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Botanical Wisdom

The Truth About Coconut Oil in Skincare: Why I Never Use It on the Face

While coconut oil does have benefits for skin and hair, its fatty acid profile makes it a less-than-ideal choice for facial skincare. If your goal is clear, youthful, and radiant skin, there are far better options.

By Jordan LaFragola 6 min read

The Truth About Coconut Oil in Skincare: Why I Never Use It on the Face

Should You Use Coconut Oil on Your Face? An Esthetician’s Honest Answer

Coconut oil has been called a natural wonder for everything from cooking to moisturizing, and I understand the appeal since it’s natural, inexpensive, and easy to find. But as a holistic esthetician with close to twenty years of experience, I can tell you with certainty: you should not use coconut oil on your face.

Why Coconut Oil Doesn’t Belong on the Face

The skin on your face is very different from the skin on the rest of your body. It has the highest density of oil glands and a thinner stratum corneum (outer layer), making it much more prone to reactivity and pore congestion. Coconut oil simply doesn’t work in harmony with that environment.

It clogs pores. Coconut oil has been given a comedogenic rating of 4 (on a scale from 0-5), which means it’s very likely to block pores and cause breakouts. There is some debate about whether this rating remains accurate, given that it is based on testing conducted years ago. However, from my personal experience with my facial clients, I believe it is still valid. By comparison, oils like safflower or pomegranate seed (used in Flora Mirabilis products) rank much lower and are safe for facial use. I go into more detail in this guide on whether face oils are comedogenic.
It worsens acne. Coconut oil is rich in certain saturated fatty acids like lauric, myristic, and palmitic acids. Research shows that these compounds can thicken sebum and are present in acne lesions, indicating that they contribute to breakouts rather than help alleviate them.
It feels soothing at first, but causes congestion over time. Many people mistake the initial softness coconut oil provides as deep hydration. In reality, it creates a semi-occlusive layer that traps debris in the pores.

Bottom line: even if coconut oil feels like it’s helping in the short term, it sets the stage for clogged pores and breakouts in the long run.

A History of Coconut Oil in Beauty

Coconut oil isn’t just a modern trend. It has a long cultural history in beauty and self-care rituals across the world:

Ayurveda (India, circa 1500 BCE): Coconut oil was used in massage for its cooling and healing properties, in wound care, and as a base for herbal remedies. Considered a “health oil” that supported balance in the body.
Pacific Islands & Polynesia: Coconut oil was applied daily to protect skin and hair from the sun, salt, and wind. It was also used in traditional monoi oil (an infusion of coconut oil with tiare flowers to soften and perfume the body).
Southeast Asia: Widely used in rituals of beauty and health, especially scalp treatments, massage oils, and remedies for minor skin irritations.
Modern history (19th–20th century): Coconut oil became an important ingredient in soaps and cleansers because of its ability to create a rich lather and cut through oils.

These traditions show how valued coconut oil has been for body care and hair health. But as modern skin science reveals, what nourishes the body does not always serve the delicate ecosystem of the face.

The Role of Fatty Acids in Skincare

The difference between oils that clog pores and oils that balance the skin comes down to their fatty acid profile.

Coconut oil is high in saturated fatty acids, which thicken sebum and promote congestion.
Oils rich in linoleic and linolenic acids (polyunsaturated fatty acids) can actually help reduce acne, strengthen the skin barrier, and soothe inflammation.

If you want to understand this in depth, I wrote a full article on how fatty acids affect your skin, breaking down exactly what each type does and which oils contain them.

Face oils that work with the skin.

Why the Right Oils Can Help With Acne

One of the biggest myths I encounter as an esthetician is that face oils make acne worse. The truth is, the wrong oils (such as coconut) can exacerbate acne, but the right oils can actually calm and prevent it.

For example, linoleic acid is often lacking in the skin of people with acne. Restoring it with oils like safflower or sacha inchi helps rebalance sebum and reduce breakouts. I explain this more in how face oil can actually help acne instead of causing it .

This is why every oil I choose for Flora Mirabilis products is carefully balanced to work with the skin, not against it.

Better Oils for Facial Skincare

When I created Flora Mirabilis, I intentionally avoided coconut oil in favor of oils rich in linoleic acid and other skin-compatible nutrients. These oils are:

Low in comedogenicity (rated 0–2, meaning they won’t clog pores).
Lightweight and breathable so they don’t suffocate the skin.
Antioxidant-rich to defend against environmental stress and premature aging.

For example:

Holy Grail Face Oil includes Sacha Inchi (0–1), Apricot Kernel (2), and Pomegranate Seed (1).
Fountain of Youth Cleansing Clay includes Safflower (0), Meadowfoam (1), and Castor (1).

These are oils that support all skin types. They hydrate, balance, and protect without creating congestion.

Essential Oils: Powerful, but Must Be Safe

Carrier oils are only one part of the equation. I also incorporate skin-safe essential oils like sandalwood, frankincense, lavender, and rose for their anti-inflammatory, regenerative, and brightening properties.

Not all essential oils are safe (citrus oils and spicy oils should be avoided), but when used correctly, they offer incredible therapeutic benefits. I explain this in detail in Are Essential Oils Safe for Your Skin?.

The Final Answer

So, should you use coconut oil on your face?
Absolutely not.

Coconut oil may work on the body and hair, but for the delicate, reactive skin of the face, it’s too heavy, too comedogenic, and too disruptive.

Instead, choose oils that are light, linoleic-rich, and proven safe for facial use. That’s the philosophy behind every Flora Mirabilis product: harnessing the power of natural ingredients, but only those that are truly compatible with your skin.