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
Hey Ana!
Sorry to hear about your acne! I would try my Calendula Salt Scrub (It’s really a face wash) because it has Calendula which is healing, and then it has Olive Oil in it which is really good for Mediterranean skin. When you use oil on your skin it will actually help your skin to become LESS oily, as it is giving the skin the moisture it needs so that your sebaceous gland will not produce as much oil.
Hope that helps!
I am caucasian with European decent. I deal with cystic acne and have a lot of scarring and redness. What would be the best oil for me?
Hey Trisha!
Sorry to hear about your cystic acne! I would definitely try the Unscented Salt Scrub (It’s a face wash) or the Lavender/Jasmine Salt Scrub for your skin. It REALLY helps reduce the redness in all my clients. It has Jojoba in it which is what I’ve found to be the best! Or an Sweet Apricot or Almond would work as well. Also, I had cystic acne, and I would suggest taking megadoses of Vitamin A that your body can absorb. Cod Liver Oil from Carlsons (found at Health Foods stores) is good or taking Green Pastures Cod Liver Oil with Butter (they have it in capsules which tastes WAY better). And that will heal your acne from the inside.
Good luck and let me know how it goes!
I saw a dermatologist who recommended that I take 40 mg of Accutane everyday for 6 months-1 year. I am terrified of the side effects and would prefer a more natural route. Would you recommend Accutane? What is your advice for skincare involving cystic acne, scarring and hyperpigmentation?
Hi Ana-
So I actually did Accutane twice! Agh! It was the worst thing ever that I’ve done. It really destroyed my liver. Like a while after I got off of it. My lips are still dry, and it’s been 10 years. I was warned by so many other girls, but I wanted to get rid of it! Oh, and you’ll have SUPER bad depression.
I would actually go to a health food store and get Vitamin A found in Cod Liver Oil (Carlson’s brand) and take that instead! Accutane is just synthetic Vitamin A that messes with your body. For scarring I did Redmond Clay (it’s actually on my site) and for Hyperpigmentation I would use my Salt Scrub (the Calendula is most healing and it helps with hyper pigmentation). I would also look at my Apple Cider Vinegar post on my Blog and do that as well!
Hope that helps!
Leave a comment