Comedogenic ingredient ratings
Every ingredient the checker knows, with its published comedogenic grade (0–5) and the study it comes from: 27 graded 4–5, 85 graded 2–3 or reported positive, and 118 graded 0–1. Where studies disagree, the range is shown. An ingredient missing from this table has no published rating that we could find; that is not the same as non-comedogenic.
Grades describe single raw materials, mostly tested on rabbit ears at 10% or full strength. They are a screening guide for finished products, not a verdict. How the scale works.
| Ingredient | Grade | Tests (source: grade, how it was tested) |
|---|---|---|
| Acetone | 0 |
|
| Acetylated Lanolin | 0 |
|
| Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol acetulan | 4–5 |
|
| Allantoin | 0 |
|
| Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate ammonium dodecyl sulfate | 0 |
|
| Arachidic Acid eicosanoic acid, archidic acid | 1–2 |
|
| Arachis Hypogaea (Peanut) Oil peanut oil, arachis oil, groundnut oil | 2 |
|
| Ascorbyl Palmitate | 2 |
|
| Beeswax cera alba, bees wax, white beeswax | 0–2 |
|
| Behenic Acid docosanoic acid | 0–1 |
|
| Behenyl Erucate | 0 |
|
| Behenyl Triglyceride | 0 |
|
| Bentonite | 0 |
|
| Black Walnut Extract | 0 |
|
| Butyl Stearate | 3 |
|
| Butylene Glycol 1,3-butylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol | 1 |
|
| Capric Acid decanoic acid | 2–3 |
|
| Caproic Acid hexanoic acid | 0–2 |
|
| Caprylic Acid octanoic acid | 1 |
|
| Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride glyceryl tricaprylate/caprate, glyceryl tricaprylo/caprate, glyceryl tricapylo/caprate | 1 |
|
| Carbomer carbomer 940 | 1 |
|
| Carboxymethylcellulose carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose | 0 |
|
| Carboxypropylcellulose | 1 |
|
| Carmine ci 75470 | 0 |
|
| Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil safflower oil, safflower seed oil, carthamus tinctorius seed oil | 0–2 |
|
| Ceresin ceresin wax | 0 |
|
| Ceteareth-20 ceteareth 20 | 2 |
|
| Cetearyl Alcohol cetostearyl alcohol | 2 |
|
| Cetearyl Alcohol + Ceteareth-20 (blend) | 4 |
|
| Cetyl Acetate | 4 |
|
| Cetyl Alcohol hexadecanol, 1-hexadecanol, palmityl alcohol | 2 |
|
| Cetyl Esters cetyl ester nf, cetyl esters nf, cetyl ester | 1 |
|
| Cetyl Palmitate | 0 |
|
| Chamomile Extract | 0 |
|
| Chaulmoogra Oil | 1 |
|
| Cholesterol | 0 |
|
| Choleth-24 choleth 24 | 0 |
|
| Chondroitin Sulfate chondroitin sulphate | 0 |
|
| Coconut Butter | 4 |
|
| Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax carnauba wax, carnuba wax, copernicia cerifera wax | 1 |
|
| Cyclomethicone | 0 |
|
| D&C Red No. 17 d&c red #17, d & c red #17, d&c red 17 | 3 |
|
| D&C Red No. 19 d&c red #19, d & c red #19, d&c red 19 | 2 |
|
| D&C Red No. 21 d&c red #21, d & c red #21, d&c red 21 | 2 |
|
| D&C Red No. 27 d&c red #27, d & c red #27, d&c red 27 | 2 |
|
| D&C Red No. 3 d&c red #3, d & c red #3, d&c red 3 | 3 |
|
| D&C Red No. 30 d&c red #30, d & c red #30, d&c red 30 | 3 |
|
| D&C Red No. 33 d&c red #33, d & c red #33, d&c red 33 | 1 |
|
| D&C Red No. 36 d&c red #36, d & c red #36, d&c red 36 | 0–3 |
|
| D&C Red No. 4 d&c red #4, d & c red #4, d&c red 4 | 2 |
|
| D&C Red No. 6 d&c red #6, d & c red #6, d&c red 6 | 1 |
|
| D&C Red No. 7 d&c red #7, d & c red #7, d&c red 7 | 1 |
|
| D&C Red No. 9 d&c red #9, d & c red #9, d&c red 9 | 1 |
|
| Decyl Oleate | 3 |
|
| Diethylhexyl Malate dioctyl malate | 3 |
|
| Diethylhexyl Succinate di(2-ethylhexyl) succinate, di (2 ethylhexyl) succinate, di-2-ethylhexyl succinate | 2 |
|
| Diisopropyl Adipate | 0 |
|
| Diisopropyl Dimer Dilinoleate diisopropyl dimerate | 0 |
|
| Dimethicone polydimethylsiloxane | 1 |
|
| Dioctyl Succinate | 3 |
|
| Emulsifying Wax emulsifying wax nf | 0 |
|
| Ethoxydiglycol diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl ether | 0 |
|
| Ethyl Ether diethyl ether | 0 |
|
| Ethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether egme, 2-methoxyethanol, methoxyethanol | 0 |
|
| Ethylhexyl Dimethyl PABA octyl dimethyl paba, padimate o, padimate-o | 0 |
|
| Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate octyl methoxycinnamate, octinoxate | 0 |
|
| Ethylhexyl Palmitate octyl palmitate, 2-ethylhexyl palmitate | 2–4 |
|
| Ethylhexyl Pelargonate octyl pelargonate, 2-ethylhexyl pelargonate | 2 |
|
| Ethylhexyl Salicylate octyl salicylate, octisalate | 0 |
|
| Ethylhexyl Stearate octyl stearate, 2-ethylhexyl stearate | positive (no grade) |
|
| Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax candelilla wax, euphorbia cerifera wax | 1 |
|
| FD&C Red No. 40 d&c red #40, d & c red #40, fd&c red 40 | 2 |
|
| Glucose Glutamate | 0 |
|
| Glycereth-26 glycereth 26 | 0 |
|
| Glycerin glycerol, glycerine | 0 |
|
| Glyceryl Stearate glyceryl stearate nse, glyceryl monostearate | 1–2 |
|
| Glyceryl Stearate SE glyceryl stearate s.e., glyceryl stearate (se), self-emulsifying glyceryl stearate | 3 |
|
| Glyceryl-3-Diisostearate | 4 |
|
| Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil soybean oil, soya oil, soy oil | 3 |
|
| Glycol Stearate ethylene glycol monostearate, ethylene glycol stearate | 0 |
|
| Gossypium Herbaceum (Cotton) Seed Oil cottonseed oil, cotton seed oil, gossypium herbaceum seed oil | 3 |
|
| Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil sunflower oil, sunflower seed oil, helianthus annuus seed oil | 0 |
|
| Hexylene Glycol | 0–2 |
|
| Hydrogenated Castor Oil castor wax | 1 |
|
| Hydrogenated Polyisobutene hydrogenated polyisobutane | 1 |
|
| Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil | 3 |
|
| Hydrolyzed Animal Protein hydrolysed animal protein | 0 |
|
| Hydroxypropylcellulose hydroxypropyl cellulose | 1 |
|
| Iron Oxides iron oxide, ci 77491, ci 77492 | 0 |
|
| Isocetyl Alcohol | 4 |
|
| Isocetyl Stearate | 0–1 |
|
| Isodecyl Oleate | 1–3 |
|
| Isopropyl Alcohol isopropanol, 2-propanol | 0 |
|
| Isopropyl Isostearate | 4–5 |
|
| Isopropyl Lanolate | 3 |
|
| Isopropyl Linoleate isopropyl linolate | 4–5 |
|
| Isopropyl Myristate ipm | 3–5 |
|
| Isopropyl Palmitate | 3–4 |
|
| Isostearyl Isostearate | 4 |
|
| Isostearyl Neopentanoate | 3 |
|
| Kaolin china clay | 0 |
|
| Laneth-10 laneth 10 | 2 |
|
| Lanolin anhydrous lanolin, wool fat, adeps lanae | 0–1 |
|
| Lanolin Acid lanolin fatty acids | 4 |
|
| Lanolin Alcohol lanolin alcohols, wool alcohol, wool alcohols | 0–2 |
|
| Lanolin Oil | 0–1 |
|
| Lanolin Wax | 1 |
|
| Laureth-23 laureth 23 | 3 |
|
| Laureth-4 laureth 4 | 5 |
|
| Lauric Acid dodecanoic acid | 3–4 |
|
| Lithium Stearate | 1 |
|
| Magnesium Aluminum Silicate magnesium aluminium silicate | 0 |
|
| Magnesium Stearate | 1 |
|
| Maleated Soybean Oil | 0 |
|
| Methylparaben methyl paraben | 0 |
|
| Mineral Oil paraffinum liquidum, liquid paraffin, white mineral oil | 0–2 |
|
| Mink Oil | 2–3 |
|
| Myristic Acid tetradecanoic acid | 1–3 |
|
| Myristyl Alcohol tetradecanol, 1-tetradecanol | 2 |
|
| Myristyl Lactate | 4 |
|
| Myristyl Myristate | 0–5 |
|
| Octoxynol-9 octoxynol 9, triton x-100 | 0–1 |
|
| Octyldodecyl Stearate | 0 |
|
| Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate | 0 |
|
| Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose) Oil evening primrose oil, oenothera biennis oil | 3 |
|
| Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil olive oil, olea europaea fruit oil | 0–2 |
|
| Oleth-10 oleth 10 | 2 |
|
| Oleth-20 oleth 20 | 1 |
|
| Oleth-3 oleth 3 | 5 |
|
| Oleth-3 Phosphate oleth 3 phosphate | 2 |
|
| Oleth-5 oleth 5 | 3 |
|
| Oleyl Alcohol | 4 |
|
| Orbignya Oleifera (Babassu) Seed Oil babassu oil, orbignya oleifera seed oil | 1 |
|
| Oxybenzone benzophenone-3, benzophenone 3 | 0 |
|
| Palmitic Acid hexadecanoic acid | 0–2 |
|
| Panthenol provitamin b5, pro-vitamin b5 | 0 |
|
| Papain | 0 |
|
| Paraffin paraffin wax, hard paraffin | negative (no grade) |
|
| PEG-10 Soy Sterol peg 10 soya sterol, peg-10 soya sterol | 0 |
|
| PEG-100 Distearate peg 100 distearate | 2 |
|
| PEG-100 Stearate peg 100 stearate | 0 |
|
| PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate peg 120 methyl glucose dioleate | 0 |
|
| PEG-150 Distearate peg 150 distearate | 2 |
|
| PEG-16 Lanolin peg 16 lanolin, solulan 16 | 4 |
|
| PEG-20 Stearate peg 20 stearate | 1 |
|
| PEG-200 Dilaurate peg 200 dilaurate | 3 |
|
| PEG-40 Castor Oil peg 40 castor oil | 0 |
|
| PEG-40 Sorbitan Laurate peg 40 sorbitan laurate | 0 |
|
| PEG-5 Soy Sterol peg 5 soya sterol, peg-5 soya sterol | 0 |
|
| PEG-75 Lanolin peg 75 lanolin | 0 |
|
| PEG-78 Glyceryl Cocoate peg 78 glyceryl monococoate, peg-78 glyceryl monococoate | 0 |
|
| PEG-8 peg 400, peg-400, polyethylene glycol 400 | 1 |
|
| PEG-8 Castor Oil peg 8 castor oil | 1 |
|
| PEG-8 Stearate peg 8 stearate | 3 |
|
| Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate/Tetracaprate pentaerythrital tetra capra/caprylate, pentaerythrityl tetracaprylate/caprate, pentaerythrital tetracapra/caprylate | 0 |
|
| Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate pentaerythrital tetra isostearate, pentaerythrityl tetra isostearate, pentaerythrital tetraisostearate | 2 |
|
| Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil avocado oil, persea gratissima oil | 0–3 |
|
| Petrolatum petroleum jelly, white petrolatum, yellow petrolatum | negative (no grade) |
|
| Phenoxyethylparaben phenoxyethyl paraben | 0 |
|
| Phytantriol | 2 |
|
| Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate polyglyceryl-3-diisostearate, polyglyceryl 3 diisostearate | 4 |
|
| Polypentaerythrital Tetralaurate | 0 |
|
| Polysorbate 20 polysorbate-20 | 0 |
|
| Polysorbate 80 polysorbate-80 | 0 |
|
| PPG-10 Cetyl Ether ppg 10 cetyl ether | 3 |
|
| PPG-12-PEG-65 Lanolin Oil ppg 12 peg 65 lanolin oil, ppg-12 peg-65 lanolin oil | 2 |
|
| PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate ppg 2 myristyl propionate, ppg-2 myristyl propionate | 3 |
|
| PPG-30 Cetyl Ester ppg 30 cetyl ester | 0 |
|
| PPG-5-Ceteth-10 Phosphate ppg 5 ceteth 10 phosphate | 4 |
|
| PPG-50 Cetyl Ester ppg 50 cetyl ester | 0 |
|
| Propylene Glycol 1,2-propanediol | 0 |
|
| Propylene Glycol Caprylate/Caprate pg caprylate/caprate | 2 |
|
| Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/Dicaprate pg dicaprylate/caprate, propylene glycol dicaprylate/caprate, pg dicaprylate/dicaprate | 1 |
|
| Propylene Glycol Dipelargonate pg dipelargonate | 2 |
|
| Propylene Glycol Isostearate pg isostearate | 3–4 |
|
| Propylene Glycol Laurate pg laurate | 0 |
|
| Propylene Glycol Stearate pg monostearate, propylene glycol monostearate, pg stearate | 0–3 |
|
| Propylparaben propyl paraben | 0 |
|
| Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil sweet almond oil, almond oil, prunus amygdalus dulcis oil | 1–3 |
|
| Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil apricot kernel oil, prunus armeniaca kernel oil | 1–2 |
|
| Prunus Persica (Peach) Kernel Oil peach kernel oil, prunus persica kernel oil | 2 |
|
| PVP polyvinylpyrrolidone, povidone | 0 |
|
| Retinyl Palmitate vitamin a palmitate | 1–3 |
|
| Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil castor oil, ricinus communis seed oil | 0–1 |
|
| Sandalwood Seed Oil | 2 |
|
| SD Alcohol 40 sd alcohol-40 | 0 |
|
| Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil sesame oil, sesame seed oil, sesamum indicum seed oil | 1–3 |
|
| Shark Liver Oil | 3 |
|
| Simethicone | 1 |
|
| Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil jojoba oil, jojoba seed oil, simmondsia chinensis seed oil | 0–2 |
|
| Sodium Hyaluronate | 0 |
|
| Sodium Lauryl Sulfate sodium dodecyl sulfate, sodium laurilsulfate, sls | 0 |
|
| Sodium PCA sodium pyrrolidone carboxylic acid, sodium pyrrolidone carboxylate | 0 |
|
| Sorbitan Isostearate | 1–2 |
|
| Sorbitan Laurate sorbitan monolaurate | 1–2 |
|
| Sorbitan Oleate sorbitan monooleate | 3 |
|
| Sorbitan Sesquioleate sorbitan sesquinoleate | 0–1 |
|
| Sorbitan Stearate sorbitan monostearate | 0 |
|
| Sorbitol glucitol | 0 |
|
| Soy Sterol soya sterol | 0 |
|
| Squalane | 1 |
|
| Steareth-10 steareth 10 | 4 |
|
| Steareth-100 steareth 100 | 0 |
|
| Steareth-2 steareth 2 | 2 |
|
| Steareth-20 steareth 20 | 2 |
|
| Stearic Acid octadecanoic acid | 0–3 |
|
| Stearic Acid + Triethanolamine (blend) stearic acid: tea, stearic acid:tea | 3 |
|
| Stearyl Alcohol octadecanol, 1-octadecanol | 2 |
|
| Stearyl Heptanoate | 4 |
|
| Sterol Esters | 0 |
|
| Sucrose Distearate | 0 |
|
| Sucrose Stearate | 0 |
|
| Sulfated Jojoba Oil sulphated jojoba oil | 3 |
|
| Sulfur precipitated sulfur, precipitated sulphur, sulphur | 0 |
|
| Talc | 1 |
|
| Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter cocoa butter, cacao butter, theobroma cacao seed butter | 4 |
|
| Titanium Dioxide ci 77891 | 0 |
|
| Tocopherol vitamin e | 0–3 |
|
| Tocopheryl Acetate vitamin e acetate | 0 |
|
| Triacetin glyceryl triacetate | 0 |
|
| Tridecyl Neopentanoate tridectyl neopentanoate | 0 |
|
| Triethanolamine trolamine | 2 |
|
| Ultramarine Violet ultamarine violet | 0 |
|
| Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil grape seed oil, grapeseed oil, vitis vinifera seed oil | 2–3 |
|
| Water-Soluble Sulfur water soluble sulfur, water-soluble sulphur | 3 |
|
| Wheat Germ Glycerides wheat germ glyceride | 3 |
|
| Xylene xylol | 4 |
|
| Zea Mays (Corn) Oil corn oil, maize oil, zea mays oil | 0–3 |
|
| Zinc Oxide ci 77947 | 1 |
|
| Zinc Stearate | 0 |
|