Ingredient decoder

Laureth-23: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Laureth-23

Acne verdict Moderate clog risk

Rated a pore-clogger

  • Comedogenic3 / 5
  • Irritancy0 / 5

What it does

Emulsifier and mild cleansing agent.

  • Cleansing
  • Emulsifying
  • Surfactant

Laureth-23 in plain English

Laureth-23 is an ethoxylated emulsifier and mild cleansing agent from the same family as laureth-4. It rates lower than laureth-4 on comedogenic lists but is still flagged. 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 laureth-23 bad for acne?

It can be. Laureth-23 has a moderate clog risk rating for acne-prone skin. In Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear test it scored 3 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 in the laureth family. Rated lower than laureth-4 but still flagged.

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

Also called

  • Laureth-23
  • Peg-23 lauryl ether

Related ingredients

Browse all ingredients A to Z

Frequently asked questions

Is laureth-23 comedogenic?

Laureth-23 scored 3 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 laureth-23 do in skincare?

In short: emulsifier and mild cleansing agent. In formulas it is used for cleansing, emulsifying and surfactant.

What else is laureth-23 called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, laureth-23 can also appear as Peg-23 lauryl ether.

Sources