Comedogenic Scale Breakdown and Ratings

What is the Comedogenic Scale?

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What is the Comedogenicity Scale?

Oils and other additives have what is known as a comedogenic rating.  This rating refers to how likely the oil or compound is to clog your skin pores.  Our skin naturally produces a compound called sebum that helps to regulate and balance oils in our skin.  When clogged, sebum is unable to perform its function and leads to clogged pores.  Pores can be clogged with oil, dirt and bacteria leading to undesirable blemishes like acne.  When using carrier oils, it is highly recommended to know the comedogenic rating, so you get the results you are looking for.  Below, we have listed all oils, waxes, thickeners, alcohols, sugars and esters as well as additive like vitamins, minerals and botanicals.

Comedogenic Ratings

0 – Unlikely to Clog Pores (All skin types)
1 – Low (Safe for all skin types)
2 – Moderately Low (Less oily skin)
3 – Moderate (Combination to dry skin)
4 – Fairly High (Very dry skin)
5 – High (Very dry, cracked skin)

Oils

  • Almond Oil – 2
  • Apricot Kernel Oil – 2
  • Argan Oil – 0
  • Avocado Oil – 2
  • Cameillia Oil – 1
  • Camellia Oil (High oleic acid) – 2-3
  • Camphor – 2
  • Castor Oil – 1
  • Cocoa Butter – 4
  • Coconut Butter – 4
  • Coconut Oil (Includes Fractionated Coconut Oil) – 4
  • Corn Oil – 3
  • Cotton Seed Oil – 3
  • Evening Primrose Oil – 2
  • Grape Seed Oil – 2
  • Hazelnut Oil – 2
  • Hemp Seed Oil – 0
  • Mineral Oil – 0
  • Mink Oil – 3
  • Moringa Oil – 4
  • Olive Oil – 2
  • Peanut Oil – 2
  • Petrolatum – 0
  • Pomegranate Oil – 1
  • Rice Bran Oil – 2
  • Rosehip Oil – 1
  • Safflower Oil (Carthamus tinctorius) – 0
  • Sandalwood Seed Oil – 2
  • Sesame Oil – 2
  • Shea Butter – 0
  • Soybean Oil – 3
  • Sunflower Oil – 0
  • Wheat Germ Oil – 5
  • Shark Liver Oil – 3

Alcohol, Esters, Ethers, & Sugars

  • Polysorbate 20 – 0
  • Polysorbate 80 – 0
  • Sterol Esters – 0
  • Behenyl Triglyceride – 0
  • Butylene Glycol – 1
  • Cetearyl Alcohol – 2
  • Diethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether-0
  • Glycerin – 0
  • Glyceryl Stearate NSE – 1
  • Glyceryl Stearate SE – 3
  • Glyceryl Tricapylo/Caprate – 1
  • Glyceryl-3-Diisostearate – 4
  • Hexadecyl Alcohol – 5
  • Isocetyl Stearate – 5
  • Isopropyl Alcohol – 0
  • Laureth 23 – 3
  • Laureth 4 – 5
  • Octyl Stearate – 5
  • Oleth-10 – 2
  • Oleth-3 – 5
  • Oleyl Alcohol – 4
  • Polyethylene Glycol (PEG 400) – 1
  • Polyethylene Glycol 300 – 1
  • Polyglyceryl-3-Diisostearate – 4
  • Propylene Glycol – 0
  • Propylene Glycol Monostearate – 4
  • SD Alcohol 40 – 0
  • Sorbitan Laurate – 1
  • Sorbitol – 0
  • Steareth 10 – 4
  • Steareth 100 – 0
  • Steareth 2 – 2
  • Steareth 20 – 2
  • Wheat Germ Glyceride – 3

Waxes

  • Beeswax – 2
  • Candelilla Wax – 1
  • Carnuba Wax – 1
  • Ceresin Wax – 0
  • Emulsifying Wax NF – 2
  • Jojoba Oil – 2
  • Lanolin Wax – 1
  • Sulfated Jojoba Oil – 3

Botanicals

  • Algae Extract – 5
  • Aloe Vera Gel – 0
  • Calendula – 1
  • Carrageenans – 5
  • Chamomile – 2
  • Chamomile Extract – 0
  • Cold Pressed Aloe – 0
  • Red Algae – 5

Vitamins & Herbs

  • Ascorbic Acid – 0
  • Black Walnut Extract – 0
  • Tocopherol (Vitamin E) – 2
  • Vitamin A Palmitate – 2
  • Panthenol – 0

Antioxidants

  • Beta Carotene – 1
  • BHA – 2

Thickeners, Emulsifiers, Detergents

  • Carbomer 940 – 1
  • Hydroxypropyl Cellulose – 1
  • Kaolin – 0
  • Magnesium Aluminum Silicate – 0
  • Sodium Laureth Sulfate – 3
  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – 5
  • Sorbitan Oleate – 3

Minerals

  • Algin – 4
  • Colloidal Sulfur – 3
  • Flowers of Sulfur – 0
  • Potassium Chloride – 5
  • Precipitated Sulfur – 0
  • Sodium Chloride (Salt) – 5
  • Talc – 1
  • Zinc Stearate – 0