Clear skin is achievable, and it may be simpler than you could imagine! Today, I’m showing you how to use coconut oil for acne.
This simple DIY acne treatment combines coconut oil with the power of lavender, lemon, and tea tree essential oils to give you a naturally clearer face (even if you’ve struggled with adult acne for years!).
Having acne as a teenager is tough, but acne breakouts as an adult are the worst!
I’ve struggled with trying to clear up acne since I was about 12. For years, I’ve tried just about anything to get rid of it, including skincare products with salicylic acid.
Numerous brands of oil cleansing soaps and topical creams prescribed by a dermatologist have found their way onto my face. I’ve even tried internal antibiotics prescribed by a dermatologist (which I really regret!).
In my college years, I used Proactiv with decent results and eventually found other cheaper brands that use the active ingredient benzoyl peroxide. But I still never had 100% clear skin unless I was pregnant.
(I think that was the only physical joy I experienced while pregnant.)
Since my pregnancy days are over, and relying on growing babies as a form of acne treatment just isn’t practical, I figured I could live with the 75% clarity my skin had.
But even though I tried to ignore the annoying tiny bumps that were always on my forehead (which, medically speaking, is called subclinical acne), I realized I wasn’t okay with that.
I wanted my face to be totally clear! And preferably without using unwanted chemicals.
Using coconut oil to clear up adult acne
One day, I was looking on Pinterest and read an article about someone using coconut oil to clear their acne. I thought they were crazy, and there was no way that would work – wouldn’t coconut oil be pore-clogging?
Then I read the theory behind it: it says that coconut oil will help displace your face oil and add moisture to your skin. The idea is to keep your pores from living in oil-making-overdrive by trying to compensate for skin-drying products.
We had already started using All Natural Homemade Shampoo and DIY Foaming Liquid Hand Soap, so I knew firsthand how effective homemade options could be.
After some consideration, I figured I didn’t have anything to lose and gave it a try. Why not!?
So, one night, about a year ago, I took the plunge and smothered coconut oil all over my face before I went to bed.
A noticeable change on the first day
The next morning I noticed a noticeable difference. My skin didn’t seem any worse (as I had feared), and it actually felt moisturized and smooth. My forehead even seemed clearer!
At first, I continued to use my acne gel along with the coconut oil. But after a week, I dropped the gel and went with only the coconut oil. And my skin started looking great!
I started adding essential oils to the coconut oil for additional benefits, and the result has been fantastic. My skin hasn’t looked this clear since I was a kid!
In full disclosure, I do occasionally still use my benzoyl peroxide cream along with the coconut oil routine when it’s “PMS week” to combat the effects of the hormonal changes. But that’s occasionally.
Erika Bragdon is a Certified Essential Oil Coach from the Essential Oil Institute.
Ingredients
If you’re like I was and still suffer from adult acne, take the plunge and try coconut oil to clear up the acne! It’s easy to make and use, and the results will blow you away. All you need to whip it up is:
- Coconut oil – see notes below about the best type to use.
- Essential Oils – I like using lavender
, lemon, and tea tree oil; see notes below about their benefits. - Small jar – use something like these mini mason jars or a repurposed jar (I used a baby food jar).
, 
, and 
How to make your own coconut oil blend for acne
Although this moisturizer comes together easily. Follow these step-by-step instructions to whip up your own acne-fighting treatment!
Step 1
Scoop out about 1/2 cup of coconut oil and melt it in a saucepan over low heat.
Step 2
Then, add 15 drops of lavender essential oil, 8 drops of lemon oil, and 8 drops of tea tree. Mix well.
Step 3
Lastly, pour the mixture into the jar and wait for it to cool and solidify at room temperature. It will solidify in under an hour unless it’s super hot in the house.
How to use coconut oil for acne
Here is the solid form of the coconut oil night cream.
I keep this in my toiletry basket in my bathroom, and it goes on my face every single night after I wash my face with my facial cleanser.
It’s easy to melt a little with my fingers and smooth over my face.
Notes and tips
- Always try a patch test when testing any new skincare product to make sure that you don’t have an allergic reaction or that it causes acne.
- Choose the essential oils you use based on their properties: lavender oil is anti-inflammatory and awesome for skin, lemon oil is ideal for clarifying, and tea tree oil is a great disinfectant. Need another option? Learn more about the best essential oils for acne and oily skin.
CAUTION: Coconut oil is rated a 4 on the comedogenicity scale (ranges from 0-5), which means that it can clog pores. Find out more about the skin types that this moisturizer works for below.
FAQs
Here are a few questions I often receive from readers about using coconut oil for acne.
What kind of coconut oil should I use?
Choose a brand that is unrefined. The refining process adds impurities that you don’t want on your skin. Ideally, you want to use organic, extra virgin coconut oil because it’s processed the least and contains great nutrients.
I recommend choosing an unrefined variety of cold-pressed coconut oil for your face instead of the more processed varieties used for cooking.
My favorite brand is Nutiva, but there are other great ones, like Carrington Farms coconut oil too.
Does this work for different skin types?
Yes, it does! Coconut oil works best for people who have sensitive skin, dry skin, and (sometimes) combination skin.
I wouldn’t recommend using coconut oil on very oily skin because it can cause your skin to produce more oil and cause breakouts.
Can people who have sensitive skin use coconut oil for acne?
Yes, and it can be very helpful for reducing temporary redness or irritation.
If you’re like I was and have acne-prone skin, take the plunge and add coconut oil for acne to your skincare routine!
Have you used coconut oil as a night cream? I would love to hear other testimonies of those with adult acne that have found it cleared after using coconut oil.
More ways to use essential oils
Looking for more uses for essential oils? Check out these posts:
- Easy Lavender Goat Milk Soap Recipe
- All Natural Homemade Cleaner with Castile Soap
- How To Make Wool Dryer Balls
- Natural Homemade Carpet Deodorizer
- My Favorite Natural Cold and Flu Remedies for Kids That Really Work
- Homemade Epsom Salt Foot Soak with Lavender
Rosey says
I have heard the coconut oil is good for so many things. I’m happy to hear it’s good for acne too!
William Sweeney says
This sounds like a great way to treat acne! I bet it feels so much better then the harmful chemicals in other products as well.
Tori Gabriel says
Coconut oil is amazing stuff. I haven’t tried using it for acne before but it did wonders on my daughter’s cradle cap.
Raijean says
Yes, I’m going to try this. I’ve been having breakouts since I started working out so this has been an ongoing issue for me.
Loren says
Yum – coconut oil AND essential oils! What a luscious combo. Really glad to hear how it’s helped you and I look to help my partner deal with their acne as well. Thanks for the advice.
John Marris says
Wow this is a lovely post…i like it. What about coconuts?It is great source of uses many things,deeply saying it can be mixed in all sweet dishes.Coconut oil,coconut butter,coconut sugar,coconut water etc all ingredients of coconut are superb and in use.
Heater says
Recently I’ve read an article about essential oils issues, and today it’s this site…I really want to try it now, cause francly I’ don’t know what to do with my acne, thanks for useful information!
June says
Seems like I’m finding out new uses for coconut oil every other day. It really is such a versatile product.
Brad says
I love coconut oil. First learned thru Dr. Axe. Essential oils I learned a bit about while going through massage therapy school. Learning more each day, and certainly gonna share this recipe with my grandson. Good stuff!!!
Jenny S. says
Hi Erika,
I love coconut oils! I use it for my hair, for my face, and even when I’m cooking. I have dry skin and have resorted to using natural oils instead of synthetic products. They never worked anyway. I pair my coconut oil with lavender and use it as a night cream. The lavender scent makes me sleep better. But just to share, I read somewhere that coconut oil is not ideal for people with oily skin because of its high comedogenic ratings. Based on some reviews, coconut oil can clog the pores and can cause from blackheads to breakouts. Thanks!
Aayesha says
I m fed up wid a new pimple everyday n dey leave behind their marks on my face!! So if i use coconut oil to clear up those marks, shuld i even fear for getting more pimples due to coconut oil or d oil is safe??
Erika says
Hi, Aayesha. There is no guarantees and everyone’s skin is different, but in my experience, coconut oil did not cause more pimples; it helped clear them. You can always try the coconut oil on a small area and see how it works. Good luck!
Anna says
Hi. Thanks for this! I have adult acne due to what my dermatologist says is an infection under my skin. I’m excited to try your recipe! I’m wondering how long it will keep before going bad and needing to make a new batch?
Anna says
One more question: What do you clean your face with before using this acne treatment? Thanks so much!
Maura says
Coconut oil has a very long shelf life – and adding essential oils will not decrease that. I wouldn’t be worried about it going bad.
I do wash my face before I apply this every night.
Aggie says
Wow, I’ve never heard someone’s skin story be so exactly like mine. Acne acne acne and when I was pregnant I had none!! I just bought my YL oils and I’m so afraid to put oils on my face!!
Just wondering how topical treatments help with hormonal acne?
Maura says
Aggie – I totally get it!!! PMS week is still a struggle for me and I do use benzoyl peroxide cream from time to time – but the rest of the month its coconut oil and tea tree oil (or sometimes lavender too.) All I can say is that I was scared too – but you won’t know unless you try! My face has never been this clear on a regular basis!
Georgina says
This is a really compelling personal story. I have never tried using coconut oils but the recipe might be worth a shot. However, is there a way to make sure the coconut oil is sustainably sourced?
Maura says
You will need to double check with your favorite coconut oil brand on how it is sourced.
Maura says
I actually use this to wash my face: https://livingwellmom.com/2017/02/homemade-foaming-face-wash/
Wendy C. says
Hi Erika,
I have dry and acne prone skin, will this also helps with the dryness of my skin. I have not tried using coconut oil with other essential oils but I really would love to. I hope it is effective to my dry skin. Thanks,
Novs says
Really helps with the dryness as well… try it with the essential oils
Sandy says
Can you use the fractionated Coconut Oil with this recipe?
Maura says
I don’t see why you can’t! Maybe you can use an old soap bottle to squirt it out from since it will be liquid.
Novs says
I’ve been using coconut oil with Lavender, lemon, frankincense and Rosehip essential oils every night. My skin has never felt better…stopped using all night creams and daycreams as well. For the day I just skip the lemon oil… it had reduced my freckles as well!!
Jeanine Leary says
I do something similar, coconut oil, lavender, tea tree and francensence (sp). Has really improved my skin. Skin on my cheeks was so dry and I was breaking out there too. Have been using this concoction for a week or two and it is helping.
Erika says
Great combination of essential oils, Jeanie. I’m glad it’s helping your skin.
Maura White says
I have not tried frankincense in my concoction yet – great idea Jeanine – I’ll give it a try!
Ayesha says
This seems perfect recipe with the proven result, I would like to know how many days, I need to use this blend to see some effects.
Maura says
I’d give it 5-7 days.
Wendy says
I just read something about boys using lavender oil, that it makes there breast grow!! What?? Lol!! Surely this can’t be true, please tell me it’s safe for my 15 year old son?? Thanks so much!!
Maura says
Hmmm…what was the source of that rumor? I’ve never heard of that before. I just did a quick google search that says lavender is NOT an estrogen mimic and will not cause breast growth.
Alysha says
Hi, I just made this but my mixture is not solidifying. It has been about a half hour, did I do something wrong?
Erika says
It’s probably because it’s summer and hot. Coconut oil melts around 76 degrees.
T says
Hey about how long before you noticed a difference like a week a month or more? And or how sever would you say it was your acne that this …
Jasmine says
I have been suffering with acne for about two years now. I am 26 years old and never used to have acne. I had tried so many products and have gone to the dermatologist. I started using this every night before bed and my face has completely cleared up in 4 months!! I couldn’t believe it. I live by this recipe. I am forever great full.
Erika says
That’s amazing, Jasmine. I’m so happy to hear that!
Danielle says
This was totally the answer for me as well! M favorite essential oil to add to coconut oil is frankincense. It is powerful and helps improve scarring as well. Not to mention it smells amazing!
Erika says
I love Frankincense too!
Cristina says
I use pure coconut oil as a full body moisturiser right after I get out of the shower, when my skin is still a tad damp and the difference it made is unbelievable! I struggled with bad acne and itchy skin on my back, chest and face – also with really greasy t-zone area on face. Pure coconut oil cleared it all.
As an added bonus, I also use this miraculous oil to tame/ smooth frizzy hair… and as a natural deodorant for underarms an other areas! 🙂 Life saver!!
Elise Mauldin says
My coconut oil didn’t solidify. I used virgin, organic, unsolicited coconut oil. Can you think of why it didn’t? Thank you!
Erika says
Coconut oil won’t solidify when it’s hot. Did you try refrigerating it?