Are coconut, essential, or mineral oils good for your skin?

Key differences between vegetable, essential, and mineral oils for your skin

Oils such as argan, jojoba, and rosehip are plant-based and highly valued in cosmetics. But there are also essential oils, derived from plants, and mineral oils, derived from petroleum, such as petroleum jelly.

Are they all good for your skin? Although vegetable and essential oils are natural, they have very different chemical compositions, uses, and benefits. And mineral oils... it's best to know them well before applying them to your skin.

What type of oil is best for your skin?

Choosing the right oil depends on its origin, composition, and, above all, your skin's needs. In this guide, we'll explain the differences between vegetable, essential, and mineral oils and how to choose the best one for you.

👉 Are you interested in natural skincare? You'll love this.

Vegetable oils: nutrients and natural active ingredients

Vegetable oils are obtained from plants rich in fats, such as seeds and nuts.

Cosmetic benefits of vegetable oil (jojoba, argan, rosehip...)

Its high content of vitamins, polyunsaturated fatty acids (like flaxseed), and antioxidants protects, revitalizes, nourishes, regenerates, and hydrates the skin. It also creates a barrier that helps retain moisture.

To take full advantage of their properties, choose vegetable oils obtained by first cold pressing and without chemical refining. Their active ingredients help regenerate cells, increase elasticity, and protect the skin against premature aging.

Coconut oil is natural and nourishing, but can be comedogenic on oily skin.

How to choose suitable vegetable oils (first pressed, non-comedogenic)

Some oils are richer in antioxidants; others, in certain vitamins. Therefore, it's key to choose according to your cosmetic purpose.

Also, if you have oily skin or acne, avoid comedogenic oils that can clog pores. Here's a list of vegetable oils, ranked from most to least comedogenic:

1. Coconut oil
2. Almond oil
3. Corn oil
4. Palm oil
5. Peanut oil
6. Sesame oil
7. Sunflower oil
8. Cottonseed oil
9. Soybean oil
10. Wheat germ oil

🔎 Tip: Everyone's skin reacts differently. Test on small areas and see how it responds before using an oil all over your face.

Pure natural essential oils used in natural cosmetics for facial care and skin well-being.

Essential oils: pure essence, but only for controlled use

Although called oils, essential oils are volatile concentrates extracted from the flowers, stems, roots, or leaves of plants.

To be safe and effective they must be:

• Extracted by steam distillation

• Chemotyped and with Latin names

• 100% pure and natural, no blends

They have therapeutic properties, but should never be applied directly to the skin: they are diluted in a vegetable oil and used with knowledge.

Dark mineral oil, derived from petroleum, common in conventional cosmetics but not recommended for natural skin care.

Mineral oils: why they are not recommended for skin

Mineral oils, derived from petroleum, such as petroleum jelly and paraffin, are widely used in conventional cosmetics as moisturizers.

However, their occlusive action clogs pores, blocks perspiration, and disrupts the skin's natural balance. In the long term, they can promote dehydration and the accumulation of toxins.

You can find them under these names in the INCI:

• Paraffinum liquidum

• Paraffin oil

• Mineral oil

• Petrolatum

• Liquid Vaseline

• Medicinal white oil

🔗 Discover how to avoid these ingredients in your cosmetic routine .

🔗 Discover how to avoid these ingredients in your cosmetic routine .

Practical guide: which oil to choose according to your skin type?

Here's a mini guide to help you make the best choice:

Note about the table: At OhMyKoko, we offer solutions for all skin types, including the most sensitive and mature. This table presents general recommendations based on plant-based oils, but if your skin needs something more specific, we have oil-free formulas with natural active ingredients that care for and protect from the root. 💚

Why choose OhMyKoko?

Because a good product doesn't just transform your skin. It also transforms the way you take care of yourself. At OhMyKoko:

• We use only natural and vegan ingredients

• We formulate without toxins or hormone disruptors

• We develop effective, sensorial and sustainable products

👉 If you haven't already, download our free guide and start your routine with meaning.