Is Coconut Oil Good for Your Skin? Dermatologists Weigh In

Finally, coconut oil can even be beneficial for scalp and hair health. “It helps reduce frizz, heal breakage, protects bacteria from damaging your scalp, increases shine, and reduces dandruff and dryness,” Dr. Gratch explains.

Is coconut oil good for all skin types?

That being said, coconut oil isn’t necessarily good for all skin types. “Coconut oil is comedogenic so it may exacerbate acne breakouts and clogged pores,” says Dr. Murphy-Rose. What’s more, “despite antimicrobial properties, the occlusive properties of coconut oil may cause or worsen dandruff on the scalp.”

Such is especially the case when using it on the face. “Coconut oil can clog pores and cause breakout and can irritate the skin, especially those with sensitive skin,” says Dr. Gratch. “It is not recommend for people with oily skin.” Plus, as with most skincare ingredients, it is possible to have an allergy to coconut oil, adds Dr. Murphy-Rose.

While coconut oil could be a great match for people who prefer natural or plant-based skincare 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 would reserve coconut oil for the driest skin,” she says. “Those with oily or acne-prone skin should avoid coconut oil.”

How to use coconut oil on skin

Generally speaking, it’s best to use coconut oil as a body moisturizer—not face. “I would advise against using pure coconut oil directly onto your face,” says Dr. Murphy-Rose. “It would be better to use a moisturizer containing some coconut oil if you choose to use it, and coconut oil would be better applied to dry skin of the body.”

Dr. Camp agrees, adding that it may be particularly helpful on rough, stubborn patches of dry skin, such as the elbows or knees. “I would not recommend using coconut oil as an overnight mask because it has comedogenic potential,” he says. “This means that coconut oil may block pores and contribute to incipient acne formation.”

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 may 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. Refinement or using heat to extract the oils can introduce chemicals, preservatives, or contaminants to the production process.”

In terms of 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 moisturizers infused with coconut: MDSolarSciences’ Daily Perfecting Moisturizer contains coconut oil derivative oco-caprylate/caprate and Herbivore’s Cloud Milk Firming Body Cream is formulated with coconut.

Coconut oil alternatives

While dermatologists are generally okay with using coconut oil as body moisturizer, Dr. Murphy-Rose points out that “heavy moisturizers containing oils and rich butters may be a better choice for dry skin 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 “can be less congesting” and may be more suitable for oily and acne-prone skin.

Danielle Sinay is the associate beauty editor at Glamour. Follow her on Instagram @daniellesinay.