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Finally, coconut oil can also be beneficial for the health of the scalp and hair. “It helps reduce frizz, heals breakage, protects bacteria from damaging your scalp, increases shine, and reduces dandruff and dryness,” explains Dr. Gratch.
Is coconut oil good for all skin types?
That said, coconut oil isn’t necessarily good for you everyone skin types. “Coconut oil is comedogenic, so it can aggravate acne and clogged pores,” says Dr. Murphy-Rose. In addition, “despite the antimicrobial properties, the occlusive properties of coconut oil can cause or worsen dandruff on the scalp.”
This is especially the case when used on the face. “Coconut oil can clog pores and cause breakouts and can irritate the skin, especially those with sensitive skin,” says Dr. Gratch. “Not recommended for people with oily skin.” Plus, as with most skin care ingredients, it’s possible to have an allergy to coconut oil, adds Dr. Murphy-Rose.
While coconut oil might be a great match for people who prefer natural or plant-based skin care products, it’s not recommended for everyone. “Those with particularly dry skin may benefit more from using coconut oil on their skin,” says Dr. Camp.
Dr. Murphy-Rose agrees: “I reserve coconut oil for drier skin,” she says. “Those with oily or acne-prone skin should avoid coconut oil.”
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How to use coconut oil on the skin
In general, it is better to use coconut oil as a moisturizer for the body, not the face. “I recommend using pure coconut oil directly on your face,” says Dr. Murphy-Rose. “It would be best to use a moisturizer that contains a little coconut oil if you choose to use it, and coconut oil is best applied to dry skin on the body.”
Dr. Camp agrees, adding that it can be particularly useful on rough and stubborn patches of dry skin, such as elbows or knees. “I wouldn’t recommend using coconut oil as a night mask because it has comedogenic potential,” he says. “This means that coconut oil can block pores and contribute to the formation of incipient acne.”
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The best coconut oil for skin
When shopping for the best coconut oil for skin, be sure to avoid refined coconut oil and anything “expeller-pressed,” as these can lose important nutrients, says Dr. Murphy-Rose. Instead, Dr. Camp suggests looking for “unrefined, cold-pressed coconut oil, which produces the purest form of the product. Refining or using heat to extract the oils can introduce chemicals, preservatives or pollutants in the production process.
As for specific products, Dr. Camp suggests Nutiva Organic Virgin Coconut Oil. “The fresh coconuts used to make this product are cold-pressed after harvesting, and the oil is never deodorized, bleached or refined,” he says.
Several reputable skin care brands also make coconut-infused moisturizers: MDSolarSciences’ Daily Perfecting Moisturizer contains oco-caprylate/caprate derived from coconut oil and Herbivore’s Cloud Milk Firming Body Cream is formulated with coconut.
Alternatives to coconut oil
While dermatologists are generally fine with using coconut oil as a body moisturizer, Dr. Murphy-Rose points out that “heavy moisturizers that contain rich oils and butters may be a better choice for the skin drier than coconut oil. Look for shea butter, argan oil, and rosehip seed oil as examples,” she says.
Dr. Camp also suggests almond, sesame, argan, sunflower, rosehip, jojoba and squalane oils, which “may be less congestive” and may be more suitable for oily, acne-prone skin.
Danielle Sinay is the associate beauty editor at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @daniellesinay.