Lauric acid, found in coconut oil, has been considered one of the skincare superheroes for ages, and you can now find it in more skincare products than ever before. But what does it do? What are its benefits? And how can you use lauric acid to improve your skincare routine? Here’s everything you need to know about lauric acid and how it can help your skin look and feel healthier today!
What Is Lauric Acid
Lauric acid is a fatty acid that occurs naturally in our bodies, but we can also find it in different types of fats and oils. It’s found predominantly in coconut oil and coconut butter, which are very popular in many skincare products because of their anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Lauric acid has anti-microbial effects on bacteria that cause acne and inflammation, making it a great addition to natural skincare products designed to help fight against those issues.
How It Can Benefit Your Skin
Lauric acid is a fatty acid that exists in many plant oils and animal fats. It can also be synthesized from palm kernel oil, which is a byproduct of palm oil production. Lauric acid has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, skin-conditioning, and antimicrobial properties. It’s important for people with acne because of its ability to cleanse without drying or over stripping skin. Lauric acid also possesses natural antifungal properties that help to treat yeast infections. Lauric acid isn’t just for those who suffer from sensitive skin conditions; it’s suitable for all types of complexions.
When Should You Use It
Lauric acid is a great skincare ingredient to look for in moisturizers, but it can be especially helpful for dry, damaged skin. If you’re looking for a safe chemical exfoliant, lauric acid is also a good option that won’t irritate your skin.
Where To Find It
Lauric acid is found in coconut oil. If you want to treat your skin to its soothing, moisturizing, acne-clearing powers, grab a jar of organic virgin coconut oil and use it as a facial scrub or treatment mask at least once a week. Just be sure to keep it out of your eyes and away from cuts—it’s an excellent exfoliant that can leave skin sensitive and inflamed if overused.
FAQs About Lauric Acid
It’s no secret that using quality ingredients in your skincare products can really pay off. Lauric acid is one such ingredient. It’s found in milk, coconut oil, and other natural oils, and it’s a powerful skin softener and antifungal—two things we want for our sensitive skin types. But before you rush out to try it for yourself, there are some questions you should be asking your self-care provider about lauric acid.
First, how much do I need? Lauric acid is present in many different kinds of oils. In fact, coconut oil contains 50% lauric acid! And while all these percentages sound great, most skincare products only contain between 1% and 10% lauric acid. So if you’re looking for something with high concentrations of lauric acid, look into purchasing pure coconut oil instead of a lotion or serum containing it.
Second, how does it work? Lauric acid has antibacterial and antifungal properties that can help your skin fight off bacteria and fungus. These properties also make lauric acid a great ingredient for anti-aging skincare products.
Third, what’s its pH level? Lauric acid is a fatty acid that has a low pH level of 6. This means that lauric acid is acidic and can cause irritation to sensitive skin types.
Fourth, will it make my skin oily? Because lauric acid is the oil itself, it may leave your skin feeling greasy or oily after use.
Fifth, how long will it take to see results? Depending on your skin type and how much you use each day, you should start seeing results within two weeks of using products containing lauric acid.
Sixth, are there any side effects I should be aware of? No serious side effects have been reported in conjunction with lauric acid use. However, if you notice irritation or redness after using a product containing lauric acid, stop using it immediately and consult your doctor.
Seventh, is it safe for children? There is not enough information available to determine whether or not lauric acid is safe for children. As such, we recommend that you do not use products containing lauric acid on children under 12 years old.
