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 Oleth-10 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 Oleth-10 near the end of a label is present in tiny amounts and matters far less than the same ingredient near the top.
About Oleth-10
It is an emulsifier, the ingredient that keeps a product's oil and water phases from separating. A higher-ethoxylate oleth that is milder than oleth-3, rated 2/5.
On a label it can read as Oleth-10, Oleth 10 — worth knowing when you scan an ingredient deck.
Oleth-10 in makeup and skincare
It quietly stabilises most cream foundations, lotions, and moisturisers. 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 Oleth-10 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.
Oleth-10 comedogenic FAQ
Is Oleth-10 comedogenic?
Not usually. Oleth-10 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 Oleth-10?
Oleth-10 has a comedogenic rating of 2/5 (low risk). Of the 190 ingredients in our dataset with a published rating, 93 rate higher than Oleth-10, 58 rate lower, and 38 others share its 2/5. Among the 22 rated emulsifiers, 13 rate higher and 4 lower. The figure is drawn from 1 cited source, listed on this page.
Is Oleth-10 pore-clogging?
It is unlikely to be. At 2/5, Oleth-10 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.