Coconut oil and oily skin: a good or bad idea?

Is coconut oil beneficial for oily skin?

Rich in saturated fatty acids, coconut oil is often used to reinforce the skin barrier. But is its occlusive nature compatible with oily skin? Should it be adopted or avoided? Let’s examine this together.

Published on February 23, 2026, updated on February 23, 2026, by Andjela, Chemical Engineer — 6 min of reading

What effect does coconut oil have on oily skin?

The coconut oil is composed predominantly of medium-chain triglycerides, of which lauric acid constitutes approximately 45 to 50% of the fatty acids. This fatty acid has documented antimicrobial activity, notably against Cutibacterium acnes, a bacterium involved in the inflammation of acne lesions. It also displays anti-inflammatory properties that may modulate certain cutaneous reactions.

From a theoretical standpoint, these properties may suggest that coconut oil could be beneficial for oily and/or blemish-prone skin.

Moreover, the coconut oil acts as an emollient and occlusive agent. By forming a lipid film on the skin’s surface, it limits insensible water loss and temporarily reinforces the skin barrier. However, dehydrated skin may sometimes compensate by producing more sebum. In this context, restoring hydration could indirectly help reduce the sebum imbalance characteristic of oily skin types.

In practice, the coconut oil has a high comedogenic rating (often estimated at 4 out of 5), which means it can promote pore blockage in oily or acne-prone skin. Its high lipid content and occlusive nature can exacerbate the retention of sebum and keratin within the follicle, creating an environment conducive to comedone formation. Thus, despite its antimicrobial and soothing properties, its dense lipid profile generally makes it unsuitable for oily skin, particularly when used undiluted.

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Coconut oil and oily skin: are there more effective alternatives?

Although coconut oil offers certain theoretical benefits, it is not necessarily the most suitable option for oily skin, particularly in acne-prone cases or where pores frequently become blocked. For this skin type, lighter vegetable oils with low comedogenic potential and a lipid profile closer to that of human sebum are generally preferable.

The jojoba oil, for example, is actually a liquid wax whose structure is very similar to the wax esters naturally present in sebum. This biological affinity enables it to reinforce the skin barrier without creating a marked occlusive effect. It is often described as sebum-regulating, that is to say it may help to stabilise sebum production by the sebaceous glands. That said, scientific evidence is still too scarce to confirm this.
Grape seed oil, rich in linoleic acid, has a light, fast-absorbing texture. Linoleic acid is particularly beneficial for oily skin, as a relative deficiency of this fatty acid has been observed in the sebum of acne-prone skin. Its inclusion can thus help to improve the quality of the hydrolipidic film, whilst reducing the risk of comedones.
The hazelnut oil, also well tolerated by combination to oily skin types, has a dry feel and an unsaturated fatty acid profile that favours rapid absorption. It delivers an emollient effect without any lingering greasiness and without clogging the pores.

These oils are less likely to block pores and provoke the appearance of comedones.

Note : In a moisturising cream correctly formulated, coconut oil can be beneficial for oily skin. It is entirely a matter of proportion relative to the other formulation ingredients. Greater caution is warranted when using pure coconut oil.