Ingredient decoder

Acetylated lanolin alcohol: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol

Acne verdict High clog risk

Rated a pore-clogger

  • Comedogenic4 / 5
  • Irritancy2 / 5

What it does

Light lanolin-based emollient that softens skin.

  • Antistatic
  • Emollient
  • Emulsifying
  • Hair conditioning
  • Skin conditioning

Acetylated lanolin alcohol in plain English

Acetylated lanolin alcohol is a modified lanolin that feels lighter and less sticky than lanolin itself. It is often blended with cetyl acetate. It rates high on classic comedogenic lists. Its rating comes from old rabbit-ear tests of the raw ingredient, which can overstate what happens with a finished product on human skin.

Is acetylated lanolin alcohol bad for acne?

It can be. Acetylated lanolin alcohol has a high clog risk rating for acne-prone skin. In Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear test it scored 4 out of 5 for clogging pores and 2 out of 5 for irritation. That test used the raw ingredient, so a small amount in a finished product may behave differently. If you break out easily, check where it sits on the ingredient list: the higher it appears, the more of it the product usually contains.

Why it is flagged: A lanolin derivative that rates high on classic comedogenic lists.

Clean routine and still breaking out? The cause may be internal. See what is driving it

Also called

  • Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol

Related ingredients

Browse all ingredients A to Z

Frequently asked questions

Is acetylated lanolin alcohol comedogenic?

Acetylated lanolin alcohol scored 4 out of 5 for comedogenicity in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear study, where 0 means no clogging and 5 means severe. That is a high rating. The test used the raw ingredient, so a finished product may behave differently.

What does acetylated lanolin alcohol do in skincare?

In short: light lanolin-based emollient that softens skin. In formulas it is used for antistatic, emollient, emulsifying, hair conditioning and skin conditioning.

How can I check if a product with acetylated lanolin alcohol is acne-safe?

Paste the product's full ingredient list into the free breakoutLabs acne-safe checker. It decodes every ingredient, flags commonly cited pore-cloggers and irritants, and points out acne fighters.

Sources