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):
FREE TOOLKIT TO CLEAR ACNE
Take the quiz. Answer 3 easy questions to get your FREE Toolkit to beat acne!

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.
FREE TOOLKIT TO CLEAR ACNE
Answer 3 easy questions to get FREE personalized advice on how to clear acne!

#RealResults
See what others have to say about Clearly Basics.

I payed for this myself and have not been asked to do this post, I just think If it’ll help someone else why would I not shout about it!

@aishx I have been using this product for the last 3 months and I swear by it!
My nasty pimps went away within days, my blemish marks were lightened and the size of my pores decreased drastically! In fact I feel that my skin brightened up a lot and my makeup looked smoother too!

@hayleyfoster I’ve been using clearly range for almost 6 months now and it really has changed my life! I’ve suffered acne my whole life and although it may not be as bad as others its bad to me and has affected my life everyday. Initially my skin got better with the power duo then I seemed to go through a blip. I contacted Clearly and after sending some pics they gave me some advice and created me a more concentrated formula which worked amazingly and I can now dermaroll to help get rid of the scaring and finally feel I can leave the house without makeup!
I was skeptical to start with as I’d tried everything, been on prescription oral medication at a young age and it just came back within a year. I’ve tried all creams from GP and over counter stuff but none have worked until now with the help of clearly. If you are wonder whether to try it just give it a go! You have nothing to lose! I’m so glad I found Clearly Basics!

@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.

@celesterobinson This company is honestly incredible! I have been struggling with really painful hormonal cystic acne for years. I was prescribed oral medication, but decided against taking it because of all the side effects. So I did some research and found Clearly Basics! I have been using the Power Duo for 3 months and the progress my skin has made has been amazing! It has cleared my skin without causing any irritation or sensitivity. I am finally at the stage where I can leave the house without makeup! My skin is clear!! The customer service is also very personal and efficient. I don’t have enough wonderful things to say about these products, they literally saved my skin.

@by.emmataylor CLEAR OUT💙💙💙 gets rid of blackheads and whiteheads which is an added bonus.
It really improved my skin texture and most of all it removed spots. It’s worth the try really, because you can even get your money back if you don’t like the products, what are you waiting for? -Emma xxx
Individual results may vary