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 Stearic Acid 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 Stearic Acid near the end of a label is present in tiny amounts and matters far less than the same ingredient near the top.
About Stearic Acid
It is a fatty acid, one of the building blocks of oils and a common texture and cleansing agent. A C18 fatty acid used as a thickener and emulsion stabiliser. Rated 2/5; commonly avoided in strict fungal-acne routines.
On a label it can read as Stearic Acid, Octadecanoic Acid — worth knowing when you scan an ingredient deck.
Stearic Acid in makeup and skincare
It shows up in cleansing balms, cream cleansers, and the base of many creams and pressed powders. 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 Stearic Acid 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.
Stearic Acid comedogenic FAQ
Is Stearic Acid comedogenic?
Not usually. Stearic Acid 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.
What is the comedogenic rating of Stearic Acid?
Stearic Acid has a comedogenic rating of 2/5 (low risk). Of the 190 ingredients in our dataset with a published rating, 93 rate higher than Stearic Acid, 58 rate lower, and 38 others share its 2/5. Among the 8 rated fatty acids, 4 rate higher and 1 lower. The figure is drawn from 1 cited source, listed on this page.
Is Stearic Acid pore-clogging?
It is unlikely to be. At 2/5, Stearic Acid 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.