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 Stearyl Alcohol 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 Stearyl Alcohol near the end of a label is present in tiny amounts and matters far less than the same ingredient near the top.
About Stearyl Alcohol
It is a fatty alcohol — a waxy, moisturising ingredient, not the drying kind of alcohol. A waxy fatty alcohol used to thicken creams, rated 2/5 and generally fungal-acne safe.
On a label it can read as Stearyl Alcohol, Octadecan-1-Ol — worth knowing when you scan an ingredient deck.
Stearyl Alcohol in makeup and skincare
It thickens foundations, cream blushes, conditioners, and lotions. Its irritancy is rated separately at 2/5, which is low.
Stearyl Alcohol comedogenic FAQ
Is Stearyl Alcohol comedogenic?
Not usually. Stearyl Alcohol 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 Stearyl Alcohol?
Stearyl Alcohol has a comedogenic rating of 2/5 (low risk). Of the 190 ingredients in our dataset with a published rating, 93 rate higher than Stearyl Alcohol, 58 rate lower, and 38 others share its 2/5. Among the 7 rated fatty alcohols, 3 rate higher and none lower. The figure is drawn from 1 cited source, listed on this page.
Is Stearyl Alcohol pore-clogging?
It is unlikely to be. At 2/5, Stearyl Alcohol 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.