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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See what others have to say about Clearly Basics.
@myfriendacne At first I thought that my skin was THE thing that changed the most. It clearly is seeing from the surface. And here must say a huuuuge thank you to @clearlybasics for supporting me and give me the opportunity to take care of my skin.
After I looked at my pictures from last year I was shocked how my attitude has changed towards myself. I love myself more. I accept my skin, my body and my inner self so much more than a year before where I had the feeling to be perfect to my own imaginations and for other people.
@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.
@startingtolovemyself ✨Not a pimple in sight!!!✨
It’s been about 3 weeks since I started using @clearlybasics Clear Out, Lighten Up and the Protective Moisturizer (the Complete Trio) and my skin has improved so much and I definitely think it’s from the Clear Out formula most of all!
It really is a miracle in a bottle! I’m excited to see how my skin changes even more in the next few weeks and months using them!
@roxyrogan I have struggled with hormonal acne for over 1 year and had tried every face cream, scrub & peel you could find! When I started with Clearly Basics my skin started to clear within using the first bottle of ‘Clear Out’!
My skin is now on the road to recovery and I still use Clearly Basics ‘Clear Out, Protective Moisturizer and Lighten Up’ products every day! Highly recommend Clearly Basics to anyone who’s suffering from stubborn acne! 💛
@beatlebarbs Hey guys! So I rarely write reviews, but I’m going make an exception, because it literally changed my life (what a cliche I know).
I’ve suffered from acne pretty much my whole life. I’m generally a happy and optimistic person, or at least I try to be, but acne made it impossible for me. It got to a point where I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror without crying. I didn’t wanna go out or even meet my friends. My self confidence was nonexistent. I had severe anxieties and break downs. I sought the help of a GP and dermatologist but nothing worked. Antibiotics made it even worse.
Then I read about the Clear Out and the reviews were great. Still a bit skeptical, I decided to give it a shot and thank God I did. My skin improved drastically and even though I still get a pimple or two every now and then, I am overall very happy with the results.
Individual results may vary