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 Palm Oil deserves attention if you break out easily, especially when it appears high on an ingredient list.
This rating is disputed. Credible sources land on different numbers for Palm Oil, so we publish the range (4) 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 Palm Oil near the end of a label is present in tiny amounts and matters far less than the same ingredient near the top.
About Palm Oil
It is a plant- or seed-derived oil, valued for the emollient, conditioning feel it gives a formula. A saturated tropical oil high in palmitic acid, frequently flagged around 4 on pore-clogging lists.
On a label it can read as Palm Oil, Elaeis Guineensis Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Red Palm Oil — worth knowing when you scan an ingredient deck.
Palm Oil in makeup and skincare
In makeup it turns up in cream blushes, tinted balms, and hydrating foundations; in skincare, in face oils and cleansing balms. 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 Palm Oil 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 Palm Oil
If you want a similar role with a friendlier comedogenic score, consider:
- Squalane — comedogenic rating 1/5 (Low risk).
- Hemp Seed Oil — comedogenic rating 0/5 (Low risk).
- Sunflower Oil — comedogenic rating 0/5 (Low risk).
Palm Oil comedogenic FAQ
Is Palm Oil comedogenic?
It can be. Palm Oil 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. Sources disagree on Palm Oil, so the rating is less settled than most.
What is the comedogenic rating of Palm Oil?
Palm Oil has a comedogenic rating of 4/5 (high risk). Of the 190 ingredients in our dataset with a published rating, 13 rate higher than Palm Oil, 151 rate lower, and 25 others share its 4/5. Among the 38 rated oils, 1 rates higher and 33 lower. The figure is drawn from 2 cited sources, listed on this page.
Is Palm Oil pore-clogging?
It is one of the more likely ones. At 4/5, Palm Oil 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.