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 D&C Red #19 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 D&C Red #19 near the end of a label is present in tiny amounts and matters far less than the same ingredient near the top.
About D&C Red #19
It is a cosmetic colorant that gives makeup its shade. A synthetic xanthene dye used in blushes and lip colour. At 2 it rates lower than the D&C reds most often blamed for cosmetic acne — 17, 21, 3, 30 and 36 — but it is still a pigment worth checking if blush or lipstick breaks you out.
On a label it can read as D&C Red 19, D&C Red #19, D C Red 19, Ci 45170 — worth knowing when you scan an ingredient deck.
D&C Red #19 in makeup and skincare
It is the shade in lipsticks, blushes, and other colour cosmetics. Its irritancy is rated separately at 0/5, which is low.
D&C Red #19 comedogenic FAQ
Is D&C Red #19 comedogenic?
Not usually. D&C Red #19 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 D&C Red #19?
D&C Red #19 has a comedogenic rating of 2/5 (low risk). Of the 190 ingredients in our dataset with a published rating, 93 rate higher than D&C Red #19, 58 rate lower, and 38 others share its 2/5. Among the 10 rated colorants, 5 rate higher and 4 lower. The figure is drawn from 1 cited source, listed on this page.
Is D&C Red #19 pore-clogging?
It is unlikely to be. At 2/5, D&C Red #19 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.