Ingredient decoder

Ethylhexyl stearate: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Ethylhexyl Stearate

Acne verdict High clog risk

Rated a pore-clogger

  • ComedogenicNo published rating
  • IrritancyNo published rating

What it does

Light emollient ester that softens skin.

  • Emollient

Ethylhexyl stearate in plain English

Ethylhexyl stearate, also called octyl stearate, is a light, oily ester that softens skin and helps products glide on. It was named as a pore-clogger in rabbit-ear testing. 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 ethylhexyl stearate bad for acne?

It can be. Ethylhexyl stearate 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: Also called octyl stearate. Named as a pore-clogger in rabbit-ear testing.

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

Also called

  • Ethylhexyl Stearate
  • Octyl stearate
  • 2 ethylhexyl stearate
  • 2-ethylhexyl stearate

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Frequently asked questions

Is ethylhexyl stearate comedogenic?

Ethylhexyl stearate 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. Also called octyl stearate. Named as a pore-clogger in rabbit-ear testing.

What does ethylhexyl stearate do in skincare?

In short: light emollient ester that softens skin. In formulas it is used for emollient.

What else is ethylhexyl stearate called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, ethylhexyl stearate can also appear as Octyl stearate, 2 ethylhexyl stearate or 2-ethylhexyl stearate.

Sources