What a 3/5 rating means
On the comedogenic scale, a 3 is the moderate midpoint: tolerated by many, a possible trigger for congestion-prone skin. That puts Ceteareth-6 Olivate squarely in the judgement-call zone, where your skin type and the product's formula decide the outcome.
This rating is disputed. Credible sources land on different numbers for Ceteareth-6 Olivate, so we publish the range (3) rather than a false single figure. When sources disagree this openly, your own experience carries real weight.
One thing the number cannot tell you is concentration. Ingredients are listed in descending order, so Ceteareth-6 Olivate near the end of a label is present in tiny amounts and matters far less than the same ingredient near the top.
About Ceteareth-6 Olivate
It is an emulsifier, the ingredient that keeps a product's oil and water phases from separating. An olive-derived ethoxylated emulsifier named on pore-clogging lists in the moderate range.
On a label it can read as Ceteareth-6 Olivate, Olive Oil Peg-7 Esters — worth knowing when you scan an ingredient deck.
Ceteareth-6 Olivate in makeup and skincare
It quietly stabilises most cream foundations, lotions, and moisturisers. Its irritancy is rated separately at 0/5, which is low.
If you deal with fungal acne (malassezia folliculitis) rather than ordinary clogged pores, note that Ceteareth-6 Olivate is among the fatty-acid or ester-type ingredients that community sources commonly avoid — a separate concern from its comedogenic score, and one with weaker evidence behind it.
Lower-rated alternatives to Ceteareth-6 Olivate
If you want a similar role with a friendlier comedogenic score, consider:
- Glyceryl Stearate — comedogenic rating 1/5 (Low risk).
- Cetearyl Alcohol — comedogenic rating 2/5 (Low risk).