Ingredient decoder

Avocado oil: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil

Acne verdict Moderate clog risk

Rated a pore-clogger

  • Comedogenic3(2) / 5
  • Irritancy0 / 5

What it does

Very rich, occlusive oil that may clog pores.

  • Skin conditioning

Avocado oil in plain English

Avocado oil is a very rich plant oil that softens skin and slows water loss. It rates moderate on older comedogenic lists and feels heavy on oily skin. Keep in mind these ratings come from old rabbit-ear tests of the raw ingredient, which can overstate the risk of a small amount in a finished product.

Is avocado oil bad for acne?

It can be. Avocado oil has a moderate clog risk rating for acne-prone skin. In Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear test it scored 3(2) out of 5 for clogging pores and 0 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: Rates moderate on older lists. Very rich and occlusive.

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

Also called

  • Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil
  • Persea gratissima oil
  • Persea americana oil

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Frequently asked questions

Is avocado oil comedogenic?

Avocado oil scored 3(2) out of 5 for comedogenicity in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear study, where 0 means no clogging and 5 means severe. That is a moderate rating. The test used the raw ingredient, so a finished product may behave differently.

What does avocado oil do in skincare?

In short: very rich, occlusive oil that may clog pores. In formulas it is used for skin conditioning.

What else is avocado oil called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, avocado oil can also appear as Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Persea gratissima oil or Persea americana oil.

Sources