I spent years wondering why the supposedly-awesome coconut oil for skin wasn’t cutting it for the dry skin on my face. It was SO frustrating! This discovery totally rocked my world, and I’m still using it daily, 5+ years later.
Huge thanks to Wilder Supply Co. who asked me to try some of their skin care products and originally sponsored this post. (All sponsored partnerships on this site are 100% my own thoughts, and I only publish work for products/companies I’ve personally tried and love.)
Written by: Beth Ricci
Every winter without fail, I get terribly dry skin on my face. The day after the we turn on the furnace for the first time in the fall, it starts. My face – especially in my T-zone – gets itchy, dry, and flaky. After my shower, it feels tight and awful, like that feeling you get when wearing a face mask that has dried and is ready to wash off. I do not appreciate this facet of my undeniably otherwise-flawless beauty. 😉 Not cool, face, not cool at all.
So what’s a natural living, crunchy mama to do?
[Enter, stage left, hero character]
Does Coconut Oil for Skin Actually Work?
Coconut oil is the darling of the natural living crunchy community. Every real food blogger worth their (unrefined sea) salt will tell you that there are literally hundreds of ways to use the stuff, from making delicious baked goods, homemade toothpaste, or eye makeup remover, to lubricating your you-know-what and using it as a massage oil in the bedroom.
Ever seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding? Remember how Windex is the cure-all? Same idea, less hilarious and more natural.
It’s commonly claimed that using coconut oil for skin is the Awesomest! Moisturizer! Ever! too. For years I kept some in a little sealed container in my bathroom, carried it in my purse, and even packed it for trips, just so I could swipe a little out with my finger to help moisturize my dry skin. It worked… sorta, but not great. I also tried jojoba oil for a while (holy expensive, batman). It was better, but still not awesome.
The Ideal Moisturizer for Your Skin, According to Research
According to this recent study on moisturizing products for dry skin, the ideal moisturizer will have the following attributes:
Reduce and prevent further TEWL (trans-epidermal water loss)
Restore lipid barrier, i.e., duplicating and enhancing the skin’s moisturizing retention mechanisms
Hypoallergenic, non-sensitizing, fragrance free, non-comedogenic
Absorbed immediately, providing immediate hydration
Cosmetically acceptable
Affordable.
How I First Learned About Coconut Oil Alternatives
My life was forever changed when an email landed in my inbox from Hannah at Wilder Supply Co. (Update September 2016: Wilder was formerly called Taproot Farms. Same great company, different name.)
(Seriously though – if any face moisturizer could be called life-changing, it’s this one.)
Wilder Supply Co. is a family-owned business located on an off-grid homestead in Chickaloon, Alaska. They offer a variety of products including lip balm, face/body oils, shea butter, perfume, and goat milk soap (made from fresh goat milk from the family homestead).
[annnd… now cue the dramatic music]
She wanted me to review some skin care products from their shop. I was all like, OK, sure, sounds fun. I was tired of using coconut oil for skin and being disappointed. Little did I know that my face moisturizing routine as I knew it was about to be forever changed.
I tried a few different products: a peach lip balm which works beautifully, and a sandalwood goat milk handcrafted soap – smells incredible, feels totally luxurious in the shower. I LOVE the silky smooth feel of it.
Then… I tried the Moroccan Argan Oil.
Backstory: when Hannah asked me what I’d like to try from their shop, I mentioned that the argan oil looked interesting (I had never heard of it before) because I had suffered from dry, itchy skin on my face for so long, and my current coconut oil for skin routine was not really cutting it.
This was followed by a discussion of the various oils and some brilliant explanations from her which pretty much explained everything as to why the other oils hadn’t worked for me. Here’s what I learned from her, and from my own rabbit hole of research that blew my mind:
What Does the Scientific Research Show About Argan Oil and Coconut Oil?
Well, first of all – the body of research on plant oils for therapeutic skin purposes is fairly small. Unfortunately, the laws in the United States on what skincare and cosmetic companies are allowed to include in their products are extremely loose. The U.S. only bans 11 ingredients, which is in stark contrast to the 1,328 chemicals banned by law in the European Union (28 countries). Canada’s laws are similarly strict to the E.U. with hundreds of ingredients banned.
According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, the E.U. also requires safety assessments on all products prior to being sold, whereas the U.S. does not. They point out that “the hazard-based, precautionary approach of the E.U. acknowledges that chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects simply don’t belong in cosmetics – regardless of the concentration of the chemical being used.”
What does this all mean? It means that the biggest cosmetic brands (the ones who could afford to fund studies) have little need to do so, and wouldn’t want to anyway, because the results on their products wouldn’t be good.
Here’s What we DO Know, Based on What’s Available:
- According to this 2013 study on jojoba in dermatology, jojoba oil isn’t actually an oil. It’s a wax ester that is very similar to the skin’s natural sebum. So, while it feels really nice on the skin (and worked better than coconut oil for me), it can’t soak in to the layers of the epidermis and moisturize as effectively as an oil like argan.
- Coconut oil for skin is a very light moisturizer that sinks in quickly, which appeals to a lot of people because it doesn’t leave a greasy feeling on the skin. It works well for some, but not those with very dry skin. This 2019 study found that coconut oil was effective as an emollient (softening skin) but that it was not found to leave an effective barrier to seal in moisture (aka “occlusive” – for the “most occlusive” example, think of petroleum jelly leaving a thick layer on skin). Dry skin needs something more occlusive than coconut oil, but less so than petroleum jelly (not a product I recommend, for the record).
- According to Table 1 in this study, coconut oil is not considered an effective occlusive (protective barrier), emollient (softens rough skin), or humectant (draws moisture). That same study points out that it does have excellent anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, so if you don’t have very dry skin or acne-prone skin (see comedogenic note below), it may be a great choice for you. (It’s also worth noting that other studies do refer to occlusive and emollient effects of coconut oil, and I’m sure there’s truth to that, however other plant-based oils seem to be referenced as more effective in this regard.)
- According to this comedogenic chart, argan oil is non-comedogenic with a rating of 0, so it won’t clog your pores.
- Conversely, coconut oil is listed with a rating of 4 (which means it can easily clog pores). That doesn’t bother many people, but if you have a tendency to get clogged pores (blackheads, acne breakouts, etc), coconut oil may exacerbate that problem.
- It is worth noting that the concept of comedogenicity requires more research before we can draw too many conclusions. Still – anecdotally, many people report that coconut oil just doesn’t leave their skin feeling hydrated (like me), or it leads to acne breakouts (hence the comedogenicity discussion).
- To sum up my own experience – while jojoba oil provided a protective layer without sinking in well, and coconut oil sinks in but doesn’t leave much of a protective layer, argan oil does both (see research below), making it more effective overall.
- In this 2014 study involving 60 women, the researchers concluded that argan oil improved skin hydration by restoring barrier function (keeping irritants, microbes, and allergens out) AND maintaining the water-holding capability (keeping moisture in).
- A follow-up study in 2015 by the some of the same researchers concluded that argan oil has an effective anti-aging effect by significantly improving skin elasticity.
So while coconut oil might work well for people who have skin in the middle of the spectrum (generally non-problematic skin), it doesn’t usually work great for those of us who tend to have dry or oily skin issues.
My Personal Experience with Argan Oil
As soon as I got the package in the mail, I started using the argan oil every morning, especially after a shower (I don’t shower every day – it helps to avoid drying the skin too much)
I dab a few drops on my driest areas (right between my eyebrows, forehead, around the base of my nose) and massage it in. It literally only takes a few drops, and my skin drinks it up thirstily.
It is especially effective if I give my face a quick, gentle exfoliation first. In the shower, I just gently scrub my face with a washcloth and it works great. I don’t feel a need to buy special products, or to be particularly harsh with scrubbing. It’s also most effective when applied to damp skin because your pores are more open.
Since using the argan oil, I have noticed an absolute 100% improvement in the way the skin on my face feels on a daily basis. That tight, dry feeling is gone!
As far as I can tell, the results are long-lasting too, because on the days I don’t shower, I sometimes don’t even use the oil because my skin is still happily moisturized from the day before.
It’s incredibly effective (this is about as close to defining something as a miracle product as I’ve ever gotten) and it’s frugal too, considering how little of it you need at a time. At the risk of overstating my case, to be honest, I am utterly blown away and thrilled with this product. Truly.
Now, not only does it work well and not cost me an arm and a leg (side note: yes, the price seems high at first glance compared to drugstore junk, but my first bottle lasted me almost four years!!), but consider these amazing factors as well:
Interesting Facts About the Origins and Production of Argan Oil:
- Argan oil is one of the rarest, most highly-valued oils in the world (source). It is a plant-based oil that comes from the Argan tree, which is exclusive to Morocco. It is called the “tree of life” there, and it has been used by locals for centuries.
- Every part of the plant is utilized: “Getting oil from the fruit of the argan tree involves drying it, extracting the nuts, cracking them to reveal the kernels, and pressing them to release the oil. The byproduct of pressing is a thick argan paste, which is sold locally for cosmetic products. Nothing else is wasted, as the outer pulp provides food for village animals, while the shells are burned for fuel.” (source)
- The process of extraction and selling this oil is done in a sustainable fashion. Almost all Argan oil is distributed by local co-operatives of women in Morocco (source). To this day, the most efficient method of extraction is hand-pressing the kernels, which provides valuable jobs to women in the country.
What are the Health Benefits of Argan Oil?
- Argan oil has incredible health benefits. According to this study, it’s rich in fatty acids and Vitamin E, which are both traits held in high regard in the beauty industry. The industry often adds synthetic versions of these things to products to be able to market them as anti-aging and healing, but of course, the natural (non-synthetic) version is far superior.
- According to the same study, “daily topical application of argan oil has also been shown to improve skin elasticity and skin hydration by restoring the barrier function and maintaining the water-holding capacity. Additionally, topical applications onto skin provide a softening and relaxing effect on the skin.”
- This study discusses multiple amazing health benefits of argan oil beyond skin moisturizing, including UV protection, and even cancer prevention (yes, really!)
The Bottom Line?
I first wrote this post in 2013, and it has been viewed nearly four million times since. There has been some pushback to criticism of our beloved coconut oil (of which I’m still a huge fan – I use it all the time for cooking, and a few other things!) but overall, I have heard from a ton of others who were relieved to know that they weren’t the only ones struggling with coconut oil for skin as a moisturizer!
I still use and love my argan oil to this day – I get mine from the same company: Wilder Supply Co. (<– get a special R&H discount through that link). I trust their quality.
They’re a small family business that prides itself on offering natural, affordable products of exceptional quality. They also value sustainability and top-notch service, which pretty well makes them my ideal company.
Related:
What do you use to moisturize your skin? Have you tried argan oil?
Sources:
- Sethi, A., Kaur, T., Malhotra, S. K., & Gambhir, M. L. (2016). Moisturizers: The Slippery Road. Indian journal of dermatology, 61(3), 279–287. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.182427
- Pazyar N, Yaghoobi R, Ghassemi M.R, Kazerouni A, Rafeie E, Jamshydian N. (2013). “Jojoba in Dermatology: A Succinct Review”. G Ital Dermatol Venereol , 9(1): 5–14. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2017.06.012
- Varma, S. R., Sivaprakasam, T. O., Arumugam, I., Dilip, N., Raghuraman, M., Pavan, K. B., Paramesh, R. (2018). In vitro anti-inflammatory and skin protective properties of Virgin coconut oil. Journal of traditional and complementary medicine, 9(1), 5–14. doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2017.06.012
- Chularojanamontri, L., Tuchinda, P., Kulthanan, K., & Pongparit, K. (2014). Moisturizers for Acne: What are their Constituents?. The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology, 7(5), 36–44.
- Draelos Z.D, DiNardo J.C. (2006). A Re-Evaluation of the Comedogenicity Concept. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 54(3):507-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2005.11.1058
- Boucetta, K.Q, Charrouf, Z, Derouiche, A, Rahali, Y, and Bensouda, Y. (2014). Skin Hydration in Postmenopausal Women: Argan Oil Benefit with Oral and/or Topical Use. Menopause Review 13(5): 280–288. doi: 10.5114/pm.2014.46470
- Boucetta, K.Q, Charrouf, Z, Aguenaou, H, Derouiche, A, and Bensouda Y. (2015). The Effect of Dietary and/or Cosmetic Argan Oil on Postmenopausal Skin Elasticity. Clinical Interventions in Aging 10:339-49. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S71684
- Lin, T. K., Zhong, L., & Santiago, J. L. (2017). Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. International journal of molecular sciences, 19(1), 70. doi:10.3390/ijms19010070
- Villareal, M. O., Kume, S., Bourhim, T., Bakhtaoui, F. Z., Kashiwagi, K., Han, J., … Isoda, H. (2013). Activation of MITF by Argan Oil Leads to the Inhibition of the Tyrosinase and Dopachrome Tautomerase Expressions in B16 Murine Melanoma Cells. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2013, 340107. doi:10.1155/2013/340107
Pamela Pellegrin
Love the information offered on this site. Extremely honest & beneficial.
Zi Newton
Is this an advertisement or is it a real story? There are many advertisements or testimonials that are actually fake. I mean the testimonials are advertisements. I would appreciate to know the fact.
Beth
This is my personal story, and it’s as real as it gets. I used my half-gone bottle of argan oil this morning, in fact.
Yep
This is an advertisement disguised as a “personal story”.
Advertisers are getting much more crafty these days.
Andrea
Rather advertisement for a small local company offering handcrafted skincare purely made from plants, therfore bio degradable and from renewable sources instead of huge TV ads from global super groups like L’Oréal, Dove etc who use synthetic and polluting ingredients.
As a small honest business it is hard to open people’s eyes so there is no evil in sending small tests to a blogger.
Travis Hilden
Find this article surprisingly shocking with how much wrong information is in this article so the chemical breakdown of coconut oil is vitamin E meaning no matter what concern you have whether it’s dryness aging skin breakouts vitamin E is going to refortify the actual cellular wall so it’s going to treat every fine line wrinkle any concern you have as well as protect and prevent any future damage Ion top of that if you can get coconut oil manufactured the proper way and not use traditional cooking coconut oil on your face then coconut oil is non-comedogenic meaning it will not clog your pores the reason why regular cooking/grocery store coconut oil clogs your pores is because there’s micro-fine bits of metal and aluminum that break off during the manufacturing process that get down into your coconut oil at the microscopic level that’s why coconut oil cooking coconut oil looks a little bit more yellow when you buy it from a grocery store but if you were to buy coconut oil from a brand that controls the manufacturing process from start to finish (see kopari) you’ll see that it’s supposed to be pure White when it’s manufactured the right way coconut oil is also an anti-inflammatory and is also antibacterial so it can actually kill the bacteria on your face that causes breakouts that’s why coconut oil pulling such a huge thing and why people have been doing it for centuries because it shows all the bacteria in your mouth naturally and it’ll do the same thing on your face I really feel this article should be pulled because you’re totally missing for me every single person that stops on this page or at the very least you should post my comment at the top so people can have the correct information available
so in short coconut oil is ALWAYS good for you no matter what your skin concern is no matter how dry your skin is or what skin type you have. it’s all about in the manufacturing process and what brand of coconut oil that you are using please educate yourselves
Just for my street cred (if you’re wondering who the hell I think I am blah, blah)
I was the skin Care, hair Care, iland fragrance lead at a Sephora for the last five years so I’m huge on chemical breakdown of ingredients in cosmetics I also went to school as an esthetician and I’m a certified makeup artist and have my license in that as well so my entire career is skincare and makeup and beauty hope this helps and the right people see this and educate themselves
Arlene Fugett
Just read the testamomy from customer using Argon oil. I am interested as I have dry skin and skin cancer . Am always looking for a product to help. I keep skin cancer under control by seeing a dermatologist regularly .
Peggy
Argan oil is actually a drying oil
Andrea
That does not mean it is drying in the skin. ‘Drying’ here means it is an oil that dies not feel fatty or oily and that it is absorbed rather fast. If an oil is classified as ‘dry’ or ‘oily’ depends on its fatty acid composition. Coconut oil , shea butter, cocoa butter contain mainly saturated fatty acids and aran oil mainly mono- and poly unsaturated fatty acids. That’s the different. All plant oils and fats are different and have different properties.
angi
I tried using coconut oil yesterday on my face and will never do that again. That was just plain painful. So I am very glad I found your article on Pinterest.com since I am on a new search for something that actually works and doesn’t make me wish I could crawl into a hole and hide from the world with my painful and dry skin.
Thank you.
Tallie
I have used the argon oil it tends to leave my face oily. I live in Tucson as. The desert it brutal on the skin… I have switched to bassu oil. From a professional hair care line called Surface. And my face (and hair) have never felt better and I bleach my hair and the bassu oil has saved my hair. This stuff is to die for!
Andrea
Thank you for this! Everything I find on Pinterest regarding natural beauty leads right in the direction of coconut oil, and it’s really not good for the skin. I’ve been using grape seed oil and that seems to be working so far, but I may have to give argan oil a go at some point!
arcinva
Definitely use what works for you. But I have to say, I fell in love with coconut oil for my skin a couple of years ago. I first heard about it as a possible way to help the keratosis pilaris on my upper arms and, when I started reading up on it, saw that it could potentially help with breakouts. I read that it was a close match to your skin’s natural oils and had antibacterial properties. Around the same time, my dermatologist suggested I switch to super-gentle products for my face (I have mild rosacea). So, with no expectations, I gave it a try. First, I was shocked that my face didn’t look greasy. And then, much to my surprise, the blackheads on my nose disappeared. Finally, I stopped breaking out around my chin at that time of the month. But, NO ONE’S skin is the same. So do what works for you.
Mellie
Arcinva,
I agree with you. Coconut has been a miracle for me. I have tried virgin Argan oil for dry skin, facial moisturizer and as a dry and damaged hair treatment. Really, Argan oil only was beneficial as a hair conditioner. It was amazing for that one particular use. Since, I started hearing all these wonderful uses for coconut oil. I originally purchased 100% organic virgin coconut oil for oil pulling and a natural anti bacterial for my mouth as I was beginning to have gum and teeth issues. The coconut oil not only improved the health if my teeth and gums but my teeth became whiter… Naturally! Recently I came down with a nasty yeast infection due to the use of hormones. The treatment my pharmacists didn’t work. So as coconut oil is a natural anti fungal treatment, I decided to give it a try… Down there. After one treatment, I received much relief, and after the 2nd I had no symptoms .
I am not saying Argan oil does not have it’s own wonderful benefits, but the uses I have found in coconut oil outweighs those I have found from using Argon oil.
Coconut oil is also used for wound salve, weight loss and also cancer. As well as help with digestive problems.. The list goes on and on.
Again this is my opinion and I don’t discount Argan oil for its remedies.
Sue Kitchell
Finally, someone who does not care for coconut oil for skin. My skin suffered after using it for s month, thinking that something was wrong with me. My skin became very dry, scaly, and itchy. I stopped using the coconut oil quite by accident and my skin improved and went back to normal. I use Argan and Marula oil everyday and use it on my hair as well. Thank you for your post.
rene764
I was using coconut oil for about a year before I realized I think it is drying out my skin. but does this mean all oils will dry out skin because your skin will stop producing oil??
Sharon Pettigrew
Great information about both coconut oil and Argan oil; however, I must make a correction regarding The Tree of Life. Actually, the tree of life is the Baobab Tree or what some call the upside down tree. It is known as the tree of life because it grows in the hottest, dry places where little can survive. The oldest Baobab tree is well over 5000 years old and can be found in thirty-two countries.
Ginger
Good article. Argan oil needs a brief mention of where it’s from and how it’s made to truly appreciate it. Not many people know.
Desiree
Helpful +
best argan oil
In truth it is the best hair product I have ever used and the quality
of my hair is simply much improved. Working in the oil and gas industries has become a matter of
pride for people. I believe this is a shame
because it is both misleading as well as degrading of
this noble oil.
Nikki Michalski
Does this help with dark spots and acne
Iris Remillard
I’ve never been able to use coconut oil as a facial moisturizer (it never absorbed and left my face feeling disgustingly greasy as well as exacerbating my blackhead problem) and I stumbled across Chagrin Valley Soap and Salves, which seems pretty similar to Taproot Farms, honestly. I don’t want to turn this into a sales pitch for them but they have a facial oil which is mostly argan with some pumpkin seed and jojoba oils and it’s lovely for my skin. I’m very glad I was able to find an alternative to coconut oil!
Jessica
This organic skin butter is non-comedogenic and can be used ANYWHERE on the skin, leaving behind only velvety softness with just 3 PURE ORGANIC ingredients:
ARGAN OIL (Organic, Cold Pressed), known as liquid gold, is packed w/ vitamin E and essential fatty acids and absorbs deep into the skin, conditioning, repairing, balancing and reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
AVOCADO BUTTER (Raw, Organic), rich in vitamins A, B, G and E, is incredibly softening, soothing, nourishing and hydrating with excellent penetrating properties.
MANGO BUTTER (Raw, Organic) is packed with antioxidants that fight free radicals. It has emollient, healing, protective and regenerative properties
Plus a touch of skin loving organic non-gmo vitamin e oil for an added dose of free-redical fighting anti-oxidants and softness.
http://www.beechersbotanicals.com/#!our-products/kmt72/!/Organic-Skin-Butters/c/15385027/offset=0&sort=nameAsc
Amy Jo Dempsey
jessica,
I went on your wesite, looks amazing, I would love to try the in shower product, but I kno I would need after shower bodybutter, and hope it’s ok for the face. But $20 I am so severe I cant spend $20 on something IM not sure will help me. I wish I was tester just to give my opinion. Do u have a program like that where I could earn products or at a discount? Please reply, Im suffering so bad, and I dont want to be a wrinkly old maid that’s skin hurts so much to touch. I literally am in tears I need help.
Bryce Smith
HOLY WOW! I would like to thank you so much! I believe that this just may be what I am looking for: Hi I’m Bryce, I’m 18 years old, still a hormonal high schooler and I used to break out in my T zone too! But now my skin is going through something TOTALLY traumatic and breaking out everywhere BUT! Which I find totally weird. I’m using X OUT from proactive, which is a one step sorta thing, but I do believe it can really work if I find a solid moisturizer! My skin is normal — not too dry but not too oily — but it does need a light moisturizer. I use to use the green tea moisturizer from proactive and it was perfect but I ran out and you cannot just buy it separate from the rest of a package. Do you think this argon oil will be right for me? I’m totally going to try it regardless. Thanks again!
Lucy
Try it – I’m 52 and break out . Hesitant to try I closed my eyes and PATTED it on .
OH MY GOODNESS
AMAZING
Sold ! Forever a user – go to product everywhere there is skin . And
Don’t let your high school skin get you down – only you see every imperfection .
Vivalux
It’s nearly impossible to find experienced people for this topic, but you seem like
you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
PuddleOfSunshine
If you want to talk to people who really know about this stuff, visit reddit.com/r/skincareaddiction or reddit.com/r/diybeauty. There are people and resources there with loads of information about the benefits of specific carrier oils and how you can incorporate them into your skin care routine.
Kim
This sounds great! Never considered using argon oil as a face moisterizer! So what do you use to wash your face? And an anti-aging product?
Barbara McCleery
I’ve just started using Argan butter as a moisturizer for my face – love it
I use coconut oil to wash my face, use warm water – not hot because the hot water can also dry out the skin
I put the coconut oil into a cream based carrier, one of the creams that people use instead of soap
Stephen
This is a paid advertisement, not a real article.
Beth
It absolutely *is* a real article, from a real person, who actually uses Taproot’s argan oil. I used it to moisturize my face just this morning, in fact. I love it, and see nothing wrong with sharing that fact with my readers.
Diego
I agree with you.
Revie Maine
My skin is quite dry and especially so on my legs, being a woman of a certain age, and the Made from Earth Valencia Orange Lotion does the trick perfectly. Really like this skin cream! No horrible nasties in it. Smells beautifully of oranges
Winter
What is a certain age? Over 12? Can men over a certain age also use these products?
Carol
A certain age means menopause.