Coconut water has become a popular post-workout drink thanks to its natural electrolytes, but is it also just as beneficial for your skin? In this blog post, we’ll answer your questions about coconut water as a skin care ingredient, including:

• What is coconut water?
• What are the benefits of coconut water for skin?
• How can I use coconut water on my skin?

What Is Coconut Water?

Coconut water is the clear liquid harvested from inside young, green coconuts. It’s different than coconut milk, coconut cream and coconut oil, which are made from the meat of coconuts.

What Are the Benefits of Coconut Water for Skin?

Coconut water is rich in minerals, vitamins and antioxidants, all of which can be beneficial for your skin by helping with hydration, cleansing and even anti-aging. Here’s the lowdown on three major benefits of coconut water for skin:

1. Coconut water helps hydrate the skin.

If your skin is dehydrated, the amino acids and electrolytes in coconut water can help hydrate it by drawing water into your cells. It also helps balance your skin's pH, which is important to skin health.

2. Coconut water has antimicrobial qualities.

Coconut water has a high content of lauric acid, which gives it antimicrobial properties. That’s a fancy way of saying it kills or slows the growth of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other nasty little microorganisms that cause disease or play a role in skin conditions such as acne or other infections.

3. Coconut water helps fight signs of aging.

Coconut water contains vitamin C as well as a number of B group vitamins that act as antioxidants. Antioxidants help the skin repair itself in the wake of damage from the sun or environmental factors such as pollution. One of the best anti-aging ingredients out there, vitamin C helps brighten your skin and stimulate collagen production. Coconut water also features proteins called cytokines that may have anti-aging effects by encouraging cell growth.

How Can I Use Coconut Water on my Skin?

For an easy skin care DIY, try using coconut water as a toner by soaking it in a cotton ball or pouring it into a misting bottle. Just make sure you’re using 100% plain coconut water, not a flavored coconut water drink, which could include sugar, fruit juice or other additives.

You can also look for skin care products that feature coconut water as an active ingredient, like coconut water creams, to add into your regimen. Read on for a few of our favorite coconut water skin care products, including cleansers, moisturizers and toners, and shop today at LovelySkin!

6 Beneficial Skin Care Products With Coconut Water

Eminence Coconut Age Corrective Moisturizer

If you have dry or mature skin, this coconut water cream deserves a spot in your skin care routine. In addition to the hydrating, pH-balancing power of coconut water, it also contains a natural retinol alternative to firm skin and shea butter to lock in moisture. Apply this rich cream to your face and neck straight from the jar or, for a lighter touch, mix with a few drops of water in the palm of your hand first.

jane iredale BeautyPrep Face Toner

This botanically based facial toner was formulated to remove any traces of lingering makeup after cleansing to help prep your skin for a smooth, long-wearing makeup application. It combines the power of coconut water with ingredients such as lemongrass, carrot, pear and white tea extract to reduce the appearance of pores and balance the skin’s pH, which is important to skin health.

Cela Essential Face Mist

For a refreshing start to your day, keep this facial mist close at hand. Each spritz helps to hydrate your skin using three effective humectants: coconut water, aloe and glycerin. Like other Cela products, this mist gets its appealing signature scent from a combination of blueberry, elderberry, evening primrose, rosemary, lavender and juniper berry extracts.

bareMINERALS Pureness Gel Cleanser

This vegan cleanser, designed for sensitive skin, makes the most of coconut water’s cleansing ability in its gentle gel-based formula. It doubles down on coconut’s antimicrobial effects with the addition of coconut oil, which also acts as an emollient to help lock in skin’s moisture. This cleanser also contains prickly pear extract, which can help with calming and soothing red, irritated skin.

Cinq Monde Nectar from Brazil In-Shower Body Lotion

Harness the power of coconut water’s hydrating effects by using it on your body, too. This unique lotion can be applied in or out of the shower to still-wet skin. It pairs hydrating coconut water with cocoa and shea butter to seal moisture and help your skin stay plump and fresh feeling all day. Inspired by the Brazilian tradition of waterfall bathing, it also contains camu camu, an antioxidant-packed Amazonian berry, for skin-protecting benefits.

L’ANZA Healing Remedy Scalp Balancing Treatment

Extend the benefits of coconut water for skin also to your scalp! Coconut water’s hydrating ability works to help soothe scalp irritation, leaving it feeling calm and conditioned. This spray-on treatment also harnesses the antimicrobial powers of coconut water combined with lavender oil to help soothe those itchy, painful bumps on your scalp.

Rose is another popular skin care ingredient with incredible benefits. Learn more about rose-powered skin care in our blog post.