Coconut Oil/Butter

Perhaps one of the most glorified supermarket beauty solutions, coconut oil has become both a pantry and bathroom staple for many. However, with studies arguing the oil's health benefits when consumed orally,1 you may be left reconsidering the elixir's topical effectiveness, too. But you shouldn't rush to throw away your favourite jar just yet. The truth is: Coconut oil is good for your skin because of its natural antibacterial and moisture-retention properties, but it may increase breakouts in acne-prone skin. So regardless of its nutritional content, whether coconut oil is the all-natural solution to soothe your dry skin or not is entirely based on your dermis.

We probably don't have to tell you coconut oil, which contains lauric acid, is the oil that is derived from coconuts—that much is obvious. But it's the components that make up coconut oil that are important to point out here. The lauric acid found in coconut oil can have antimicrobial properties, which can help kill bacteria on the skin and reduce inflammation. Additionally, coconut oil contains high levels of linoleic acid, an unsaturated omega-6 fatty acid, which can be used as an emollient and skin soother.