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 Lauric Acid 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 Lauric Acid near the end of a label is present in tiny amounts and matters far less than the same ingredient near the top.
About Lauric Acid
It is a fatty acid, one of the building blocks of oils and a common texture and cleansing agent. A C12 saturated fatty acid abundant in coconut and palm-kernel oils. Rated 4/5 and a prime fatty-acid fuel for malassezia.
On a label it can read as Lauric Acid, Dodecanoic Acid — worth knowing when you scan an ingredient deck.
Lauric Acid in makeup and skincare
It shows up in cleansing balms, cream cleansers, and the base of many creams and pressed powders. 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 Lauric Acid 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 Lauric Acid
If you want a similar role with a friendlier comedogenic score, consider:
Lauric Acid comedogenic FAQ
Is Lauric Acid comedogenic?
It can be. Lauric Acid 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 Lauric Acid?
Lauric Acid has a comedogenic rating of 4/5 (high risk). Of the 190 ingredients in our dataset with a published rating, 13 rate higher than Lauric Acid, 151 rate lower, and 25 others share its 4/5. Among the 8 rated fatty acids, none rate higher and 7 lower. The figure is drawn from 2 cited sources, listed on this page.
Is Lauric Acid pore-clogging?
It is one of the more likely ones. At 4/5, Lauric Acid 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.