What’s up with coconut oil? Should you be using it?

There are a lot of voices in the skincare space that certainly want you to think so. And that’s the way of fads right? Everywhere you look, you are confronted by very similar messaging. And that messaging comes to be the common or prevailing wisdom of the industry.

But just because everyone is saying something, does that necessarily make it true?

Not necessarily.

Is Coconut Oil Good For Your Skin?

It’s hard to read up on coconut oil. If you just do a simple Google search, you’ll certainly find a lot of links to click on. But you’ll find that a great many of those links are actually made by people who have an interest in promoting its use.

Skin Actives is here to set you straight.

As we said a little bit ago, when we were talking about food and supplements, our bodies need to take in the proper types of chemicals in order to use them throughout our bodies, for a wide variety of purposes. 

When it comes to our bodies building cells and their membranes, taking in some fatty acids either topically, or through diet, are essential because we can’t make them ourselves. Linoleic and alpha-linolenic are such fatty acids.

So if we are supposed to believe that coconut oil is good for our skin, it must provide something that is absent. 

Below you will find a quick breakdown of the fatty acids in coconut oil. We’re here to tell you, these are not the ones your body is looking for, but the list is educational for another reason that will become clear in a moment.

Coconut Oil Fatty Acid Composition:

• Caprylic saturated 7%
• Capric saturated 8%
• Lauric saturated 48%
• Myristic saturated 16%
• Palmitic saturated 9.5%
• Oleic monounsaturated 6.5%
• Others 5%

Oleic monounsaturated is interesting to see on this list. Why is that?

Oleic acid has been shown to feed P. acnes  (propionibacterium acnes), the bacteria that causes the skin concern we call “acne” for short. Oleic acid plays a critical role in acne bacteria adherence and biofilm formation; biofilm formation is linked to acne pathogenesis. What does this mean for you? Oleic acid is potentially promoting the acne that you are trying to avoid!

This is troubling because it suggests that coconut oil is, in fact, food for one of the most common concerns your skincare routine may be trying to address. Or, you may think you have this one in the bag, but following this trend could cause whole new areas of concern for you to have to consider.

Skin Actives and Coconut Oil

Coconuts are really refreshing on a hot day, but they’re not great for skincare. So you won’t find coconut oil in Skin Actives products.

But like we always say: don’t be afraid of oil! Oil is your friend, and your skin absolutely needs it.

Skin Actives products work so well because we recognize your skin’s need for healthy, sustainable oils. Start reading our ingredient labels and you’ll see how many of our products are rich in the blends of essential fatty acids that nurture your skin while avoiding fatty acids that could potentially hurt your skin or feed pimples. 

If you’d like to really focus on getting all your essential fatty acids, you can’t go wrong with the products below. Put these products to work for your best skin yet, after you’ve set the coconut oil aside for good.

Nourishing Skin Serum - Bar none, Nourishing Skin Serum is our most advanced skin-soothing product. Additionally, it’s full of the essential fatty acids your skin needs and can use to keep it healthy, functioning, and strong.

Every Lipid Serum (ELS) - The classic that started it all! Get all the healthy lipids that your body needs in one place. Every Lipid Serum feeds your skin, battles dryness and brittleness giving you what you need and leaving what you don’t!

Rosehip Seed Oil - You’ll find rosehip seed oil in so many great Skin Actives products, you may decide you want to add it to some of the other products you have at home. You may even decide to opt for direct application to your skin. Rosehip seed oil is pungent and strong, however, so always remember that a little goes a long way.

Stop by the Skin Actives webstore today and check out these oil serums and other great products available today! Shipping inside the United States is entirely free. Stop by today and check us out!