The bottom line. Using coconut oil as an overnight moisturizer can be beneficial for people with very dry, chafed, or flaky skin. But coconut oil can clog pores and isn't an appropriate overnight treatment for some people. On the plus side, it's easy and relatively inexpensive to use.
If you leave coconut oil on your face all night long, there is a good chance you might wake up to blackheads or whiteheads due to sebum and impurities getting trapped in your pores. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, coconut oil may even contribute to breakouts.
For oily skin, apply warm coconut oil liberally on the face and neck after washing with a mild soap. Leave it on for 15 minutes. Wash with warm water and dry with a soft towel. Repeat this for several days to condition your skin.
Should You Use Coconut Oil for Your Face? Despite the antibacterial and antimicrobial properties of coconut oil, however, it's not the greatest acne-fighter. "Coconut oil is fairly comedogenic, meaning it can clog pores and contribute to acne," says King.
Can you leave coconut oil in your hair overnight? Although it might be tempting to put coconut oil into your hair before bed and sleep on it, you should avoid this. Coconut oil hair masks can clog hair follicles, make your hair greasy, and reduce growth. You can leave coconut oil in your hair for up to 30 minutes.
COCONUT OIL FOR BODY MASSAGE
Wait for 5-10 minutes to let your skin absorb the oils and then rinse off extra oil in the shower.
Its healing and beneficial properties have been proved over centuries of usage. Add a thin layer of coconut oil to your (clean) face and neck before bedtime. Massage the oil into your skin in circular motions for a few minutes and let it work its moisturizing magic while you sleep.
However, coconut oil may be linked to some potential benefits for skin, including reducing inflammation, keeping skin moisturized and helping heal wounds. The medium-chain fatty acids found in coconut oil also possess antimicrobial properties that can help treat acne and protect the skin from harmful bacteria.
Coconut oil is a fat derived from fresh or dried coconut flakes. It is advantageous for specific skin types like dry or normal-to-dry skin when used as an overnight moisturiser because of its emollient characteristics. The high amount of fatty acids in coconut oil moisturise and protect our skin.
Coconut oil is highly comedogenic, which means it can clog pores. Consequently, it may actually make acne worse for some people (22). When applied to the skin, coconut oil may clog pores and make acne worse. It is not recommended for those with very oily skin.
Coconut oil is comedogenic, which means it has the potential to clog pores and cause breakouts. Anyone with acne-prone or oily skin may not see the same benefits from coconut oil as other skin types, especially when it comes to reducing blemishes.
Dr. Alex Roher, MD of San Diego Botox Inc recommends using face oils both in the morning and at night. He advises applying oil as the last step of your nighttime skin care routine and before your sunscreen and makeup in the morning.
As a powerful natural and gentle anti-inflammatory, coconut oil is an effective method for lightening dark under-eye circles. It also moisturizes while it lightens to help prevent wrinkles and fine lines under the eyes.
It works like any oil-containing moisturizer and traps water in the skin creating a hydrating effect. Many people like the fragrance and texture. Basically, if you are prone to break out with acne from other heavy moisturizers, then it is highly likely that coconut oil will have the same effect.
Coconut oil isn't a cure-all
Natural remedies like coconut oil haven't been proven to be any more effective than regular OTC products. These might reduce the appearance of fine lines and moderate wrinkles, but you will likely need stronger treatments for deeper lines.
Yes, it is safe to use coconut oil on your hair daily. Coconut oil is gentle and non-irritating, so it will not damage your hair. In fact, using coconut oil on your hair and dry scalp daily can actually help to improve the health of your hair and reverse hair damage.
Ingesting large amounts of coconut oil can cause diarrhea, cramps, and gastrointestinal discomfort. Coconut oil may also increase levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol, increasing your cardiovascular risk. If you have high cholesterol, talk with your doctor before doing a coconut oil cleanse.
You can leave coconut oil on your hair for a minimum of 30 minutes. For maximum benefits, you may leave it overnight. Washing it off too early may not let the hair and scalp soak its benefits, and keeping it on for days may attract dirt and cause buildup and hair fall.
Using a moisturizing, antioxidant-rich lotion on your face before bed can help your skin stay vibrant and protect against the effects of aging.
"You'll notice your skin feeling dry, tight, and ashy, because you're rapidly losing water," says Gohara. "Moisturizer doesn't just add water back into your skin, it also traps in the water you already have to plump it up and protect it."
Avoid leaving oil in overnight
The longer, the better — that may be true for some hair treatments but not for hair oiling as the oil can block your hair follicles. Unless an ayurvedic doctor or expert has asked you to leave a medicated oil overnight, wash out the oil within 3-4 hours.
Hydrated skin from coconut oil is known to ward off wrinkles, mimicing sebum. In a study conducted by Japanese researchers – oily skin takes much longer to get wrinkles as compared to dry skin. So not only does coconut oil help your skin feel its best - it also works hard prevent wrinkles before they strike.
Some people believe that coconut oil promotes hair growth. But this appears to be a myth.