I’m sure by now you’ve seen several lists aggregating several ways to use coconut oil. After reading some of these lists I began to wonder if it was really all that it was cracked up to be.

First of all, I wanted to know, what exactly is coconut oil? What makes it such a power product?

In the past, coconut oil was actually a feared oil. People thought that its high saturated fat content was unhealthy. In the last decade, research has proven this idea to be a myth.

Down to the nitty-gritty science: while saturated fat is commonly associated with disease and weight gain, it turns out that not all saturated fats are created equal. The composition of coconut oil is actually what distinguishes it from being a harmful food from a powerhouse food.

The saturated fats in coconut oil are primarily medium chain triglycerides, which are well processed by the body. Lauric acid, the main saturated fat, makes up almost half of the saturated fat content in coconut oil and is particularly beneficial in warding off bacteria in the body.

Aside from saturated fat, coconut oil also contains unsaturated and monosaturated fats. The polyunsaturated fat comes from linoleic acid, and the monosaturated fat comes from oleic acid. The final component of coconut oil's composition are polyphenols, which is responsible for its fragrant odor. 

Coconut oil sometimes has traces of other ingredients in it, but these are the most prominent. 

Now that we have a better idea of what coconut oil is, here is my personal review of eight of the most common uses I saw promoted. Consider this your quick and dirty breakdown of which ones you need to try, and those I think you could go without.

1) Hair conditioner: MUST TRY

For those of us who suffer from dry hair (guilty as charged), coconut oil is a natural and organic way to soothe rough and damaged strands. Hair salons are always pushing some sort of "can’t live without this" expensive cream that is the size of a travel toothpaste tube. Skip that drama and go to your grocery store instead. Take a scoop of coconut oil and massage into your hair as you would shampoo. If you have nowhere to be, let it sit in for a while, the longer the better. If you’re on a time crunch, wait a few minutes, rinse, and you’re good to go. Don’t want a full head mask? Massage a little bit of the oil on your ends to gloss over those splitting pieces we are all trying desperately to hide. I spend a lot of time in the sun and in the chlorine; this is one trick I swear by.

2) Skin Hydration: Depends on your skin type

Coconut oil uses (@popsugarau/Twitter)

Body lotion won’t get more natural than coconut oil. A small scoop of the oil is sufficient to lather all over your body. Coconut oil’s lauric acid can get rid of bacteria and skin infections. Personally, I suffer from eczema, and my skin is always dry because I spend a lot of time swimming in outdoor pools. For me, I either rub a little bit of oil on my especially dry patches of skin, or I swap it for my body lotion. I recommend this treatment only if you have very dry skin. For those who don’t have dry skin this treatment could be too rich, and it could be unpleasant to have to wait for the oil to sink in to your skin.

3) Cooking: MUST TRY

A common cooking oil known for its health benefits is olive oil, but it has had its time in the spotlight for too long. Looking to change things up a bit? Swap in some coconut oil when making meals. The burn point of this oil is extremely high, making it suitable for most dishes. Also, some studies show that the properties of this magic oil could boost your metabolism and won’t raise your cholesterol. Personally, I love the taste of coconuts so I don’t mind using it in the kitchen. For those of you who might not be a fan of this tropical flavor, try it when you’re baking. The sweet flavor blends in with the other ingredients and you won’t even notice it in most recipes. This one tends to be a bit trial and error; see what dishes you like and don’t like with it. My personal favorite was a coffee cake made with coconut oil (not entirely healthy, but hey, it was homemade).

4) Energy: Depends on how your body responds to energy

We all know that red bull isn’t exactly the most “natural” way to get that extra oomph for your jam-packed day, but coconut oil is. The saturated fats in coconut oil are processed by the body as a form of energy versus long-chain fatty acids, which are the kinds of fats that are stored in places we like to hide (hello, muffin top). Personally, I did not notice a huge difference in my energy. Granted, I can easily take a nap after drinking 16 ounces of coffee, so perhaps I’m not a good judge on this one. Either way, the healthy benefits of this oil make this one worth a try because even if you don’t get that extra jolt, you’re still getting the nutrients.

5) Mouthwash: Depends on how daring your are

This one could be a stretch if you’re not willing to spend 20 minutes with coconut oil in your mouth. But, if you’ve got time to kill this technique is called oil pulling. Stick a spoonful of coconut oil in your mouth and move it around for 20 minutes. Doing this every morning before you brush your teeth can help kill germs in your mouth that cause plaque and gingivitis. Aside from cleaning your mouth it could also take the edge off of a morning headache, and whiten your teeth at the same time. I personally did not have it in me to swish coconut oil in my mouth for 20 minutes, but some people swear by this method. To me it seems like a lot just to clean your teeth, I’m fine sticking with my toothbrush and mouthwash (call me old fashioned). 

Fresh coconut oil (@OrganicNaturalB/Twitter)

6) Cuticle Care: MUST TRY

This one I adore. Don’t wait for a manicure to take care of those often times ignored cuticles. Dab some oil on the edges of your nails to soothe dry cuticles and ease some of those pesky hangnails. A little bit of coconut oil goes a really long way here. I used to get hangnails frequently and since trying this method I’ve found that the edges of my nails are much softer. This one is quick and easy to try out, so there's no excuse not to give it a whirl.

7) Make-up remover: MUST TRY

Feel like you always have a little bit of make-up left even after you use your makeup remover? Try patting down your face with some coconut oil to gently clear that extra strong mascara, because "waterproof" is actually code for "life-proof." I love this method. I have sensitive skin, so anything natural and organic is always a better option for me. I use this on days when I have on more makeup than usual, or when I run out of make up remover wipes. If you are prone to breakouts or you have oily skin, this one might not be for you. Just be sure to keep the oil around your eyes, and of course don’t get it in your eyes, then rinse with water and dry off with a clean towel. 

8) Razor Burn: Depends on your skin type

Sometimes the sensitive skin shaving cream just doesn’t cut it. If that’s the case for you, rub some coconut oil on those sensitive areas before you shave. Want extra relief? Apply some after you’re done to soothe dry or irritated skin. This one is great if you have sensitive skin because it provides extra hydration and the lauric acid is good for killing bacteria. If you don’t commonly experience razor burn (the envied humans of the world), then you’d be fine passing on this tip, but if you have the coconut oil already, might as well try it out.

Reach Staff Reporter Margaux Farrell here or follow her on Twitter here.