Ingredient decoder

Glyceryl-3 diisostearate: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Glyceryl-3 Diisostearate

Acne verdict Moderate clog risk

Rated a pore-clogger

  • Comedogenic4 / 5
  • Irritancy0 / 5

What it does

Emulsifier and softener for creams.

  • Emulsifying

Glyceryl-3 diisostearate in plain English

Glyceryl-3 diisostearate is an emulsifier and emollient used to blend oils into creams. It rates fairly high on some older comedogenic lists, though data on it is limited. 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 glyceryl-3 diisostearate bad for acne?

It can be. Glyceryl-3 diisostearate has a moderate clog risk rating for acne-prone skin. In Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear test it scored 4 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: An emulsifier that rates fairly high on some older lists.

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

Also called

  • Glyceryl-3 Diisostearate

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Frequently asked questions

Is glyceryl-3 diisostearate comedogenic?

Glyceryl-3 diisostearate 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 glyceryl-3 diisostearate do in skincare?

In short: emulsifier and softener for creams. In formulas it is used for emulsifying.

How can I check if a product with glyceryl-3 diisostearate 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.

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