What a 0/5 rating means
On the comedogenic scale, a 0 means it will not clog pores for essentially anyone, including very acne-prone skin. That places Carbomer 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 Carbomer near the end of a label is present in tiny amounts and matters far less than the same ingredient near the top.
About Carbomer
It is a thickener that controls how a product flows and feels. A synthetic gelling polymer rated 0/5, used to thicken serums and gels.
On a label it can read as Carbomer, Sodium Carbomer, Acrylates Copolymer — worth knowing when you scan an ingredient deck.
Carbomer in makeup and skincare
It sets the consistency of gels, liquid foundations, and serums. Its irritancy is rated separately at 1/5, which is low.
Carbomer comedogenic FAQ
Is Carbomer comedogenic?
No. Carbomer is rated 0/5, which is non-comedogenic 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 Carbomer?
Carbomer has a comedogenic rating of 0/5 (non-comedogenic). Of the 190 ingredients in our dataset with a published rating, 162 rate higher than Carbomer, none rate lower, and 27 others share its 0/5. Among the 5 rated thickeners, 3 rate higher and none lower. The figure is drawn from 1 cited source, listed on this page.
Is Carbomer pore-clogging?
It is unlikely to be. At 0/5, Carbomer 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.