Ingredient decoder

Linseed oil: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil

Acne verdict High clog risk

Rated a pore-clogger

  • ComedogenicNo published rating
  • IrritancyNo published rating

What it does

Flaxseed oil that softens skin but can clog pores.

  • Perfuming
  • Skin conditioning

Linseed oil in plain English

Linseed oil, also called flaxseed oil, is a plant oil used to soften skin. It produced comedones in old rabbit-ear testing and rates high on classic 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 linseed oil bad for acne?

It can be. Linseed oil 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 flaxseed oil. Produced comedones in rabbit-ear testing.

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

Also called

  • Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil
  • Flaxseed oil
  • Flax seed oil
  • Linum usitatissimum seed oil
  • Linum usitatissimum oil

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Frequently asked questions

Is linseed oil comedogenic?

Linseed oil 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 flaxseed oil. Produced comedones in rabbit-ear testing.

What does linseed oil do in skincare?

In short: flaxseed oil that softens skin but can clog pores. In formulas it is used for perfuming and skin conditioning.

What else is linseed oil called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, linseed oil can also appear as Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Oil, Flaxseed oil, Flax seed oil, Linum usitatissimum seed oil or Linum usitatissimum oil.

Sources