What a 0/5 rating means
On the comedogenic scale, a 0 means it will not clog pores for essentially anyone, including very acne-prone skin. That places Papain 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 Papain near the end of a label is present in tiny amounts and matters far less than the same ingredient near the top.
About Papain
It is an active ingredient included for a specific skin benefit. A papaya-derived exfoliating enzyme rated 0/5 for clogging; irritancy varies with concentration.
Papain in makeup and skincare
It is formulated into targeted treatments and some makeup-skincare hybrids. Its irritancy is rated separately at 2/5, which is low.
Papain comedogenic FAQ
Is Papain comedogenic?
No. Papain is rated 0/5, which is non-comedogenic 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 Papain?
Papain has a comedogenic rating of 0/5 (non-comedogenic). Of the 190 ingredients in our dataset with a published rating, 162 rate higher than Papain, none rate lower, and 27 others share its 0/5. Among the 8 rated actives, 4 rate higher and none lower. The figure is drawn from 1 cited source, listed on this page.
Is Papain pore-clogging?
It is unlikely to be. At 0/5, Papain 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.