Cosmetic coconut oil: what side effects?

What are the potential risks of coconut oil?

Natural and highly popular, coconut oil has become a staple in many skincare routines. But its richness in saturated fatty acids also raises certain questions. If used improperly, it can lead to adverse effects. What are the dangers of coconut oil in cosmetics? Discover what you need to know about it before incorporating it into your routine.

Published on June 10, 2022, updated on January 29, 2026, by Maylis, Chemical Engineer — 7 min of reading

A brief overview of coconut oil.

The coconut palm (Cocos nucifera) is an iconic tropical palm native to the coastal regions of Southeast Asia, East Africa, and the Pacific Islands. It has been used for centuries in traditional medicine, food, and body care. The coconut, protected by a fibrous husk, contains a white, lipid-rich pulp from which coconut oil is extracted. Depending on the production method (cold pressing of fresh or dried pulp), one can distinguish notably virgin coconut oil and copra oil, which have slightly different sensory and nutritional profiles.

Cocotier (a) et noix de coco (b). — Coconut palm (a) and coconut (b).
Source: PUTRI E. P. Renewable energy: Charcoal briquettes from coconut shells. Physics and Mechanics of New Materials and Their Applications (2024).

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In cosmetics, the coconut oil is listed under the INCI nameCocos Nucifera Oil. It is characterized by a composition primarily composed of saturated fatty acids, in particular lauric acid (around 45–50%), but also myristic, palmitic, and capric acids. This lipid-rich composition gives it a solid texture at room temperature and a strong occlusive effect. When applied to the skin or hair, the coconut oil is valued for its nourishing, emollient, and protective properties, especially on dry areas or damaged hair fibers.

Coconut oil: potential adverse effects to anticipate?

Coconut oil does not pose any particular problems for sensitive skin, but it is primarily suspected of promoting the appearance of skin imperfections in some individuals.

If we focus solely on skin tolerance, coconut oil is generally well tolerated by the skin, including sensitive skin. Its simple lipid profile, devoid of known irritating or sensitizing compounds, accounts for this good tolerance. In practice, it can be used safely by pregnant women, young children, or those with skin prone to atopic eczema.

This good tolerability is confirmed by several standardized dermatological evaluations. Phototoxicity and photosensitization tests were conducted with 27 volunteers under controlled protocols including UVA exposure. Under these conditions, the application of coconut oil did not cause any adverse skin reaction, either immediate or delayed. No sign of irritation, discomfort, phototoxic or photoallergic reaction was observed by the dermatologists responsible for monitoring the study. Other studies also evaluated the primary, cumulative, and sensitizing potential of coconut oil using repeated patch tests. Again, the results are reassuring: no skin irritation or sensitization was detected, even after repeated applications under semi-occlusive dressings in 54 volunteers.

These data confirm that, from a toxicological perspective, coconut oil is a safe and well-tolerated ingredient.

The concerns raised about it do not pertain to its cutaneous safety per se, but rather its effects on individuals with oily or acne-prone skin, coconut oil having a comedogenicity rating of 4/5. That said, the question of coconut oil’s comedogenicity remains fairly debated, and the available data do not all point in the same direction. Theoretically, its high saturated fatty acid content and its highly occlusive nature suggest it could promote blockage of the pilosebaceous follicles, but some clinical assessments qualify this notion.

For example, a recent study evaluated the comedogenic potential of a virgin coconut oil in 33 volunteers with combination-to-oily, acne-prone skin. They applied the oil daily to their faces for three weeks, and a dermatologist assessed their sebum production and their number of comedones, of papules and of pustules.

The results of this study are interesting: no increase in sebum production or in the number of comedones, papules, or pustules was observed.

Based on these observations, the authors conclude that the tested coconut oil exhibits neither comedogenic nor acnegenic properties, even in individuals with combination to oily skin. However, these results should be interpreted with caution. On one hand, the cohort size was limited and followed over a relatively short duration. On the other hand, skin tolerance and comedone formation can vary greatly between individuals. Thus, although some studies suggest that coconut oil may be well tolerated by oily skin, we recommend exercising caution. If you have combination to oily skin, it is preferable to use lightweight vegetable oils, such as jojoba oil or hazelnut oil.

Note : In topical hair applications, irrespective of hair type, it is preferable not to apply pure coconut oil to the scalp, as this will unnecessarily increase its greasiness. With regard to the hair lengths, however, it can be suitable for thick, curly, or coily hair.