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 Laureth-23 squarely in the judgement-call zone, where your skin type and the product's formula decide the outcome.
One thing the number cannot tell you is concentration. Ingredients are listed in descending order, so Laureth-23 near the end of a label is present in tiny amounts and matters far less than the same ingredient near the top.
About Laureth-23
It is an emulsifier, the ingredient that keeps a product's oil and water phases from separating. A higher-ethoxylate laureth used as a solubiliser, rated 3/5.
On a label it can read as Laureth-23, Laureth 23 — worth knowing when you scan an ingredient deck.
Laureth-23 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 Laureth-23 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 Laureth-23
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).