Ingredient decoder

Cinnamal: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Cinnamal

Acne verdict Watch

Worth watching on acne-prone skin

  • ComedogenicNo published rating
  • IrritancyNo published rating

What it does

Scent ingredient that can cause allergic reactions in some people.

  • Denaturant
  • Flavouring
  • Perfuming

Cinnamal in plain English

Cinnamal is the compound that gives cinnamon its smell and taste, used in fragrances and flavors. It is one of the more common fragrance sensitizers and can cause stinging on sensitive skin. It is one of the scent components that must be named on EU labels above set levels because it can trigger allergic reactions in some people. For acne-prone skin it does not clog pores, but irritation and redness can make breakouts look and feel worse, so sensitive skin may do better without it.

Is cinnamal bad for acne?

Not usually, but it is worth watching. Cinnamal is not a proven pore-clogger, but scent ingredients like this can irritate sensitive skin, and irritated skin can make breakouts look and feel worse. Notice how your skin reacts when a product lists it near the top.

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

Also called

  • Cinnamal
  • Cinnamaldehyde
  • Cinnamic aldehyde
  • Cinnamyl aldehyde

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Frequently asked questions

Is cinnamal comedogenic?

Cinnamal has no published comedogenic rating in Fulton's 1989 table. It is not a proven pore-clogger, but it is worth watching on acne-prone skin.

What does cinnamal do in skincare?

In short: scent ingredient that can cause allergic reactions in some people. In formulas it is used for denaturant, flavouring and perfuming.

What else is cinnamal called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, cinnamal can also appear as Cinnamaldehyde, Cinnamic aldehyde or Cinnamyl aldehyde.

Sources