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You might be spending a lot of your time wearing a mask these days, but your face still needs a little TLC. And if you have mega dry skin, finding the right moisturizer or facial oil can feel overwhelming.

That’s where a super-rich coconut oil comes through in the clutch.

“Coconut oil is rich in fatty acids, especially lauric acid, which nourish the skin but also provide antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory benefits,” says Dr. Geeta Yadav, a board certified dermatologist based in Toronto, Canada. “And, it also prevents moisture loss.”

We rounded up the 10 best coconut oils for your beautiful face that’ll keep it hydrated and moisturized.

Before we jump into the criteria we used to pick out these coconutty concoctions, we want to point out that obviously, everyone’s skin is different. That means what works for your BFF may cause you to break out in zits.

Even if a product gets rave reviews, make sure to have realistic expectations. You might need a little trial and error to find the perfect fit for your unique skin.

So how did we narrow down our faves?

  • Ingredients. Yadav explains that you want to go the cold-processed route whenever possible when shopping for coconut oil. “Heating can strip the oil of many of its nutrients,” says Yadav. Plus, we also prioritized options with vegan and organic formulas.
  • Reviews. Do people actually like the stuff? That’s hella important!
  • Price. We tried to include products at varying price points, including lots of super affordable options for peeps on a budget.

Pricing guide

  • $ = under $15
  • $$ = $15–$35
  • $$$ = over $35
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Here’s a closer look at our picks, including what they’re made of, the best ways to apply to your face, and what folks are saying about them.

Side by side comparison

ProductIngredientsPrice
COCO & CO. Organic Pure Extra Virgin Coconut Oilorganic unrefined coconut oil$$
SheaMoisture Overnight Face Oil100% virgin coconut oil$
Aromatica Cleansing Coconut Oilsunflower seed oil, apricot kernel oil, coconut oil, olive oil, vitamin E, lavender oil, orange peel oil$
Advanced Clinicals Coconut Oil Creampure coconut oil, organic lavender extract, natural glycerin, aloe vera$
Sky Organics Coconut Oil with Vitamin EUSDA organic coconut oil, vitamin E$
Yesto Moisturizing Coconut Oil Stickcoconut oil, shea butter$
Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Coconut Water Facial Mistcoconut water, coconut oil, vitamin E, rose water, shea butter, cocoa butter, chamomile, olive oil$
e.l.f. Hydrating Coconut Mistcoconut oil, vitamin E, vitamin B5$
Conscious Coconut Coconut Oilcoconut oil, vitamin E$$
Kopari Coconut Crush Scrubcoconut oil, brown sugar, aloe vera, shea butter$$$

Best organic coconut oil for face

COCO & CO. Organic Pure Extra Virgin Coconut Oil

  • Price: $$
  • Key ingredient(s): organic unrefined coconut oil

This COCO & CO. coconut oil comes from young, organic coconuts and contains no added ingredients. Just pure unrefined coconut oil.

The product is unrefined and has a barely-there scent that isn’t overpowering. You can use it for all sorts of beauty applications, including as a moisturizer and hair mask.

Reviewers with ultra-dry skin love this oil and say it noticeably improved their skin and hair. Some even say it helps heal and soothe irritated skin. Keep in mind that any oil is bound to be greasy, so it may stain clothes.

Best overnight coconut oil for face

SheaMoisture Overnight Face Oil

  • Price: $
  • Key ingredient(s): 100% virgin coconut oil

SheaMoisture’s face oil goes on right before bed so it can soak into your skin and deeply hydrate the dried-out wasteland you’ve been dealing with.

The brand claims to use a proprietary formula, so there are a few added ingredients, including acacia Senegal, which helps lock in moisture.

Customers love that the oil immediately delivers a brightening glow. Some note that it works best on freshly cleansed skin, so don’t wait until your face is dry to apply.

Best cleansing coconut oil for face

Aromatica Natural Coconut Cleansing Oil

  • Price: $
  • Key ingredient(s): sunflower seed oil, apricot kernel oil, coconut oil, olive oil, vitamin E, lavender oil, orange peel oil

Use this coconut oil-based cleansing oil to wash off the grit and grime of the day. The formula doesn’t just contain coconut oil but a blend of other skin-soothing ingredients like lavender oil and apricot kernel oil.

Research suggests that apricot kernel oil has anti-inflammatory properties, which may help if you have inflamed, irritated skin. And lavender oil may help with wound healing.

Worried that washing with an oil-based cleanser will leave your skin feeling greasy? Reviewers with acne-prone skin that’s also very dry say that the oil doesn’t strip the skin of oils and smells great.

Best dispenser coconut oil for face

Advanced Clinicals Coconut Oil Cream

  • Price: $
  • Key ingredient(s): pure coconut oil, organic lavender extract, natural glycerin, aloe vera

This USA-made whipped coconut oil product is cruelty-free (yay!). It has a pleasant scent thanks to the inclusion of lavender extract.

People might be nuts for coconuts, but aloe vera is an actual hero skin care ingredient that has a ton of benefits. It acts as an acne-fighter, moisturizer, and skin soother. And it may even slow down the clock on your skin.

People like the lotion consistency of this coconut oil product and say that it helps reduce stretch marks and keeps skin uber hydrated. The downside? It’s not organic. Whomp, whomp.

Best vitamin E coconut oil for face

Sky Organics Coconut Oil with Vitamin E

  • Price: $
  • Key ingredient(s): USDA organic coconut oil and vitamin E

The two simple ingredients in this moisturizing oil are a pretty rad skin care duo.

So what’s the deal with vitamin E? Research shows that this antioxidant ingredient has the ability to protect your skin from things like sun damage. Plus, it may even help reduce under-eye circles.

And btw, Sky Organics doesn’t test on animals, which we love.

Reviewers say this stuff is good enough to use from head to toe and agree that it’s hydrating AF.

Best coconut oil for face in a stick format

Yesto Moisturizing Coconut Oil Stick

  • Price: $
  • Key ingredient(s): coconut oil and shea butter

Moisturizing buddies coconut oil and shea butter do their job in stick-form in this Yesto coconut oil stick.

The stick format makes it easy to use on the go—whether you’re moisturizing after a swim in skin-stripping chlorinated waters or after a hot shower at home. The moisturizer is also free of parabens and is cruelty-free.

Reviewers point out that the formula is definitely a bit greasy but say that it only takes a few minutes to absorb into the skin.

Best mist coconut oil for face

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Coconut Water Facial Mist

  • Price: $
  • Key ingredient(s): coconut water, coconut oil, vitamin E, rose water, shea butter, cocoa butter, olive oil, chamomile

If slathering coconut oil all over your face seems a bit much, you might want to try out this facial mist from Palmer’s.

The refreshing mist is lightweight and contains a bunch of skin-happy ingredients like cocoa butter, shea butter, rose water, and vitamin E.

People who’ve tried the mist say it has a light and refreshing scent. A few people with sensitive skin do note that they experienced irritation when spraying this product on their skin. When trying any skin care product, it’s a good idea to do a patch test before applying to a larger area.

Best scented coconut oil for face

e.l.f. Hydrating Coconut Mist

  • Price: $
  • Key ingredient(s): coconut oil, vitamin E, vitamin B5

Here’s another facial mist that scores big points in terms of scent. You can use the lightweight spray as a pick-me-up on a hot day or to help lightly moisturize your skin.

In addition to coconut, the product also contains skin-friendly vitamin E and B5. And the formula is cruelty-free and vegan.

People adore the light tropical fragrance and say it’s so good it’s hard to share with others. While the smell is ah-mah-zing, a few buyers complain that it leaves behind a tacky feel.

Best travel size coconut oil for face

Conscious Coconut Coconut Oil

  • Price: $$
  • Key ingredient(s): coconut oil, vitamin E

This tiny tube of coconut oil is perfect for tossing into your carry-on bag. It’s made with certified organic coconut oil, vitamin E and happens to be free of parabens. Oh, and did we mention it’s cruelty-free? Yessiree!

The brand is also committed to fair compensation and safe working conditions for farmers and employees and is validated by Fair Trade USA.

Folks appreciate the small TSA-approved tubes BUT point out that it can be tough to dispense the coconut oil because it solidifies at room temp. If you’re on a sunny vacay, though, you’ll probs have no issue.

Best coconut oil for face scrub

Kopari Coconut Crush Scrub

  • Price: $$$
  • Key ingredient(s): coconut oil, brown sugar, aloe vera, shea butter

Exfoliate your skin and disguise the look of those pores with the help of this scrumptious smelling coconut oil scrub. It’s made with organic coconut oil, and it’s also cruelty-free and non-GMO.

The company also has a generous moneyback guarantee — probably because they’re pretty sure you’re gonna love it.

Reviewers say the Kopari scrub does a great job at sloughing off dead skin, leaving it soft but not greasy.

Our process and why you should trust us

We consulted Dr. Geeta Yadav, a board certified dermatologist, for expert advice on selecting the best coconut oils to use on the face.

Before writing about the products, we put them all through a thorough vetting process that checks for any unsupported health claims, shady business practices, FDA/FTC warning letters, and lawsuits concerning a company’s products. We also checked that the main ingredients in each product are evidence-based and actually do what the company says they do.

After wrapping up our recommendations and tips, we sent this entire article to a third medical professional specializing in cosmetics and skin care (in this case, Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP) for review.

Basically, rest assured knowing that we put in the WORK to get you the right recommendations.

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So how do you choose a coconut oil product that’s right for your face? Here’s a breakdown of what to keep in mind.

Your skin type

Zit alert! Coconut oil has some neat benefits, but it’s not for everyone. For example, if you’ve got acne-prone skin, coconut oil is likely to make your skin woes worse. That’s because this ingredient is highly comedogenic, and according. to Yadav, that means it’s prone to clogging pores.

She recommends that all skin types look for ingredients other than coconut oil because it’s so likely to cause breakouts. But if you’ve got mega dry skin, it might help.

Ingredients

You want something with coconut oil, right? Wrong. The coconut oil in your pantry might not be a good fit for your face.

“Ideally, you’ll look for a product that contains cold-pressed coconut oil,” says Yadav. Because cold-pressing doesn’t involve heating, there’s less nutrient loss. She also recommends looking for an oil that’s virgin or unrefined. “It should smell like the inside of a fresh coconut,” she says. Avoid anything that smells overpowering or sickly sweet.

Added ingredients are cool, too. Some products deliver added benefits with the help of additional ingredients like aloe vera, for example. “Oil blends might also be better for people worried about breakouts,” says Yadav.

And always scan the list of ingredients to ensure a product doesn’t contain anything you’re sensitive or allergic to.

Coconut oil buddies

Yadav points out that coconut oil is excellent at locking in moisture, but it won’t help much if your skin is already parched.

She recommends pairing coconut oil with hydrating products containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides. Moisturize first, then apply coconut oil to keep that moisture in.

Coconut oil is on-trend right now, but it might not be the best option for all skin types.

“There are so many plant oils and plant-based ingredients available that are better for the skin than coconut oil,” says Yadav. If you gotta try a product containing coconut oil, she recommends saving it for your hair.

That said, if you’ve got majorly dry skin on your face, any of our coconut oil picks above are worth trying out.