun. What do you think? Should I mix sunscreen in with some melted Coconut Oil? Or buy some ingredient? Or just apply sunscreen on over the coconut oil every day?
WORTH THE COST? YES – it works, and costs around $5.00 for a years supply vs. $20 for a 2 month supply of what I was using.
WORTH THE TIME? Yes, there is no extra time involved.
Coconut Oil…is there anything this stuff can’t do? You can cook with it, I use it in my Burt’s Bees Lip Balm recipe and now for a moisturizer. –>Go here for high quality sources of coconut oil.
Please share in a comment what YOU use Coconut Oil for? Any natural remedies or treatments you make?
About Karrie
Food is my love language. But so is saving money. So I like to combine the two a lot and make thrifty make ahead and freeze meals to save time. Because life is busy, and freezer meals can come to the rescue for all of us. And yes, they actually CAN taste good. Read more...
Comments & Reviews
Angela says
It also works great as a “personal lubricant” I hope that’s not too personal, but it’s seriously the best thing EVER!
Kim says
Angela, just want to point out that I have read coconut oil is fine for the body, but it can damage a condom – just in case.
April says
I guess it depends on who is reading but I think it’s great that you shared that tip. I just recently heard about using it as a lubricant from another reader on another site and was soo thankful. As another reader here pointed out…it’s no good for use with condoms. But for PERSONAL use or In cases where a condom isn’t needed…it’s wonderful. Lubes can get expensive. Not to mention this beats having to go into some sex shop or someone in line at the store knowing your business.
Shonna says
My daughters hair is insanely curly and therefore frizzy with terrible dry scalp. We get the unrefined coconut oil from Vitamin world (about $12 a tub) and she uses it as a leave in treatment. Recently we have tried mixing it with Jamaican Black Castor oil since it seemed to dry out thru the day. The combination of the 2 has been awesome. We also use coconut oil as a foot moisturizer, soak your feet in warm water with some hydrogyn peroxide, dry then apply the coconut oil rather heavy and then cover with plastic bags or wrap. Cover with socks or towel. Does wonders for the upcoming sandal weather!
Joanne says
These are great tips. I have a question about using it for cooking and popcorn. Does it give the foods a coconut taste? Does it have a strong scent it’s not my favorite smell but you all make it sound like I should try it.
Karrie says
I have never popped popcorn with it, the only thing I used it for with cooking so far has been pancakes and I didn’t notice any major coconut flavors or taste. But my sister mentioned she thinks it does have a coconut flavor. Anyone else want to share your thoughts on this question?
Rachelle Stropola says
I use coconut oil to make pancakes as well and have been dying to try it out as a moisturizer. Another thing I love to use it on is baked then broiled tilapia. I baste the tops of frozen fillets (quick week night meal) then season and pop in oven covered with foil….uncover the last 5 minutes and hit them with the broiler. They come out SO MOIST! I tried it with EVOO the next time to see if it was just my imagination and realized that the coconut oil was indeed the “succulent” factor. No, there is never a coconut flavor to anything I have ever cooked with this oil.
I hope this helps, and I do encourage you to try it on top of fish…..soooo moist!!
Karrie says
Great to know, my husband loves tilapia. Must try that.
Liz. beasley says
I think some recipes it does stand out more, for instant reg chocolate chip cookies, obvious, pumpkin cookies, not so bad!
Ashley Kay says
We use coconut oil to bake with and cook with. I think it gives all my recipes a cleaner flavor than the original vegetable oil ingredient did
We use coconut oil in place of diaper creams too. Works like a charm on that adorable little bootie;-))
April says
I LOVE this stuf! My mother started using it when I stayed with her and now I’m hooked! Lol. I think maybe it depends on what kind, how much, and what you are cooking it with. Personally, I love coconut so of course I cook with it a lot, on just about anytHing. To me, the kind that is pressed/unrefined has a slight taste depending on what your cooking it with. Like If I use it in place of butter. But..it is not sweet like the coconut you eat and its very light. I made my bf an egg/sausage sandwich this morning and used it in place of butter to cook the eggs…and didn’t tell him..hehe. He didn’t notice it and said it was good! 🙂
Karrie says
Sneaky sneaky April! 🙂 Yeah I have noticed some coconut oils have the coconut smell more than others.
Pam says
I love, love, love coconut oil. I use it on my baby after his bath and have used it for his cradle cap. Works wonders. I use it for me a sa lip balm, pre-shampoo hair conditioning treatment, moisutrizer after shaving, moisturizer after sun. I tell you the stuff is amazing.
Pam Kir says
I use coconut oil as a eye makeup remover (eyeliner & mascara). I put a small dab on a cotton ball and hold it against my eyelid for a moment until it softens, and then everything wipes right off. I also use it as an all over body moisturizer in the “Ayurvedic” style, that is, applying it BEFORE my shower.
Angela S says
I have not tried it for this, but I hear it makes a great makeup remover and eye makeup remover.
kathy says
where do you find coconut oil for $5.00?
Mindi says
It has worked wonders on my baby’s cradle cap!
Karrie says
I would have never thought of that Mindi, great tip!
Nicole L says
Funny that I received another email about moisturizing with coconut oil after I got yours ! They whipped it to make it fluffy which might make it feel less greasy because of the air that’s added to it. It’s below ! I also love the idea a user posted about coconut oil and brown sugar. I might use the oil, coarse sea salt and turbinado sugar fora body scrub instead. Also ! If you are using it as a night moisturizer , using a light moisturizer with spf in the morning would be good.
Place 1-2 cups solid coconut oil into a mixing bowl. Mix on high speed with a wire whisk for 6-7 minutes until whipped into a light, airy consistency. Spoon the whipped coconut oil body butter into a glass jar and cover tightly. Store in the refrigerator.
Karrie says
Ummmm…Nicole you are a genius!! I so want to whip up my coconut oil now…thanks!
Pam says
Yes, whipping the coconut oil is a must. It makes is so much easier to use.
Rachelle Stropola says
I made the whipped coconut oil tonight along with the brown sugar scrub….you people are geniouses! I only used a small portion of my bottle of oil/lard (lol) and now I have three new uses for it on top of the large portion remaining for cooking purposes! This has been a rough week, so to spend my Friday night “alone time” pampering myself has been, frankly, SPECTACULAR!
Karrie says
That is awesome!!!
Mirane says
Thanks for showing us your progress..I too was on the same trackk and noticed I didn’t break out and also healed the current break outs I had..Love it and lather myself after showering. I have also used is after shower I add a little quarter size to my hair ends to moisturize. I also moisturize my hair once a week. Also have another bottle for cooking. i cooked zuchinni it was delicious very crispy. I have switched to use coconut oil as you can cook on med/high heat and olive oil loses it nutrients at this range of temperature! I know that if you look up uses for coconut oil there are numerous ones! it’s also good to lose weight!!
Karrie says
Oooh, I can’t wait to try it out on zuchinni. I need to start planting my seeds soon..YUM!
Kim says
I used coconut oil to prevent stretch marks when I was pregnant with my daughter and am now doing it again because it worked so well. I also tried it on the hair, but I think it was way too greasy and didn’t work for me. Great idea to try it as a moisturizer! I think using that in combination with a natural sunscreen like Kiss My Face might work, too.
Jessica says
I mix coconut oil and brown sugar and use it for exfoliating my face and legs! I love it! And since I’ve been using this combo I don’t even use moisturizer anymore!
I also put it in my hair and rub it on my scalp and leave it in for as long as I can before washing. You do have to shampoo twice to get the grease out!
Rachelle Stropola says
Jessica,
I just read your post and was immediately compelled to drop what I was reading and go mix some up with dark brown sugar (on hand for granola making)….HOLY MOLY!! I washed my hands with what was left on the fork after mixing and I feel like I just went to the spa!!! My hands LOOK and FEEL younger!! (I did wash them afterwards with a small amount of liquid soap to get the “grease” off) I usually bathe in the mornings because the kids use up all of the hot water at night, but since it’s late and they are sleeping, I cannot resist going indulge myself right now. THANK YOU for sharing this idea! LOVE IT!!!
Rachelle Benson says
Hello Karrie….
I buy Nutiva Coconut Oil at Costco.. a gallon a month ( I am stockpiling some thought) but we use coconut oil for lots of things..
I make lotion with it…
1 c olive oil
1/2 c coconut oil
1/2 c beeswax
2 tbsp cocoa butter
2 tbsp shea butter
2 tsp vit e oil.
EO of your choice, but we like the ‘cookie smell’ as my 9 year old puts it, so dont add any EO to the lotion. Lip balm… although we use Orange EO instead of peppermint.
A dab on a q tip swiped in the ear will remove ear wax
eating a tbsp a day will help with digestion
I use it every few weeks to condition my hair…
we cook with it…
we use to replace butter ( I have allergies to dairy… and I can’t make butter with goats milk… it would take too much milk)
I use the oil cleansing method for cleaning my face.. so i use a concoction of castor oil/olive oil/cocnut oil to clean my face…
Shall I keep going??
I made goat cheese the other day and thought of you… one of these days I will remember to document some of these things.. until then… you’ll have to trust me… the goat cheese came out fantabulous! 🙂
Karrie says
Aweee..thanks for thinking of me! My sister in law brought me some raw cow’s milk this past weekend and the kids LOVED it. I am planning on making some cheese really soon too, super excited! Thanks for sharing your recipe, I am going to have to try that one out for sure. 🙂
Jonna says
I used it on my belly when I was pregnant! We also use it for cooking since it does better at high heats than olive oil (which apparently does bad things at high heat).
Karrie says
Good to know Jonna, I also like that I can cook with it.
Ava says
Great post! Just wondering where you bought your coconut oil because that’s a great price.
Karrie says
It was on sale for $4.99 at my local Yokes a month ago…and I have seen it that low at Walmart on roll back possible too..
Becky says
Coconut oil is a natural sunscreen on its own. It’s good enough to slather on babies at the beach! Just have to reapply occasionally if you’re out in the sun for a while.
cessie says
I have to say it does have quite a high spf. I put some on the tops of my dry legs last summer. Didnt put any sun screen on my legs as i didnt think it was that sunny. Fell asleep on the beach and ended up with very sore legs…but the tops were fine….the sun hadnt touched where i out the coconut oil. I use it on my face every day now as a natural sun screen 🙂
Christina says
Regarding your Coconut Oil Moisturizer, great idea. I would recommend though that people use unrefined Coconut Oil. It is more expensive, but it has more of the “good stuff” in it. You want to look for Coconut Oil that is “expeller pressed” or “cold pressed”. If the oil doesn’t smell strongly of coconut, but smells almost like cooking oil or bacon, it isn’t the good stuff.
Amy says
I thought I read Somewhere that coconut oil can be used as a natural sunscreen… I would not add commercially made sunscreen, but try making your own 🙂
I put it in my hair this morning before my shower and waited 15 minutes before washing it out….(though I had to shampoo twice to get it all out).. My curly hair was so soft and not frizzy before I added my regular leave-in conditioner to tame the frizz. I’m sold!!
Karrie says
Oooh, you used it as a hair deep conditioner? Okay…I have GOT to try that out! Thanks Amy!
Maud says
you SHOULD TOTALLY TRY THAT i do that too, and I’m in LOVE
Bethanny says
I’ve also read that coconut oil can be used as a sunscreen, so I wouldn’t bother adding any extra at all. Just putting coconut oil on will supply your sun protection while still allowing you to get your Vitamin D. It’s great stuff!
Bridget says
PS..try cooking scrambled eggs in coconut oil. YUMMY! 😉 Might make that jar not last as long though. LOL..
Bridget says
Love your site, glad I found you on Facebook and then here. I have been using coconut oil too, for many things, and am wondering what you would put with it to have a good sunscreen factor. I will check back and see what you come up with.
Oh! I just found this other site that has a natural sunscreen recipe, apparently coconut oil has SOME sun protection already, but not much.(SPF 4) Check it out http://wellnessmama.com/2558/natural-homemade-sunscreen-recipe/
Karrie says
Oooh, I will have to try the scrambled eggs…sound interesting! I have used it to make pancakes and my coconut french toast too (recipe for that here: https://happymoneysaver.com/recipe-coconut-french-toast/)
tuti says
yeps, I use it for my hair
when im due to wash it in the morning I apply coconut oil generously
a bit hard to wash off to nake hair look clean (and not oily) but according tm my hairdressee-its worth it (she said my dry hair is getting better!)
Maggie says
I use expeller pressed organic coconut oil for SO many things…but I love the way it cleanses and moisturizes my face. I apply a warm washcloth to my face to open the pores and clean some of the day’s grime away, then I cleanse with the coconut oil…again rinsing with warm water and finishing with a cold water splash.
If I’m due to shampoo my hair the next morning, I’ll sometimes run my hands through the ends in order to moisturize it. I also sleep with a towel on my pillow…which is helpful whether or not you use coconut oil. It helps keep your face clean at night, reducing breakouts.