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 Lauryl Alcohol in the range most people, including many with acne-prone skin, tolerate well.
This rating is disputed. Credible sources land on different numbers for Lauryl Alcohol, so we publish the range (2) rather than a false single figure. When sources disagree this openly, your own experience carries real weight.
One thing the number cannot tell you is concentration. Ingredients are listed in descending order, so Lauryl Alcohol near the end of a label is present in tiny amounts and matters far less than the same ingredient near the top.
About Lauryl Alcohol
It is a fatty alcohol — a waxy, moisturising ingredient, not the drying kind of alcohol. A C12 fatty alcohol occasionally named on pore-clogging lists in the low range.
On a label it can read as Lauryl Alcohol, Dodecanol — worth knowing when you scan an ingredient deck.
Lauryl Alcohol in makeup and skincare
It thickens foundations, cream blushes, conditioners, and lotions. Its irritancy is rated separately at 0/5, which is low.
Lauryl Alcohol comedogenic FAQ
Is Lauryl Alcohol comedogenic?
Not usually. Lauryl 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. Sources disagree on Lauryl Alcohol, so the rating is less settled than most.
What is the comedogenic rating of Lauryl Alcohol?
Lauryl 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 Lauryl 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 1 cited source, listed on this page.
Is Lauryl Alcohol pore-clogging?
It is unlikely to be. At 2/5, Lauryl 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.