The Benefits of Coconut Oil
These days, coconut oil is something of a buzzword. With the rise in popularity of all things plant-based, it's a major ingredient in many vegan food products. Beyond the kitchen, though, it's also an important component in vegan skincare. Read on to discover why coconut oil is such a miracle ingredient and so widely used in the vegan Oleo Bodycare skincare range.
What is coconut oil?
Coconut oil is extracted from raw or dried coconut. At room temperature, pure unfractionated coconut oil is solid. When heated, it softens or melts, depending on the degree of warmth. Fractionated coconut oil is always liquid, and both forms have a place in vegan skincare products.
The majority of the world’s coconut oil is produced in Southeast Asia, mainly Indonesia and the Philippines.
Coconut oil is rich in fatty acids and contains around 90% saturated fat. It’s almost 50% lauric acid and also contains about seven other types.
What's in coconut oil?
This is pretty impressive. Pure coconut oil contains the following fatty acids, which make up around 90% of the oil:
Lauric acid (49%): The major active ingredient in coconut oil
Myristic acid (8%): Often used in cleansing products
Caprylic acid (8%): Antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory
Palmitic acid (8%): An excellent moisturiser and skin softener
Capric acid (7%): An effective emollient and moisturiser
Oleic acid (6%): Easily absorbed, moisturising, and anti-ageingLinoleic acid (2%): Especially good at creating a skin barrier
Stearic acid (2%): A great emulsifier and haircare ingredient
How to use coconut oil
It’s highly hydrating
Probably the best-known benefit of coconut oil is hydration. It’s a rich moisturiser that helps skin stay soft, smooth, and healthy. It also improves moisture retention and repairs cracked or flaking skin.
It’s anti-inflammatory
Coconut oil has anti-inflammatory properties. It can help soothe skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis. It may also reduce pain related to inflammation.
It’s an antioxidant
Coconut oil helps neutralise free radicals, preventing damage to the skin. This antioxidant action protects the skin from inflammation and environmental stress.
It’s naturally antibacterial
Coconut oil helps prevent the spread of microorganisms, making it useful for conditions like acne, folliculitis, and cellulitis. Its high lauric acid content, along with capric acid, gives it antimicrobial power.
It has healing properties
By increasing natural antioxidant levels, coconut oil helps promote healing. It also boosts collagen production, which supports skin repair and regeneration.
It can reduce signs of ageing
At Oleo, we celebrate ageing—but hydrated skin tends to look more youthful. Coconut oil improves skin elasticity, which reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
It softens skin
Coconut oil makes your skin feel as good as it looks. It leaves skin soft, smooth, and touchable.
It can help even skin tone
Coconut oil helps calm redness and even out skin texture. It may also reduce the appearance of dark spots.
How to use coconut oil
Quite simply – head over to Oleo Bodycare! Because of its many benefits, coconut oil is found in many of our vegan skincare (and haircare) products. In fact, it might be easier to list what we don’t use it in!
Here are just a few Oleo products that contain this miraculous oil:
Body
- Blissful Body Cream
- All of our Body Lotions
- Rich Moisturising Hand Cream
- Ginger & Rosemary Foot Cream
All of our Massage Balms – unfractionated coconut oil is a major ingredient here
Hair
- Rosemary & Nettle Conditioner – high in lauric acid, which deeply nourishes and helps rescue dry, damaged hair while preventing breakage
For all your vegan skincare needs
Although coconut oil has many household uses, we believe it truly shines in vegan skincare products.
Posted by Olivia Chapman on April 7th 2025
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