The kitchen oil with a split reputation: a well-studied body moisturiser, and a pore-clogging worry on the face. What it does, what the research shows, and what 8 skincare experts said about it on camera.
Coconut oil had its moment as the answer to everything: make-up remover, hair mask, body moisturiser, even homemade sunscreen. Then the warnings arrived. Will it clog your pores? Is it really good for eczema? Should it go on your face at all, or only on your body and hair?
The straight answer: it depends on where it goes. On dry body skin and on eczema-prone skin, the experts who like it have real trials on their side. On hair, the lab evidence is good. On the face, and especially on skin that breaks out easily, several of them pass.
We went through 13 mentions of coconut oil from 8 skincare experts we track, among them dermatologists, a doctor who specialises in skin of colour and a skincare consultant. Coconut oil's Guru Score is 38%, which may look low for something with good trials behind it. That is because the score counts every verdict, and the Nay verdicts are about the face and breakouts, not about the body or hair. Below, what the experts said sits next to what the studies found, including how solid the pore-clogging evidence really is and what coconut oil does for hair.
Coconut oil is a plant oil used as a moisturiser for dry skin and as a treatment oil for hair. The experts we track like it on the body and are wary of it on the face. The research is strongest for dry skin and eczema: in a trial in children with mild to moderate eczema, virgin coconut oil beat mineral oil [1], and in adults with dry skin it matched it [3]. On hair, a lab study found it reduced protein loss where mineral and sunflower oils did not [5]. Several experts warn against it on acne-prone faces. That warning rests on older animal testing and on clinical experience rather than on a human trial [7, 8, 9].
| Question | What we found |
|---|---|
| What is it used for? | Moisturising dry skin, especially on the body, and as a pre-wash or leave-in oil for hair [1, 3, 5]. |
| What do skincare experts think? | They split by where it goes: keen on dry body skin and eczema, wary on acne-prone faces. |
| Is it good for eczema? | The trials are encouraging. In children with mild to moderate eczema it improved symptoms more than mineral oil [1]. |
| Does it clog pores? | It may on acne-prone skin. The pore-clogging ratings come mostly from rabbit ear tests, which are more sensitive than human skin [7, 8]. |
| Is it good for hair? | There is decent lab evidence that it reduces protein loss from hair [5, 6]. Heavy use can weigh some hair down. |
| Can it replace sunscreen? | No. Lab tests put its SPF at around 8 [10], well below the SPF 30 dermatologists recommend [11]. |
Coconut oil is the oil from the coconut. On skin it works as a moisturiser: in a small trial in adults with dry skin, it improved skin hydration and raised the oil levels on the skin surface, just as mineral oil did [3].
It is rich in lauric acid, a medium-length fatty acid. That small, straight molecule is the reason researchers give for coconut oil getting inside the hair shaft, where many other oils stay on the surface [5].
It also comes with a reputation. Several experts we track call it pore-clogging and keep it off the face. That is the split this guide is mostly about.
Here is what each of them said on camera, with a link to the moment they said it.
Coconut oil, both in children and adults, has been shown to reduce dryness and eczema severity in clinical studies. When coconut oil is applied to the skin of adults with atopic dermatitis, it's actually been shown to reduce the burden of colonization with staphylococcus aureus bacteria.Watch ▸
On the body, you can even go ahead and apply coconut oil. I prefer using a layer of moisturizer then maybe sealing in with coconut oil and that will keep your skin hydrated for longer. This is for those who have extremely dry skin at night.Watch ▸
Coconut oil contains lauric acid making it good for reducing infection for cuts especially in humid countries and humid climates. It's also a heavy emollient making it useful for moisturizing very dry skin and dry hair. The downside with coconut oil is that it's highly comedogenic and if oil from the scalp touches your face it can lead to a breakout which can mean hyperpigmentation which can take years to get rid of.Watch ▸
Extra Virgin Coconut Oil becomes a bit heavy for people whose hair porosity is low like mine but that only creates more problem if you apply this oil and sleep overnightWatch ▸
But I do not recommend putting coconut oil on your face. It is a great moisturizer for other parts of your body because it's filled with healthy fats and antioxidants. [...] It can cause you to break out. It can clog your pores.Watch ▸
Just about everybody with acne will agree that coconut oil exacerbates it and makes it worse. It's one of the few things that the entire skincare community agree on. And so, coconut oil for me is a firm no. [...] On the skin there are so many better options.Watch ▸
The agreement is narrower than the arguments, but it is there.
More than you might expect for a kitchen oil. There are randomised trials on dry skin and eczema, a body of work in premature babies, and lab studies on hair. What is missing is a good human trial of coconut oil on acne-prone faces, which is exactly where the experts disagree.
In a double-blind trial of 117 children with mild to moderate atopic dermatitis, virgin coconut oil used for eight weeks lowered eczema severity scores by about 68%, against about 38% for mineral oil, and did better on water loss and skin hydration too [1]. In adults with dry skin, a smaller trial of 34 people found coconut oil and mineral oil worked about equally well over two weeks [3].
Dr Dray describes coconut oil as just as good as mineral oil for atopic dermatitis. The children's trial actually found it did a little better [1]; the adult dry-skin trial is the one that found them level [3].
There is also a bacteria angle. In a trial of 52 adults with eczema, of the people who had Staphylococcus aureus on their skin at the start, only 1 of 20 using virgin coconut oil still had it afterwards, against 6 of 12 using virgin olive oil [2]. Dr Dray mentions this, and it matters because staph makes eczema worse.
Dr Dray also points to studies in premature babies. A systematic review of seven trials found that babies given coconut oil had less water loss through the skin, fewer infections and better skin condition, with no significant side effects, though the authors rated the evidence low to moderate quality [4]. This is hospital care for newborns, not a reason to oil a healthy baby at home without asking your midwife or doctor.
This is the face question, and the honest answer is that the evidence is older and weaker than its reputation. The lists of pore-clogging ingredients were built mainly by testing raw ingredients on animals, usually the inside of a rabbit's ear [8]. The researchers who developed that test also found the rabbit is more sensitive than human skin [7]. A later study using a human test found that finished products containing so-called comedogenic ingredients were not necessarily comedogenic themselves [8].
That does not make the concern wrong. Clinicians do see breakouts from oils used on the hair: a review on acne in skin of colour notes that coconut oil applied to the hair often leads to pomade acne, a crop of small closed bumps along the forehead and temples [9]. Dr. Vanita Rattan makes the same point about oil running from the scalp onto the face. We found no controlled trial of coconut oil on acne-prone faces, so treat the warning as sensible caution built on experience, not as proven fact.
Dr Dray warns against homemade sunscreens made with coconut oil. In a lab test that measured how much UV diluted plant oils absorb, coconut oil came out at an SPF of around 8 [10]. That is a lab figure, not a tested sunscreen, and it falls well short of the SPF 30 or higher that the American Academy of Dermatology recommends [11]. Coconut oil is not sun protection.
Dr. Vanita Rattan says the lauric acid in coconut oil makes it useful for reducing infection in cuts. The best human evidence we found on that theme is the eczema trial where it cut staph colonisation [2], and the newborn studies [4]. We found no trial of coconut oil on cuts, so for a wound, stick with the advice of a pharmacist or doctor.
Most of the disagreement goes away once you ask where the oil is going.
This is where the experts are keenest and where the trials are [1, 3]. Dr. Aanchal MD suggests a layer of moisturiser on very dry body skin at night, then coconut oil on top to seal it in. Doctor Youn, who keeps it off the face, calls it a great moisturiser for the rest of the body.
This is where the Nay verdicts come from. Doctor Youn, Hyram and Mad About Skin all warn that it breaks people out. Dr Dray adds that very oily skin may find it greasy and heavy, and that it can go rancid and irritate. If your skin is dry and rarely breaks out, you may get on fine with it. If you are acne-prone, there are lighter oils with fewer question marks.
The lab evidence here is good. Coconut oil was the only oil of three tested that markedly reduced protein loss from both undamaged and damaged hair, used before or after washing [5]. A systematic review found it can help brittle hair, with limited evidence on hair growth [6]. Nipun Kapur finds extra virgin coconut oil heavy on her low-porosity hair and does not leave any oil on overnight. Dr. Vanita Rattan rates it for dry hair, but warns that oil running from the scalp onto the face can cause breakouts [9].
A little goes a long way, and where it goes matters more than how much.
Apply a moisturiser or body cream first, then a thin layer of coconut oil over it to seal it in, as Dr. Aanchal MD suggests. Night time works well, since it can feel greasy under clothes.
The trials used virgin coconut oil applied regularly over weeks [1, 2]. Consistent moisturising is the point. Keep using any treatment your doctor has prescribed, and ask them before swapping anything out.
In the lab study it worked as a pre-wash and a post-wash treatment [5]. A small amount on the lengths before shampooing is the gentlest way to start. Keep it off your hairline and forehead if you are prone to breakouts [9], and if your hair feels weighed down, use less or rinse it out sooner.
Test it on one small area for a couple of weeks first. Stop if you see new bumps or breakouts. Store the jar with the lid on and out of heat, and throw it out if it smells off, since Dr Dray warns that rancid oil can irritate.
If you like the idea of an oil but break out easily, the experts we track point elsewhere for the face. Mad About Skin names castor oil and rosehip seed oil among the oils he prefers. Squalane is another light oil the experts often suggest. For dry, eczema-prone skin, a fragrance-free cream with ceramides does the barrier work without the pore question.
The best one for you depends on your skin and your budget, so here is the top-rated pick for each need, from the products below.
OGXDamage Remedy + Coconut Miracle Oil Penetrating Oil
A little goes a long way
83%Guru Score from 6 experts
Best budget pick
Trader Joe'sShea Butter and Coconut Oil Hair Mask
Lightweight enough for daily use on ends
79%Guru Score from 2 experts
Best for dry skin
KopariCoconut Oil
Absorbs quickly without heaviness
78%Guru Score from 2 expertsA product's score is not the ingredient's score. Most products with coconut in the name are hair and body products, where coconut oil is one ingredient among many and the formula decides the verdict. These are the highest-scoring products with coconut in the name that at least two experts have rated, ranked by Guru Score.
OGXDamage Remedy + Coconut Miracle Oil Penetrating Oil
Rated by 6 experts
The catch: Regular version may be too heavy for fine hair
83%Guru Score
BriogeoScalp Revival Charcoal + Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo
Rated by 2 experts
82%Guru Score
Trader Joe'sShea Butter and Coconut Oil Hair Mask
Rated by 2 experts
79%Guru Score
KopariCoconut Oil
Rated by 2 experts
The catch: May cause breakouts in some people
78%Guru Score
KopariCoconut Hydrating Body Wash
Rated by 2 experts
The catch: Did not impress a dermatologist
70%Guru Score
Trader Joe'sShea Butter and Coconut Oil Hair Serum
Rated by 2 experts
The catch: Results fade by the next day on straight hair
67%Guru Score
Sephora CollectionCoconut Lip Balm
Rated by 2 experts
The catch: Dry formula, not hydrating
65%Guru Score
First Aid BeautyCoconut Water Cream
Rated by 3 experts
The catch: Not hydrating enough for dry skin
61%Guru ScoreOn dry skin, yes, the research is encouraging. Trials found it moisturised dry skin as well as mineral oil [3] and eased eczema in children better than mineral oil [1]. On acne-prone faces the experts are much more cautious, because it may clog pores.
It may on acne-prone skin, but the evidence is thinner than its reputation. Pore-clogging ratings come mostly from tests on rabbit ears, which are more sensitive than human skin [7, 8], and we found no controlled human trial on acne-prone faces. Clinicians do see breakouts on the forehead from coconut oil used on the hair [9]. If you break out easily, keep it off your face.
If your skin is dry and rarely breaks out, you may get on fine with it. Try it on one small area for a couple of weeks first. If you are acne-prone, the experts who pass on coconut oil are talking about exactly you: Doctor Youn and Mad About Skin both keep it off the face, and Dr Dray finds it heavy for very oily skin.
The trials are encouraging. In 117 children with mild to moderate eczema, virgin coconut oil reduced eczema severity more than mineral oil over eight weeks [1]. In adults with eczema it cleared staph bacteria from the skin far more often than olive oil [2]. Keep using any treatment your doctor prescribed, and ask them before making changes.
They come out about level for ordinary dry skin. A two-week trial in adults found coconut oil and mineral oil improved hydration about equally [3]. In children with eczema, one trial found virgin coconut oil did better than mineral oil on symptoms, water loss and hydration [1]. Either is a reasonable choice for dry body skin.
There is good lab evidence. Coconut oil was the only one of three oils tested that markedly reduced protein loss from hair, used before or after washing [5], and a systematic review found it can help brittle hair [6]. Evidence on hair growth is limited [6]. Some people with low-porosity hair find it heavy.
There is little evidence that it does. A systematic review of coconut, castor and argan oils found coconut oil can help brittle hair, but with limited evidence on hair growth [6]. Its proven strength is protecting the hair shaft from protein loss [5], which is about keeping the hair you have in better shape.
It can. A review on acne in skin of colour notes that coconut oil applied to the hair often leads to pomade acne: small closed bumps along the forehead and temples [9]. Dr. Vanita Rattan warns about this too. If you oil your hair, keep it off the hairline and wash your face after.
No. In a lab test that measured UV absorption, coconut oil came out at an SPF of around 8 [10], and that is not a tested sunscreen. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends SPF 30 or higher [11]. Dr Dray warns against homemade sunscreens that rely on coconut oil.
On the body, yes. In the eczema and dry-skin trials it was applied regularly over weeks without notable side effects [1, 3]. On the face, daily use is where acne-prone skin may run into trouble. Keep the jar closed and away from heat, and throw it out if it smells off.
In hospital studies of premature babies, coconut oil reduced water loss and infections with no significant side effects, though the evidence was rated low to moderate quality [4]. That is supervised hospital care. For your own baby, ask your midwife, health visitor or doctor before using any oil, especially if there is eczema.
We found no research on using coconut oil on the skin during pregnancy, and none flagging a concern. It is not an active ingredient like a retinoid. Even so, check with your doctor or midwife if you are unsure about anything in your routine while pregnant or breastfeeding.
For the body, several do. Dr Dray rates it for eczema-prone skin and Dr. Aanchal MD uses it to seal in moisture on very dry skin. The cautions from the experts we track are about the face and breakouts.
8 experts, 13 mentions, every one traced to a video you can watch. Sponsored takes are excluded.
This guide combines two kinds of information. The expert consensus comes from 13 mentions of coconut oil by 8 skincare experts in their YouTube videos. Each one was read, given a Yay, Mixed or Nay verdict and linked to the moment it was said. Sponsored takes are excluded. Takes about coconut oil in a product, on skin or on hair, are counted together. The research sections summarise published studies and medical sources, listed in full above.
The Guru Score measures how warmly the experts talk about coconut oil. It is not a measure of clinical effectiveness, and this guide is not medical advice. It has not been reviewed by a doctor.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. The Guru Score reflects how warmly the experts we track talk about coconut oil; it is not a measure of clinical efficacy. Speak to a dermatologist or doctor about a diagnosed skin condition, and before using any medicine.
Hyram