What a 2–4/5 rating means
On the comedogenic scale, a 2 is still within the non-comedogenic range that dermatologists generally consider low-risk. That places Shea Butter in the range most people, including many with acne-prone skin, tolerate well.
This rating is disputed. Credible sources land on different numbers for Shea Butter, so we publish the range (2–4) 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 Shea Butter near the end of a label is present in tiny amounts and matters far less than the same ingredient near the top.
About Shea Butter
It is a rich plant butter that melts at skin temperature, prized for cushiony moisture. Genuinely disputed: many dermatology sources rate shea butter 0-2 and consider it well tolerated, while several pore-clogging lists rate it as high as 4. Patch-test if you are very acne-prone.
On a label it can read as Shea Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Butyrospermum Parkii, Shea — worth knowing when you scan an ingredient deck.
Shea Butter in makeup and skincare
You'll meet it in stick foundations, cream products, and rich lip colour, as well as body and face creams. 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 Shea Butter 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 Shea Butter
If you want a similar role with a friendlier comedogenic score, consider:
- Squalane — comedogenic rating 1/5 (Low risk).
- Mango Butter — comedogenic rating 2/5 (Low risk).
Shea Butter comedogenic FAQ
Is Shea Butter comedogenic?
Moderately. Shea Butter is rated 2–4/5 (moderate), the middle of the 0–5 scale: many people tolerate it, but it can contribute to breakouts on congestion-prone skin. Sources disagree on Shea Butter, so the rating is less settled than most.
What is the comedogenic rating of Shea Butter?
Shea Butter has a comedogenic rating of 2–4/5 (moderate). Of the 190 ingredients in our dataset with a published rating, 93 rate higher than Shea Butter, 58 rate lower, and 38 others share the low end of its range, 2/5. Among the 7 rated butters, 4 rate higher and none lower. The figure is drawn from 3 cited sources, listed on this page.
Is Shea Butter pore-clogging?
It can be for some people. At 2–4/5, Shea Butter is in the moderate band. How much it matters depends on concentration: near the top of an ingredient list it is a bigger factor than 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.