Why Listen To Me?
Since I am an esthetician I talk to women all the time about their skin. I hear many complaints about what is wrong with their skin and what they want to do to make it look better. I have lots of women tell me that they use coconut oil on their face and they've been using it for years.
So while I do recommend using oil on the face, I definitely do NOT recommend using coconut oil on the face anymore.
What Changed?
Yes, I used to recommend it all the time! I thought it was the greatest thing ever, it has natural sunscreen and it has so many benefits! However, I noticed that in many of my skincare classes, women of European descent (their ancestors came from Europe) would have bad reactions (rashes to redness) from using coconut oil.
I Decided to Research It
I did lots of research after that. I read in a few books that recommend never using coconut oil on the face. In fact, David Wolfe author of "Eating for Beauty" said to not put it on the nose or the forehead because it can clog pores! And if there was one thing I didn't want, it was clogged pores.
So one day I was actually reading "Nutrition and Physical Degeneration" by Weston A. Price, I had my epiphany about coconut oil. Weston Price was a Canadian dentist who researched the diets of indigenous people all over the world. He found that the people who only ate food native to their region with and didn't eat refined sugars didn't experience any tooth decay.
I applied this theory to skincare products. Coconuts didn't grow native to where my ancestors lived, or to where I lived now. So maybe coconut oil wasn't the best option for me? It seemed to do really well for people whose ancestry was from around the equator, but just not for anyone that had European ancestry.
I did more research and found that coconut oil has a larger molecular structure, and people that live around the equator tend to have darker, thicker skin, and that can more easily handle and absorb coconut oil. That's why my skin couldn't handle it!
What Oils Are Better?
I also looked at what oils grow naturally in European areas, and I've found that many people of European descent do really well with sweet almond, olive, and apricot.
My skin does really well with Jojoba oil that grows in the U.S. which is where I live. That's why we use it in all of our serum products!
But I Still Use Coconut Oil... Sometimes
It's not that coconut oil is bad, I will sometimes use it as a sunscreen on my arms & legs in the summer. Or I'll sometimes use products that have coconut oil and my skin does well. But as an "everyday" face oil, I've found that Jojoba works wonders! And I don't have to set it on a window sill to warm it up if it gets cold.
What's even worse is fractionated coconut oil (which makes it stay as a liquid) which is refined oil, should never be used on the skin.
I get a lot of surprised looks when I tell light-skinned women to not use coconut oil on their face! In fact, many argue with me. But try it for yourself! See if another oil works better on your skin.
Also, experiment with oils to see which one your skin does best with!
Also, try our Salis Salt Scrub Face wash! It's in the Shop section. The scrub has Jojoba in it, which again, seems to be very beneficial to my skin - amazed at the vast difference from using coconut and other oils. Check it out!
Have a question? Ask below!
189 comments
Drinking water internally is super good too! And…. swishing it around in your mouth is good before you swallow so you can digest the water better and not strain your kidneys.
Hi Jess!
I wonder if it would be suitable for me, with a Chinese background who lives in Sweden, to use coconut oil on dry patches? My skin has been very dry the last month (I used to have combination skin) and dry flakes won’t disappear although I use a enzyme peeling once a week.
Hi Emily!
Sorry to hear about your skin! I’ve been there myself. With really oily/dry skin. It might clog your pores, since you’ve been so sensitive to certain products. You would be a great candidate for the Lavender/ Jasmine Scrub that’s on my website, or the Calendula. It uses Jojoba which may be molecularly better for your skin. When you were using the Apple Cider Vinegar, what brand was it? Also, it sounds like you need to make a baking soda mask with the Redmond Clay. Try not to pick at your skin as well. It spreads all the bad bacteria underneath. That was one of the main things I had to do to get rid of my acne.
I hope that helps!
Laura
Hi Catherine! Are you looking for Jess or for Laura (the writer of the post). I wouldn’t use the coconut oil on the dry flakes. I would use a sweet almond. Also, make sure you’re taking a high quality probiotic internally!
Good Luck!
Laura :)
I have used coconut oilbfor a wreek and my face feels very rough like a rash. I suppose i have broken out from it a little more as well. I guess it is not good for my type of skin. How long will it tak to heal? What naturalbthings can i use to help.
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