Wonky talk: Comedogenicity Rating (will it clog my skin?)
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In For the Mixtresses: Castor + Hemp Herbal Facial Cleansing Oil, I mentioned how both castor and hempseed oil are ideal for oil-cleansing because they both have relatively low comedogenic ratings, meaning they are less likely to clog your pores and irritate acne-prone skin. There are many other oils that can substitute in the recipe—check this handy chart first to learn its comedogenicity rating:
Comedogenic Ratings (causing acne)
0 – Will not clog pores
1 – Low
2 – Moderately low
3 – Moderate
4 – Fairly high
5 – High
| Almond oil | 2 | Hydrogenated vegetable oil | 3 | |
| Apricot oil | 2 | Jojoba oil | 1, 2 | |
| Avocado oil | 2 | Lanolin wax | 1 | |
| Beeswax | 2 | Mineral oil | 0 | |
| Calendula oil | 1 | Mink oil | 3 | |
| Camphor | 2 | Olive oil | 2 | |
| Camphor oil | 2 | Peanut oil | 2 | |
| Candelilla wax | 1 | Petrolatum | 0 | |
| Carnuba wax | 1 | Pomegranate oil | 1 | |
| Castor oil | 1 | Rosehip oil | 1 | |
| Ceresin wax | 0 | Safflower oil (high linoleic acid variety only*) | 0 | |
| Cocoa butter | 4 | Sandalwood seed oil | 2 | |
| Coconut butter | 4 | Sesame oil | 2 | |
| Coconut oil | 3, 4 | Shark liver oil | 3 | |
| Corn oil | 3 | Shea butter | 0 | |
| Cotton seed oil | 3 | Soybean oil | 3 | |
| Emu oil | 1 | Squalane | 1 | |
| Emulsifying wax NF | 2 | Sulfated jojoba oil | 3 | |
| Evening primrose oil | 2 | Sunflower | 0, 2 | |
| Grape seed oil | 1, 2 | Tamanu oil | 2 | |
| Hazelnut oil | 2 | Wheat germ oil | 5 | |
| Hemp seed oil | 0 | |||
| Hydrogenated castor oil | 1 |
This chart is based on data from Beneficial Botanicals and Illumineat. If these sources rated an ingredient differently, I listed both ratings in the chart. You can visit these sources for the comedogenicity ratings on botanicals, herbs, emulsifier’s, alcohols, and other cosmetic ingredients.
Do you have sensitive or acne-prone skin? What ingredients do you avoid?
[...] three oils have a relatively low comedogenicity rating, so this should be fine for my skin which can be acne-prone in periods of stress, but that never [...]