Beauty Elixir

Plant oil

Is Coconut Oil comedogenic?

Comedogenic rating 4/5

Yes, it is pore-clogging.

Hugely popular in Indian hair and body care, but rich in lauric and myristic acid. It clogs pores on the face and feeds fungal acne.

Comedogenic
4 / 5
Irritancy
1 / 5
Fungal acne
Trigger
Type
Plant oil
INCI name
Cocos Nucifera Oil
Also listed as
Coconut Oil, Virgin Coconut Oil, Cocos Nucifera Coconut Oil

Who should avoid it?

Avoid in leave-on face products if you have oily, combination or acne-prone skin. It is usually fine on the body, in rinse-off products, or on very dry skin that does not break out.

Non-comedogenic swaps

Swap toRatingFungal acne
Squalane0/5Safe
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil2/5Safe

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Frequently asked questions

Is Coconut Oil comedogenic?

Yes, it is pore-clogging. Coconut Oil (INCI: Cocos Nucifera Oil) has a comedogenic rating of 4 out of 5. Hugely popular in Indian hair and body care, but rich in lauric and myristic acid. It clogs pores on the face and feeds fungal acne.

Is Coconut Oil safe for fungal acne?

No. Coconut Oil can feed Malassezia yeast, so people with fungal acne usually avoid it.

Does Coconut Oil cause acne?

It can. Ingredients rated 3–5 are frequently linked to clogged pores and breakouts in acne-prone people, especially in leave-on products.

What are other names for Cocos Nucifera Oil?

On labels it can also appear as Coconut Oil, Virgin Coconut Oil or Cocos Nucifera Coconut Oil.

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