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 Propylene Glycol Monostearate deserves attention if you break out easily, especially when it appears high on an ingredient list.
One thing the number cannot tell you is concentration. Ingredients are listed in descending order, so Propylene Glycol Monostearate near the end of a label is present in tiny amounts and matters far less than the same ingredient near the top.
About Propylene Glycol Monostearate
It is an emulsifier, the ingredient that keeps a product's oil and water phases from separating. A stearate ester used to emulsify and thicken. Rated 4/5 for comedogenicity despite being non-irritating.
On a label it can read as Propylene Glycol Monostearate, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Pg Monostearate — worth knowing when you scan an ingredient deck.
Propylene Glycol Monostearate 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 Propylene Glycol Monostearate 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 Propylene Glycol Monostearate
If you want a similar role with a friendlier comedogenic score, consider:
- Glyceryl Stearate — comedogenic rating 1/5 (Low risk).
- Cetearyl Alcohol — comedogenic rating 2/5 (Low risk).