Why You Should Think Twice Before Using Coconut Oil On Your Face

Coconut oil is often touted as the absolute holy grail of beauty oils. Beauty editors, influencers, celebrities, and everyday people alike swear by it, using coconut oil as a hair treatment, as a body oil, and even as a teeth whitener. But you might be surprised to learn that there's one particular place you should never really put coconut oil — and that's on your face. 

Yep, believe it or not, according to many dermatologists, putting coconut oil on your facial skin is a big no-no. As dermatologist Paul Dean, creator of Skin Resource.MD, explained to Skin Resource.MD, "Coconut oil has one of the highest comedogenic ratings, which means that it could be a big problem for sensitive or blemish-prone skin." Yikes! "This means coconut oil can't penetrate the pores and actually can suffocate your skin and will clog your pores because it sits on top of the skin," he elaborated. 

Worse still, coconut oil doesn't really provide your skin with much nourishment. "There are many other superior oils like baobab, rosehip, and tamanu oil that will better nourish the skin," Nicolas Travis, founder of skincare brand Allies of Skin, admitted to Cosmopolitan. But like most skincare products and ingredients, it comes down to your skin type. "Coconut oil for normal to dry skin can be very hydrating," Suzanne Audley, an esthetician at Silver Mirror, told Well+Good. "Just because one thing works for one person does not mean it works for everyone. Everyone's skin responds to things differently," she added.

Ultimately, there's no need to put coconut oil on your face. There are so many different moisturizers and face oils available these days that you should be able to find an affordable alternative that will hydrate your skin type in a way more beneficial way (without clogging your pores!).