What a 2/5 rating means
On the comedogenic scale, a 2 is still within the non-comedogenic range that dermatologists generally consider low-risk. That places Cetearyl Alcohol 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 Cetearyl Alcohol near the end of a label is present in tiny amounts and matters far less than the same ingredient near the top.
About Cetearyl Alcohol
It is a fatty alcohol — a waxy, moisturising ingredient, not the drying kind of alcohol. A blend of cetyl and stearyl alcohols used as an emollient thickener. Rated 2/5; fatty alcohols are considered fungal-acne safe.
On a label it can read as Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetostearyl Alcohol — worth knowing when you scan an ingredient deck.
Cetearyl Alcohol in makeup and skincare
It thickens foundations, cream blushes, conditioners, and lotions. Its irritancy is rated separately at 2/5, which is low.
Cetearyl Alcohol comedogenic FAQ
Is Cetearyl Alcohol comedogenic?
Not usually. Cetearyl Alcohol is rated 2/5, 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 Cetearyl Alcohol?
Cetearyl Alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2/5 (low risk). Of the 190 ingredients in our dataset with a published rating, 93 rate higher than Cetearyl Alcohol, 58 rate lower, and 38 others share its 2/5. Among the 7 rated fatty alcohols, 3 rate higher and none lower. The figure is drawn from 2 cited sources, listed on this page.
Is Cetearyl Alcohol pore-clogging?
It is unlikely to be. At 2/5, Cetearyl Alcohol 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.