What a 4/5 rating means
On the comedogenic scale, a 4 is in the high-risk band, with a real likelihood of clogging pores on acne-prone skin. That means Coconut Oil deserves attention if you break out easily, especially when it appears high on an ingredient list.
One thing the number cannot tell you is concentration. Ingredients are listed in descending order, so Coconut Oil near the end of a label is present in tiny amounts and matters far less than the same ingredient near the top.
About Coconut Oil
It is a plant- or seed-derived oil, valued for the emollient, conditioning feel it gives a formula. Rich in lauric and myristic acids. Deeply moisturising but a classic 4/5 pore-clogger, and one of the most common causes of breakouts when used on the face.
On a label it can read as Coconut Oil, Cocos Nucifera Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Coconut — worth knowing when you scan an ingredient deck.
Coconut Oil in makeup and skincare
In makeup it turns up in cream blushes, tinted balms, and hydrating foundations; in skincare, in face oils and cleansing balms. Its irritancy is rated separately at 1/5, which is low.
If you deal with fungal acne (malassezia folliculitis) rather than ordinary clogged pores, note that Coconut Oil 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 Coconut Oil
If you want a similar role with a friendlier comedogenic score, consider:
- Squalane — comedogenic rating 1/5 (Low risk).
- Hemp Seed Oil — comedogenic rating 0/5 (Low risk).
- Sunflower Oil — comedogenic rating 0/5 (Low risk).
Coconut Oil comedogenic FAQ
Is Coconut Oil comedogenic?
It can be. Coconut Oil is rated 4/5 (high risk) on the 0–5 comedogenic scale, so it has a real chance of clogging pores on acne-prone skin, especially high on an ingredient list.
What is the comedogenic rating of Coconut Oil?
Coconut Oil has a comedogenic rating of 4/5 (high risk). Of the 190 ingredients in our dataset with a published rating, 13 rate higher than Coconut Oil, 151 rate lower, and 25 others share its 4/5. Among the 38 rated oils, 1 rates higher and 33 lower. The figure is drawn from 3 cited sources, listed on this page.
Is Coconut Oil pore-clogging?
It is one of the more likely ones. At 4/5, Coconut Oil is in the high-risk band. It matters most when it appears near the top of an ingredient list, where it makes up a larger share of the product. 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.