
Not only does coconut oil smell good and taste good, it’s actually good for your skin too! In today’s post, I’ll be sharing 5 benefits to using coconut oil on your skin, whether by itself, in a homemade salve, or any other way you choose to use it!

What Type Of Coconut Oil Should I Use?
Quality and purity are both important when it comes to products you apply to your skin. High quality coconut oil isn’t hard to find—labels like organic, cold-processed, and unrefined/virgin/raw are all good indicators of quality.
Some unrefined coconut oils are expensive, but there are plenty of affordable options out there too (like this one!) And for a coconut oil that always stays in liquid form, check out the fractionated coconut oil in my shop!
5 Benefits Of Using Coconut Oil On Skin

1. It Provides Moisture
Coconut oil is highly moisturizing, making it a popular ingredient in natural lotions and body butters. It’s also rich in medium-chain fatty acids that can help your skin retain more moisture over time.
You can apply it directly to your skin to treat rough or dry patches on your elbows, knees, and feet!
Related: 9 Fantastic Things You Can Do With Fractionated Coconut Oil

2. It’s Antibacterial
Lauric acid, one of the primary medium-chain fatty acids in coconut oil, has useful antimicrobial effects. Studies have shown that the lauric acid in coconut oil can help fight fungal infections like athlete’s foot and bacterial strains associated with acne.
Many people report that coconut oil has helped clear their skin and reduce acne inflammation, but not everyone’s skin reacts the same. For those with oily and acne-prone skin, coconut oil can actually clog pores and contribute to breakouts, so that’s something to keep in mind.

3. It Provides Vitamins
Coconut oil is high in vitamin E, which plays a crucial role in the overall health of your skin. It aids in both skin growth and skin repair, which are especially important in terms of caring for aging skin!

4. It Exfoliates & Cleanses
Coconut oil can be used to exfoliate and cleanse skin. The acids in coconut oil provide chemical exfoliation, helping to slough off dead skin cells and reveal the brighter, smoother skin underneath.
For these reasons, many women find coconut oil to be an ideal makeup remover! To use it, just rub a bit of coconut oil between your hands until warm, then massage it into skin for about a minute to dissolve makeup.
Rinse your face clean with warm water, then pat dry with a clean towel.

5. It Forms A Protective Barrier
Thanks to its antibacterial properties and thick texture, coconut oil is great for layering over other products. Apply a thin layer as a protective “seal” over serums, moisturizers, and other skincare products, which will help them work more effectively while keeping bacteria at bay.
Can’t Get Enough Coconut Oil?
To learn more ways to incorporate coconut oil into your beauty regimen, check out these 11 coconut oil beauty hacks. And for more general purpose uses, head over to 28 surprising uses for coconut oil!
Do you use any skincare products, either store-bought or homemade, that feature coconut oil?