Coconut
Coconut is a popular natural ingredient in UK beauty products, prized for its rich, creamy texture and gentle moisturising properties. Derived from the coconut palm, it appears in skincare, haircare and lip products as coconut oil, coconut milk or fractionated coconut oil. It leaves skin and hair feeling soft, smooth and lightly scented with a tropical aroma.
How it works in skincare
In cosmetics and skincare, coconut oil and its derivatives function as emollients and occlusives, forming a light protective barrier on the skin that helps reduce transepidermal water loss while delivering fatty acids to smooth and soften. Fractionated coconut oil remains liquid at room temperature, making it an excellent lightweight carrier for essential oils and a non-greasy base in facial oils and body butters. In haircare it coats the hair shaft to reduce protein loss and adds shine without weighing strands down.
Key benefits
- Deeply moisturises and softens dry skin
- Helps strengthen and smooth the hair shaft
- Provides a protective barrier against moisture loss
- Adds shine and reduces frizz in hair
- Gentle enough for use in lip balms and body butters
- Lightweight texture when fractionated for facial oils
Best for
dry skin, normal skin, sensitive skin, mature skin
Where it comes from
Coconut is obtained from the fruit of the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera), a tropical tree. The white flesh inside the hard shell is pressed to produce virgin coconut oil, while further processing yields fractionated coconut oil and coconut milk.