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 PEG-150 Distearate in the range most people, including many with acne-prone skin, tolerate well.
This rating is disputed. Credible sources land on different numbers for PEG-150 Distearate, 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 PEG-150 Distearate near the end of a label is present in tiny amounts and matters far less than the same ingredient near the top.
About PEG-150 Distearate
It is an emulsifier, the ingredient that keeps a product's oil and water phases from separating. A stearate-based thickener and emulsifier named on some pore-clogging lists in the low-moderate range.
On a label it can read as Peg-150 Distearate, Peg 150 Distearate, Peg 100 Distearate — worth knowing when you scan an ingredient deck.
PEG-150 Distearate in makeup and skincare
It quietly stabilises most cream foundations, lotions, and moisturisers. 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 PEG-150 Distearate 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.
PEG-150 Distearate comedogenic FAQ
Is PEG-150 Distearate comedogenic?
Not usually. PEG-150 Distearate 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 PEG-150 Distearate, so the rating is less settled than most.
What is the comedogenic rating of PEG-150 Distearate?
PEG-150 Distearate has a comedogenic rating of 2/5 (low risk). Of the 190 ingredients in our dataset with a published rating, 93 rate higher than PEG-150 Distearate, 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 PEG-150 Distearate pore-clogging?
It is unlikely to be. At 2/5, PEG-150 Distearate 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.