What a 1/5 rating means
On the comedogenic scale, a 1 sits at the safe end of the scale — clogging is unlikely for most people. That places Butylene Glycol in the range most people, including many with acne-prone skin, tolerate well.
One thing the number cannot tell you is concentration. Ingredients are listed in descending order, so Butylene Glycol near the end of a label is present in tiny amounts and matters far less than the same ingredient near the top.
About Butylene Glycol
It is a humectant that pulls water into the upper layers of skin. A lightweight humectant and solvent rated 1/5, fungal-acne safe.
Butylene Glycol in makeup and skincare
It is a near-universal hydrator in primers, foundations, toners, and moisturisers. Its irritancy is rated separately at 0/5, which is low.
Butylene Glycol comedogenic FAQ
Is Butylene Glycol comedogenic?
Not usually. Butylene Glycol is rated 1/5, which is low risk on the 0–5 comedogenic scale, so it is unlikely to clog pores for most people, including many with acne-prone skin.
What is the comedogenic rating of Butylene Glycol?
Butylene Glycol has a comedogenic rating of 1/5 (low risk). Of the 190 ingredients in our dataset with a published rating, 132 rate higher than Butylene Glycol, 28 rate lower, and 29 others share its 1/5. Among the 7 rated humectants, none rate higher and 6 lower. The figure is drawn from 1 cited source, listed on this page.
Is Butylene Glycol pore-clogging?
It is unlikely to be. At 1/5, Butylene Glycol sits in the range generally treated as non-comedogenic. Concentration still matters: an ingredient near the top of a label makes up far more of the product than one near the end. Comedogenic ratings come mostly from rabbit-ear assays and small human patch tests of the pure ingredient at high concentration, so they are a screening guide, not a prediction for your skin or a medical claim.