Coconut Oil - Friend or Foe?

There is no doubt that coconut oil is an amazing moisturiser in both hair and body products, but quite often, it is not as clear cut when it comes to facial skincare.

Coconut oil contains high levels of saturated fatty acid, lauric acid, which has soothing, moisturising, skin softening and antibacterial properties. Additionally, it contains myristic acid which helps to strengthen the skin’s barrier function, as well as having anti-inflammatory properties - all excellent reasons for making coconut oil your choice to help combat extremely dry or chapped skin, or even skin exposed to harsh winter weather.

Despite its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, coconut oil may not be ideal for oily skin types, or skin prone to acne. It is widely accepted that coconut oil has a high comedogenic rating, meaning it can block pores, thereby exacerbating breakouts. It is a ‘heavy’ oil, tending to sit on top of the skin, leaving it feeling greasy as it often takes a while to penetrate and be absorbed, once applied.

As no one person has the same skin as another, trial and error might be necessary to determine if coconut oil is suitable for you.  If you do decide to use it, be sure to choose virgin Coconut Oils which have been obtained from Coconut Palms by mechanical means and which have not been refined by chemicals, been bleached or deodorised.

Unfortunately, some coconut oil companies use captive monkeys to collect coconuts. Companies that do not use monkeys to collect coconuts can be found HERE. The list has been compiled by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). However, this list is not exhaustive. If a coconut oil has been certified by the Vegan Society you can also be sure than no animal labour was used.

Two of Amaranthine's natural skincare products contain virgin, organic coconut oils. The luxury body moisturiser Body Crème contains coconut oil as does the Cleansing Balm, as it is especially good for removing make-up.

In conclusion, I believe that coconut oil definitely has a place in skincare. However, whether it is beneficial in facial skincare products depends on the type of product and the individuals own skin type.