By now we’ve all heard the million and one health and beauty benefits from coconut oil, right? But can swishing this goop around in our mouths and smearing it all over our bodies really be worth it? Yes. The answer is 100% yes.

I didn’t really think too much about using “natural” beauty products until recently. Products with ingredients 100 letters long that I couldn’t pronounce? No problem. I had the mindset that if it made me look better, I didn’t really care about the long-term effects down the road. It wasn’t until a friend of mine told me it cured her stretch marks that I even considered coconut oil as a beauty product.

I did a little research, and read that in a study of 20 different products, coconut oil was the only product that actually lessened the appearance of cellulite. I purchased a jar from Trader Joe’s and made a nightly routine of dry brushing and then slathering myself in coconut oil. Dry brushing was something else that was new to me. Basically, you take a soft-bristled brush and gently brush your limbs toward your heart to stimulate blood flow and circulation.

Within a matter of weeks, I saw a noticeable difference in the skin on my legs. Yes, I was working out and eating well, but I had never seen my legs look this smooth. I also always smelled like I was on vacation, so that was also a plus.

I also began using the tiniest amount in my hair, which was dry and frizzy from years of coloring. When my hair felt especially terrible, I’d actually use it as an overnight hair mask and wash it out in the morning.

Coconut oil has a million uses besides the obvious cooking tool, like oil pulling. Oil pulling means swishing around a dollop of the stuff in your mouth for about 20 minutes in the morning, and the effect is whiter teeth and bacteria being extracted from your mouth. I have not tried this (yet) but a few of my friends swear it’s why they have pearly whites and never get sick. I also use it as a lip balm to take off eye makeup.

There are a couple of things to remember when joining in on the fad. The best kind of coconut oil to purchase for non-cooking use is organic, virgin coconut oil. It will come in a jar and appear as a solid, but when heated above 76 degrees, it melts like butter. This means if you rub it between your hands or leave it too close to a hot stove, it becomes liquefied. Do not fear if your entire jar melts, it will solidify again soon.