It may be a cocoNO if you have acne-prone skin.
Coconut oil is to our skin what kale has been to our salads lately…the super trendy cure-all for what ails us. And it’s completely understandable, coconut is awesome AND heaps better smelling than kale. But for those of us who have more sensitive skin, we should proceed with a little more caution.
Why? Well, while the rest of the world is posting about coconut oil on their face like this:
Those of us with…uh, more high-maintenance skin, need to know this: Coconut oil scores ranks high on the comedogenic ratings. Now, if you’re going “co-me-wha?” in your mind right now, you’re not alone:
Comedogenic ingredients are those that, when applied onto our skin, provoke or exacerbate an excess of sebum (aka: face oil) on our skin. For those with already sensitive skin, this extra sebum stimulation can lead to higher production of bacteria (particuarily P.Acnes) on our face surface, which then leads to whiteheads, blackheads, and pustles. Aka: our face could feel like this (but likely less cool looking):
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Fun right? Now, we at Clearly are not into scare tactics. We are in the pro-“the more you know, the better you can make decisions” camp. As with anything in the world, the fact that coconut oil is high in comedogenic impact is just that: a fact. The question is what we do with that fact. Anything can irritate anyone if applied incorrectly or in varying amounts. So let’s contextualize it for something useful: if you have acne-prone skin and want to jump on this latest trend, consider these options first:
- A patch test (just apply a little amount on your face as you would as part of your face-care routine) for at least 2-3 nights to see if there’s a reaction
- Avoid your journey into coconut oil until AFTER your period (if you have one) as that’s peak skin cray-cray time and the results may be masked by your hormones
- Consider an alternative for your face and use coconut oil on other parts of your face.
Alternatives to consider if you want to use face-oil but want something with a lower chances of irritating your skin? Argon oil, shea butter, or rosehip seed oil are all good options. Argon oil and rosehip oil are lightweight and absorbs easily while shea butter is a great option when you’re traveling to drier, colder climates.
So verdict: coconut oil is still awesome but if you’re acne prone, be aware it might be more irritating on your face. Test spot first before slathering the stuff on. Or: just stay on the safe side and use it for its beauty purposes that’s less high-risk for you, like a hair mask, cuticle cream, or shaving oil. Promise it’ll still look just as glam on your ‘gram not slathered on your face.
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@xx.tonilumsden This is me 5 weeks into my skincare journey with @clearlybasics.
5 weeks ago, 5 months ago, and even 5 years ago, I had lost all hope for my skin and appearance. Now I have regained that hope and positivity because I know that I am using amazing skincare products by @clearlybasics that actually do work without being harsh on my skin.
Just because you feel like nothing is working doesn’t mean you should give up on hope.
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Saturday night I came to the end of my @clearlybasics Clear Out bottle. After consistently applying it every night for 3 months along side Niacinamide & Zinc so last night I had nothing to apply. (Right picture: a few days previous. Left picture: This morning) As soon as I woke up I knew it different feel great! 😭
Regardless off the other amazing benefits that a 2% Retinol & AZA has; I JUST WANT MY GLOW BACK!! I’ll dedicate my next post to the ingredients and how they ‘clearly’ work!!
@carliedaniel18 I have suffered with acne since i was 13, After years of medication, and spending absolutely £1000s on products that didn’t work i decided to try prescription oral medication, and it was the hardest 8 months of my life. I got all the side affects, and even though eventually it did clear my skin after being off it for just 3 months my skin got bad again especially hormonally!
I then came across clearly basics, although the reviews were good I was very reluctant as it wasn’t cheap and could be another dud that didn’t work! Eventually I gave in as I always do and it was the best decision ever! I can’t believe I hadn’t come across this sooner, my skin has cleared up so much. It’s made my skin soft and glowy as well, it genuinely is everything in a bottle!
@gabriela.akrapovi Absolutely so happy with this product! My cheeks were congested and had so many breakouts and redness I didn’t know what to do anymore. I tried everything. I kept seeing Clearly Basics showing up on my Facebook and Instagram and thought what the hell and decided to order the complete trio moisturizer pack. It came in cute packaging and the directions were clear. I started using it two months ago and my god there is a lot of improvement!! My cheeks are less congested and red. I have mostly dark spots but the Lighten Up is definitely helping with that! I rarely get any big breakouts and even if a pimple starts to show the Clear Out stops it in it’s track. The Protective Moisturizer is great for my sensitive skin and helps keep my skin feel moisturized but doesn’t make my skin go oily. I definitely would recommend this product and I can’t wait to see how my skin will be in the few months using Clearly Basics! Thanks Clearly Basics!!
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