Comedogenic Ratings Cheat Sheet
The 0–5 scale, condensed to one reference: the high-rated ingredients to avoid, the moderates to watch, and the low-rated picks that earn the non-comedogenic label. Print it or save it as a PDF.
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Rated 4–5 — avoid if acne-prone
39 ingredients. Matter most when they sit high on the ingredient list.
- Algae Extract*5/5
- Carrageenan*5/5
- Isocetyl Stearate5/5
- Isopropyl Isostearate5/5
- Isopropyl Myristate5/5
- Laureth-45/5
- Myristyl Myristate5/5
- Octyl Stearate5/5
- Oleth-3*5/5
- Red Algae5/5
- Sodium Chloride*5/5
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate5/5
- Wheat Germ Oil5/5
- Acetylated Lanolin4/5
- Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol*4/5
- Algin4/5
- Ascophyllum Nodosum (Knotted Wrack)*4/5
- Carrot Seed Oil*4/5
- Chondrus Crispus (Irish Moss)*4/5
- Coal Tar*4/5
- Cocoa Butter*4–5/5
- Coconut Butter4/5
- Coconut Oil4/5
- Ethylhexyl Palmitate4/5
- Flaxseed Oil*4/5
- Isopropyl Lanolate*4/5
- Isopropyl Palmitate4/5
- Laminaria Extract*4/5
- Lauric Acid4/5
- Myristyl Lactate4/5
- Octyl Palmitate4/5
- Oleyl Alcohol*4/5
- Palm Oil*4/5
- PEG-16 Lanolin4/5
- Plankton Extract*4/5
- PPG-2 Myristyl Ether Propionate*4/5
- Propylene Glycol Monostearate4/5
- Spirulina*4/5
- Stearyl Heptanoate4/5
Rated 3 — the judgement calls
56 ingredients. Tolerated by many, a trigger for some.
- Avocado Butter*3/5
- Avocado Oil*2–3/5
- Butyl Stearate3/5
- Ceteareth-6 Olivate*3/5
- Cetrimonium Bromide*3/5
- Cetyl Acetate*3/5
- Colloidal Sulfur3/5
- Corn Oil3/5
- Cottonseed Oil*3/5
- D&C Red 173/5
- D&C Red 213/5
- D&C Red 33/5
- D&C Red 30*3/5
- D&C Red 36*3/5
- Decyl Oleate*3/5
- Diisopropyl Dimer Dilinoleate*3/5
- Diisostearyl Malate*3/5
- Dioctyl Succinate3/5
- Disodium PEG-2 Sulfosuccinate*3/5
- Glyceryl Stearate SE3/5
- Glyceryl-3 Diisostearate*3/5
- Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil*3/5
- Isocetyl Alcohol*3/5
- Isodecyl Oleate*3/5
- Isopropyl Neopentanoate*3/5
- Isostearic Acid*3/5
- Isostearyl Neopentanoate*3/5
- Laneth-10*3/5
- Laureth-233/5
- Lauryl Olivate*3/5
- Macadamia Oil*3/5
- Marula Oil*3/5
- Mink Oil*3/5
- Moringa Oil*3/5
- Murumuru Butter*3/5
- Myristic Acid3/5
- Myristyl Alcohol*3/5
- Myristyl Propionate*3/5
- Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate*3/5
- Oleic Acid*3/5
- PEG-200 Dilaurate*3/5
- PEG-75 Lanolin3/5
- PEG-8 Stearate3/5
- Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate*3/5
- Potassium Cocoate*3/5
- Sesame Oil*3/5
- Shark Liver Oil*3/5
- Shea Butter*2–4/5
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate3/5
- Sorbitan Oleate*3/5
- Soybean Oil3/5
- Steareth-2*3/5
- Sulfated Castor Oil3/5
- Sulfated Jojoba Oil3/5
- TEA-Stearate*3/5
- Wheat Germ Glyceride*3/5
Rated 0–1 — the safe picks
48 low-irritancy ingredients that genuinely earn “non-comedogenic”.
- Allantoin0/5
- Aloe Vera0/5
- Argan Oil0/5
- Ascorbic Acid0/5
- Carbomer0/5
- Emu Oil0/5
- Ethylparaben0/5
- Glycerin0/5
- Hemp Seed Oil0/5
- Hyaluronic Acid0/5
- Kaolin0/5
- Magnesium Aluminum Silicate0/5
- Methylparaben0/5
- Mineral Oil0/5
- Niacinamide0/5
- Panthenol0/5
- Papain0/5
- Petrolatum0/5
- Phenoxyethanol0/5
- Propylene Glycol0/5
- Propylparaben0/5
- Sodium Hyaluronate0/5
- Sodium PCA0/5
- Sunflower Oil0/5
- Tocopheryl Acetate0/5
- Xanthan Gum0/5
- Butylene Glycol1/5
- Calendula1/5
- Candelilla Wax1/5
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride1/5
- Carnauba Wax1/5
- Castor Oil1/5
- Cyclomethicone1/5
- Dimethicone*1/5
- Glyceryl Stearate1/5
- Grapeseed Oil1/5
- Lanolin*1/5
- Magnesium Stearate1/5
- PEG-100 Stearate1/5
- Rosehip Oil1/5
- Simethicone1/5
- Sorbitan Laurate*1/5
- Sorbitan Stearate1/5
- Squalane1/5
- Squalene*1/5
- Talc1/5
- Titanium Dioxide1/5
- Zinc Oxide1/5