Ingredient decoder

Carrageenan: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Carrageenan

Acne verdict High clog risk

Rated a pore-clogger

  • ComedogenicNo published rating
  • IrritancyNo published rating

What it does

Red seaweed thickener that rates high for clogging pores.

  • Masking
  • Skin conditioning

Carrageenan in plain English

Carrageenan is a gel-forming thickener extracted from red seaweed. It rates high on classic comedogenic lists. 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 carrageenan bad for acne?

It can be. Carrageenan has a high clog risk rating for acne-prone skin. It has no score of its own in Fulton's 1989 table and is flagged on classic comedogenic lists, often because of its chemical family. 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 red-seaweed thickener 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

  • Carrageenan
  • Chondrus crispus
  • Irish moss
  • Carrageenan gum

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Frequently asked questions

Is carrageenan comedogenic?

Carrageenan has no score of its own in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear table, but it is flagged as a pore-clogger on classic comedogenic lists. A red-seaweed thickener that rates high on classic comedogenic lists.

What does carrageenan do in skincare?

In short: red seaweed thickener that rates high for clogging pores. In formulas it is used for masking and skin conditioning.

What else is carrageenan called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, carrageenan can also appear as Chondrus crispus, Irish moss or Carrageenan gum.

Sources