Beauty is full of buzzwords—but which ingredients truly deliver? Welcome to Ingredient Lab, your guide to the science behind the formulas. In this edition, we’re highlighting a long-celebrated, homegrown oil that’s been steadily making its name in the global beauty stage.
Filipino culture is colorful, fascinating, and to some, a little strange. From mythical beings like the diwata and sirena to age-old healing practices such as tawas and hilot, our beliefs and traditions may seem mystical—yet they endure, passed down through generations. Even as modern Filipinos turn to science, our bond with nature and respect for ancient beliefs remain.
One example: Our love for the humble coconut oil, a natural staple deeply woven into Filipino life for centuries. Across the archipelago, every part of the coconut has long been valued—for food, medicine, materials, and even fuel—but its oil remains the most prized. Celebrated for what our ancestors call “miraculous” benefits, it has long been cherished for nurturing both health and beauty.
Fast-forward to today, this oil is now recognized both locally and around the world. Though the country’s coconut oil industry already flourished in the late 19th and early 20th centuries because of the copra trade (dried coconut kernel), it was only in the late 1990s to early 2000s when virgin coconut oil—extracted from fresh, not dried coconuts—rose in popularity. Not long after, the Philippines became a global leader and proud exporter of this “miracle” oil, boasting edible, therapeutic, and cosmetic uses.
The Rise of VCO in Beauty
Among the pioneer skincare brands to incorporate virgin coconut oil (VCO) into its products—following strict, science-based standards—is the Filipino-founded VMV Hypoallergenics, which also helped establish the ingredient’s credibility and recognition worldwide. Founded in 1979 by Dr. Vermén M. Verallo-Rowell, a US-trained dermatologist and dermatopathologist from Cebu, VMV was born in response to patients suffering from acne, allergies, and dermatitis caused by conventional cosmetics.
“I was extremely skeptical when my mom first brought it up—I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the idea of this simple ingredient being clinically impressive. I was very, very, happily wrong.”
—VMV Hypoallergenics CEO Laura Verallo de Bertotto on the power and promise of VCO
“My mom grew up with coconut oil but never thought of it as a viable ingredient until years later, after clinical practice and research,” Laura Verallo de Bertotto, VMV’s CEO and Dr. Verallo-Rowell’s daughter, tells The Beauty Edit. “She met a researcher who spoke about monolaurin (a compound derived from coconut oil known for its antibacterial and antiviral properties) and studies on coconut oil dating back to the 1970s. That inspired her to explore its potential for skin—leading to her first published studies on monolaurin as a hospital hand sanitizer, and later, VCO for atopic dermatitis.”
Adds Verallo de Bertotto, “I was extremely skeptical when my mom first brought it up—I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the idea of this simple ingredient being clinically impressive.” But after years of research and clinical trials, including many published studies, she says she was “very, very happily wrong.” She reflects, “I think it also helped turn the head of science toward things we used to dismiss as ‘backward’—ancestral fixes that, when subjected to evidence-based trials, can actually surprise us.”
Purity from the Source
What makes VCO so impressive, especially from a clinical standpoint, comes down to one word: “virgin.”
Traditionally, coconut meat is dried into copra, and the oil is expelled, then refined, bleached, and deodorized. While this process removes odor and impurities, it also strips away the natural aroma and the key nutrients, such as the antioxidants and fatty acids.
Virgin coconut oil, on the other hand, is extracted from fresh, mature coconuts—often through wet-milling, the opposite of the dried method—where coconut milk is pressed from the coconut meat and the oil is separated. (There are various methods for this, including fermentation, centrifugation, and cold-pressing.) The oil is then filtered without chemical refining, bleaching, or deodorizing in order to retain its natural nutrients.
At VMV Hypoallergenics, the process is as pure as it gets. “It uses zero heat, centrifuge, enzymes, or chemicals. It’s basically just pressed,” says Verallo de Bertotto. “As with most things in nature, the less processing, the more important phytochemicals are retained.”
Another beloved local brand, Dermtropics—also known for their VCO-powered products—follows a similar approach: using organic wet-milled virgin coconut oil. “Unlike other methods that use dried meat or heat—even in so-called ‘cold-pressed’ oils—wet-milled VCO stays truly natural,” says co-founder and CEO Margaux Arambulo-Lucena. “An ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) study even showed our wet-milled VCO has up to four times more antioxidants than cold-pressed varieties.”
The result: an oil that’s not just pure, but potently nourishing—true to the coconut’s legacy as one of nature’s most powerful healers.
From Skin to Scalp: A Multi-Benefit Oil
So why has VCO become one of beauty’s most coveted ingredients? As more consumers turn to natural, plant-based formulations, this gentle and clean oil stands out for its versatility and proven efficacy. In short: its caring and healing properties go far beyond being the hero oil in the traditional Filipino hilot.
It deeply moisturizes and strengthens the skin barrier.
Packed with natural fatty acids and antioxidants, VCO helps strengthen the skin’s protective barrier and calm irritation. Its high lauric acid content is key. “Its [rich fatty acid profile] helps strengthen the skin barrier, lock in moisture, and soothe irritation,” says Arambulo-Lucena. Lauric acid also turns into monolaurin, a natural compound with antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal powers—making VCO especially helpful for acne-prone or sensitive skin.
It’s clinically proven to soothe eczema and atopic skin.
Various studies have shown that VCO can significantly improve symptoms of eczema and atopic dermatitis. “Research demonstrates that it enhances hydration, reduces inflammation, and helps repair the skin barrier—outperforming even mineral oil in pediatric trials,” explains Arambulo-Lucena. She adds that because it’s so gentle, it’s ideal for daily use—even for babies and those with delicate skin.
It calms the scalp and strengthens hair.
For hair, VCO acts as a natural strengthener and protector. “Lauric acid helps it penetrate deep into the hair shaft to reduce protein loss, strengthen strands, and prevent breakage,” says Ricky Lopez, founder of Sibol Organic Hair Care, another Filipino brand that champions the use of locally sourced, homegrown ingredients. It also “locks in moisture, soothes dandruff, and calms the scalp, making hair feel soft, smooth, and healthy.”
It also helps with other hair concerns, such as dandruff and greying.
Beyond nourishment, VCO targets the most common issues faced by Filipino hair. “It works with other botanicals to combat hair fall, dandruff, damaged hair, and even early greying,” adds Lopez. “It’s nature’s way of helping hair grow back stronger, one wash at a time.”
It’s gentle, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic.
Unlike many natural ingredients that can trigger reactions, VCO is remarkably well-tolerated. “Reports of allergic contact dermatitis to pure, first-cold-pressed VCO are extremely rare,” says VMV’s Verallo de Bertotto. This makes it a safe choice for sensitive skin and a trusted base for the brand’s hypoallergenic formulations. “It ‘plays well’ with pretty much all our other ingredients,” she adds.
It helps maximize a product’s benefits with fewer ingredients.
VCO’s versatility allows for simpler, safer formulations without compromising results. “If an ingredient is like VCO and has many benefits, that’s gold,” explains Verallo de Bertotto. “It means we can keep the formulation simpler—less ingredients but maximum benefits.”
From Nature to Your Vanity
Truly, tradition meets innovation in the rise of VCO-powered products—turning our local wonder oil into modern beauty gold. You can take our word for it, or experience it yourself: Here are some vanity essentials that harness the purity and power of this natural, distinctly Filipino ingredient.
VMV Hypoallergenics
The brand’s popular multitasking oils deliver deep hydration and soothing care for even the most sensitive skin: Grandma Minnie’s Oil’s Well Nurturing Do-It-Oil is a mom-and-baby essential that softens, detangles, and calms with just two ingredients—VCO and coconut-derived monolaurin. Meanwhile, Know-It-Oil is a clinically validated, 100 percent organic VCO that absorbs quickly to hydrate and comfort all skin types. Also worth adding to cart: the Red Better Daily Calming Moisturizer and Re-Everything Cream—two VCO-infused favorites that keep skin calm, supple, and radiant.
VMV Hypoallergenics Grandma Minnie’s Oil’s Well Nurturing Do-It-Oil
P1,800, Lazada
VMV Hypoallergenics Know-It-Oil
P1,100, Lazada
VMV Hypoallergenics Red Better Daily Calming Moisturizer
P1,300, Lazada
VMV Hypoallergenics Re-Everything Cream Advanced Anti-Age Moisturizer
P3,200, Lazada
Dermtropics
Powered by organic wet-milled VCO, Dermtropics proves that purity and tradition can bring out your skin’s healthiest glow. Its cult-favorite Raw Coconut Gentle Cleansing Bar, once a family clinic essential, gently cleanses while replenishing moisture and strengthening the skin barrier. The Raw Coconut Colloidal Oatmeal Hand & Body Wash combines VCO, oatmeal, and aloe for a soothing cleanse, while the Raw Coconut Moisturizing Hand & Body Lotion locks in hydration and restores softness for smooth, calm, and healthy skin.
Dermtropics Raw Coconut Gentle Cleansing Bar
P280, Lazada
Dermtropics Raw Coconut Colloidal Oatmeal Hand & Body Wash
P1,099, Lazada
Dermtropics Raw Coconut Moisturizing Hand & Body Lotion
P980, Lazada
Sibol Organic Hair Care
Eco-conscious haircare brand Sibol combines VCO with gugo and other natural actives to nourish, repair, and strengthen hair from root to tip. “VCO doesn’t act alone—it’s part of a synergistic blend designed to target specific hair concerns,” explains founder Ricky Lopez. “Gugo helps strengthen roots and stimulate growth, while VCO nourishes and conditions.” What to try: The Nourishing Hair Oil combines VCO with sunflower, jojoba, argan, and vitamin E to repair and boost growth, while the Silky Soft Conditioner Bar blends VCO, shea and cocoa butter, aloe, and beeswax to smooth and detangle without plastic waste. For deeper hydration, the Ultra Moist Conditioner infuses VCO, hibiscus, and phytokeratins to restore softness and shine.
Also worth noting: The brand has recently entered the Japan market, where it’s thriving. “The Japanese have a long-standing love for natural and plant-based beauty,” says Lopez, noting that VCO is now being spotlighted alongside Japan’s own Tsubaki (Camellia japonica) oil. He adds, “Sibol’s success in Japan shows that there’s real space for Philippine botanicals on the global stage—and that ingredients like virgin coconut oil have what it takes to be the next big thing in clean, conscious beauty.”
Sibol Nourishing Hair Oil
P379, Lazada
Sibol Conditioner Bar
P259, Lazada
Sibol Ultra Moist Conditioner
P420, Lazada
Quotes have been edited for brevity and clarity.
