Do you have questions about including oils in your skincare routine? You’ve come to the right place. Everyone wonders about different aspects of skincare from time to time, and oils are a group of products that can be confusing for many.
Oils used for skincare are often followed by a trail of mixed opinions. Some praise oils for their many benefits, citing how oils can be rich in antioxidants, fatty acids, and other key nutrients that your skin needs. Others might decry them, claiming that putting oil on your face is never a good idea, especially if you have oily skin to begin with.
If you are confused about how to use oils as part of your beauty regimen (and whether you should at all), we’re here to help. Feeling confused about how to approach skincare can be overwhelming, and can even sometimes make you want to give up on taking care of your skin altogether.
Don’t let the confusion discourage you, though – taking good care of your skin and being informed about what you put on it is well worth the time and effort involved. Oils might be an often-confusing set of skincare ingredients, but they have big potential to benefit your skin and are definitely worth knowing about.
Argan oil and coconut oil are two of the most popular natural oils that are often used to help with skin issues like dryness, acne, irritation and wrinkles. These two oils both have the potential to majorly benefit your skin. However, you might be wondering about the differences between the two, and whether one is better than the other. This post will help to answer any questions you might have about argan oil, coconut oil, how to use them, and if there is a clear winner between the two.
What is Argan Oil?
Argan oil is a naturally-derived ingredient that is often used as a key component in products designed for hair, skin and nails.
The oil is extracted from the nut (sometimes called the “fruit”) of the argan tree, a plant native only to Morocco. Argan oil has long been used around the world for culinary purposes, as well as as a natural treatment for hair, skin and nails. The oil is naturally rich in antioxidants and fatty acids, two types of nutrients that are essential for keeping your skin healthy, strong and moisturized.
What is Coconut Oil?
Coconut oil is another natural oil that is used for both culinary and beauty-related purposes. A product of the fatty coconut fruit, coconut oil is both praised by many as a high-fat superfood and maligned by others as an overhyped cooking oil packed with unnecessary amounts of saturated fat. However, coconut oil is much less controversial when used for beauty-related purposes.
Like argan oil, coconut oil has numerous benefits for both your skin and hair. The oil is rich in fatty acids, which can nourish and moisturize your skin. In addition, coconut oil is often used as a moisturizer for dry skin and hair and even chapped lips.
How is Argan Oil Used in a Beauty Regimen?
Argan oil can be found as an ingredient in skincare and haircare products like moisturizers, conditioners, and more. In addition, the oil can also be used in its purest form, applied directly to the hair, skin or nails in small amounts.
When you use pure argan oil, a little bit goes a long way. The oil is often used to moisturize and hydrate skin, and is gentle enough to hydrate even sensitive areas like the skin around your eyes. Users of pure argan oil may also use it to soften their cuticles, applying a few drops to hard, brittle areas to improve their texture and appearance.
What About Coconut Oil?
Coconut oil has a variety of uses as a component in a beauty routine. Like argan oil, coconut oil has moisturizing properties for both hair and skin. The high fatty acid content in coconut oil makes it a controversial food, but these same fatty acids have much less debatable moisturizing properties.
Because coconut oil is high in fatty acids, it can help your skin retain moisture. However, one of the most important differences between coconut oil and argan oil is how the two oils affect certain skin types.
Are There Drawbacks To Using Coconut Oil or Argan Oil On Your Skin?
As is the case with any skincare ingredient, no matter how powerful, there are some potential concerns to consider when including argan oil or coconut oil in your daily beauty routine.
When it comes to coconut oil, the most important factor to consider is how oily your skin is. Coconut oil is a powerful moisturizing agent, but it also has some potential to clog your pores. Coconut oil is comedogenic, meaning it may produce breakouts for acne-prone individuals.
However, the effects of using coconut oil on acne-prone skin may vary. The ingredient itself is great for your skin, regardless of whether you have acne.
Remember, oil does not cause acne – the root causes of problem skin are much more complex, and have more to do with hormones than with oil and dirt. Nevertheless, coconut oil being comedogenic is definitely worth considering if you deal with pimples on a daily or weekly basis. The oil is best used to moisturize very dry skin.
As for argan oil, the benefits are easier to reap regardless of your skin type. Argan oil is a non-comedogenic oil, meaning it does not have the same pore-clogging potential that coconut oil does.
It is important to remember that any ingredient, no matter how many potential benefits it has, also may be irritating to your skin. Not everyone’s skin reacts the same way to each skincare treatment and ingredient, and it sometimes takes some trial and error to determine whether an ingredient like argan oil or coconut oil pairs well with your skin.
When you are unsure about how an ingredient will affect your skin, it is best to start out your use of the ingredient with a very small amount. If you are concerned that you might react badly to a new ingredient, applying a small amount to a patch of skin on your arm can help you determine how your body responds to it. Performing a “patch test” lets you see if any negative side effects arise after applying a little bit of a new ingredient to your skin. In addition, a patch test helps you determine whether an ingredient works for you without putting it on your face.
Argan Oil vs. Coconut Oil: Is There A Winner?
The best ingredients to include in your personalized beauty routine depend on your skin type and the specific concerns you have in regards to your skin. It is difficult to determine whether argan oil is “better” than coconut oil, or vice versa.
However, coconut oil and argan oil’s specific benefits for your skin make them distinctly different from each other. Depending on how oily or dry your skin is, you may want to choose products containing one oil over the other.
Coconut oil is best to include in your skincare regimen if you have drier skin. Argan oil, on the other hand, is easier to recommend for all skin types. Argan oil may not be superior to coconut oil, but it does carry less pore-clogging potential for those with oily, acne-prone skin.
So, is there a winner? Not exactly. Determining which of these powerful oils is “best” for your skin can take a bit of trial and error. But as always, if you have big questions about your skin, its type, and its specific needs, talking to your dermatologist is the way to go. A skincare professional can help you evaluate your skin and get you equipped with recommendations for how to address your specific concerns.
Bottom Line: Coconut oil and argan oil can both benefit your skin, but it is important to use both the right way.
As you can tell, both coconut oil and argan oil have major potential to carry noticeable benefits for your skin. However, as is the case with any skincare ingredient, it is always important to bear in mind that coconut oil and argan oil have different uses when included in your skincare routine.
These two naturally-derived oils can both be used to provide your skin with the moisture it needs to keep dryness, irritation and other issues at bay. However, argan oil is non-comedogenic, making it a better choice for those with acne-prone skin. If acne is not one of your skin struggles, then coconut oil is an ideal ingredient to include in your beauty routine.
If you are looking for high-quality products that include argan oil and coconut oil, check out our Exfoliate and Restore Duo, Nourishing Hand Cream, and our 100% Pure, Organic Argan Oil.
Sources:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019096220701081X
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11746-009-1351-1.pdf
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408398.2011.638424