Coconut Uses for Gorgeous Skin and Hair

Just because summer is ending, doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy some tropical fruit — especially when it comes to your skin and hair! Coconut is your beauty secret weapon for fall. The nutrient-rich fruit works wonders to turn back the clock for gorgeous skin and hair in no time. Here are 5 DIY ways to use incorporate it in your beauty regimen.

End body breakouts with a coconut-honey wash.

The fruit’s antimicrobial properties nix the bacteria that causes acne while its healing compounds repair irritated skin, says dermatologist Sheel Solomon, MD. And anti-inflammatory honey reduces redness to speed skin-beautifying results.

Try it: Combine 1/4 cup of coconut water with 1 Tbsp. of honey. Rub onto damp skin while showering and let sit one minute before rinsing off.

Thicken thin hair with a coconut and mint spritz.

Coconut water’s calcium and potassium boost blood flow to the scalp, which stimulates hair growth. Pair it with mint (its menthol tightens roots to lift strands up and off of the scalp) for instant volume.

Try it: In a spray bottle, mix 1 cup of water, 1 cup of coconut water, and 10 drops of peppermint essential oil. Mist onto damp hair from roots to ends.

Eliminate cellulite with a coconut oil massage.

Fatty acids in coconut oil deeply moisturize for a skin-plumping effect that fills in the pesky dimples. Better yet, massaging it in with a dry body brush improves circulation to remove the trapped fluids and toxins that make cellulite more prominent.

Try it: After showering (when pores are most amenable to absorption), rub a quarter-size amount of coconut oil onto cellulite. Then use a dry body brush to massage skin in upward strokes, starting at the feet and working up to the back of the thighs.

Erase age spots with a coconut milk cream.

Coconut’s vitamin C increases cell turnover to shed dead skin cells and reveal newer, brighter skin underneath. Plus, its antioxidants protect skin from the sun to prevent future discoloration. Bonus: When mixed with gently exfoliating yogurt, skin will appear spot-free and glowing in no time.

Try it: In a bowl, mix 2 Tbsp. of coconut milk with 2 Tbsp. of plain yogurt. Apply to brown spots and let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse.

Smooth wrinkles with a coconut oil and avocado mask.

“The high vitamin E content in coconut oil penetrates skin to strengthen connective tissue, which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles,” says Dr. Solomon. Combine with avocado (its amino acids hydrate) for an even younger-looking complexion.

Try it: Mix half of a mashed avocado with 1 Tbsp. of coconut oil. Apply to dry skin. Let sit 10 minutes before rinsing away.