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L'huile de coco comme protection solaire.

Does coconut oil offer sun protection?

Coconut oil is one of the most sought-after natural ingredients in cosmetics, celebrated for its nourishing properties. Some even consider it a potential natural alternative to conventional sunscreens. But can this essential vegetable oil truly protect your skin from UV rays, or is it merely a myth? Find out here.

Published on February 9, 2026, updated on February 9, 2026, by Andjela, Chemical Engineer — 5 min of reading

Can coconut oil act as a natural sunscreen?

The coconut oil has traditionally been prized for its nourishing and antioxidant qualities, owing to its richness in fatty acids and antioxidant compounds. Due to this lipid profile, some have suggested that it could also exert a protective influence against ultraviolet radiation, thereby conferring a natural sun protection factor (SPF). Certain experimental studies have indeed estimated the SPF of coconut oil to lie between approximately 1 and 7, indicating a limited capacity to filter a portion of UVB rays.

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7.119

SPF of coconut oil determined in vitro by CHAUHAN et al.

1.2

SPF of coconut oil determined in vivo by MARTINIAKOVA & al.

0.004

SPF of coconut oil determined in vitro by MARTINIAKOVA & al.

Nevertheless, this level of protection remains substantially below the minimum SPF 30 generally recommended to effectively prevent sun-related skin damage, including burns, the photoageing and the increased risk of cancers.

In order to clarify the actual nature of this protection, a 2017 study by WIDIYATI focused on the UV-filtering activity of a cream formulated from coconut oil. Spectrophotometric analysis showed that this formulation primarily absorbed radiation in the UVC range (200–280 nm). However, these wavelengths are almost entirely filtered out by the Earth’s atmosphere and do not significantly contribute to the biological effects associated with everyday sun exposure.

By contrast, the cream containing coconut oil displayed negligible absorption in the UVB (280–315 nm) and UVA (315–400 nm) ranges, which are precisely responsible for sunburn, photoageing and carcinogenic risk. For comparison, formulations incorporating UV filters recognised, such as titanium dioxide or benzophenone-3, showed absorption covering UVC to UVA and UVB to UVA, respectively. These results indicate that coconut oil alone cannot be regarded as an effective sunscreen filter.

Using coconut oil alone as sun protection therefore exposes the skin to a genuine risk of damage, as it can give a false sense of security.

However, owing to its emollient properties and its richness in re-lipidising lipids, coconut oil may have a role in after-sun care, where it helps to nourish and soften skin weakened by exposure. Nevertheless, it cannot serve as a substitute for sun protection.

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