Ingredient decoder

Coconut oil: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil

Acne verdict High clog risk

Rated a pore-clogger

  • Comedogenic4 / 5
  • Irritancy0 / 5

What it does

Rich plant oil that softens skin but rates high for clogging pores.

  • Hair conditioning
  • Masking
  • Perfuming
  • Skin conditioning

Coconut oil in plain English

Coconut oil is a rich plant oil used to soften and moisturize skin and hair. It rates high on classic comedogenic lists, likely because it is packed with lauric and myristic acid. Keep in mind these ratings come from old rabbit-ear tests of the raw ingredient, which can overstate the risk of a small amount in a finished product. Many people with acne-prone skin still choose to keep it off the face.

Is coconut oil bad for acne?

It can be. Coconut oil has a high clog risk rating for acne-prone skin. In Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear test it scored 4 out of 5 for clogging pores and 0 out of 5 for irritation. That test used the raw ingredient, so a small amount in a finished product may behave differently. If you break out easily, check where it sits on the ingredient list: the higher it appears, the more of it the product usually contains.

Why it is flagged: Rates high on classic comedogenic lists. Rich in lauric and myristic acid.

Clean routine and still breaking out? The cause may be internal. See what is driving it

Also called

  • Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil
  • Cocos nucifera oil
  • Coconut seed oil
  • Cocos nucifera seed oil
  • Coconut butter
  • Virgin coconut oil

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Frequently asked questions

Is coconut oil comedogenic?

Coconut oil scored 4 out of 5 for comedogenicity in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear study, where 0 means no clogging and 5 means severe. That is a high rating. The test used the raw ingredient, so a finished product may behave differently.

What does coconut oil do in skincare?

In short: rich plant oil that softens skin but rates high for clogging pores. In formulas it is used for hair conditioning, masking, perfuming and skin conditioning.

What else is coconut oil called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, coconut oil can also appear as Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Cocos nucifera oil, Coconut seed oil, Cocos nucifera seed oil or Coconut butter.

Sources