Ingredient decoder

Myristyl myristate: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Myristyl Myristate

Acne verdict High clog risk

Rated a pore-clogger

  • Comedogenic5 / 5
  • Irritancy2 / 5

What it does

Waxy emollient that thickens creams and softens skin.

  • Emollient
  • Opacifying
  • Skin conditioning

Myristyl myristate in plain English

Myristyl myristate is a waxy ester that melts near skin temperature, adding body and a soft, cushioned feel to creams. It was named as a pore-clogger in rabbit-ear testing, so it is one to watch in face products if you break out. 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 myristyl myristate bad for acne?

It can be. Myristyl myristate has a high clog risk rating for acne-prone skin. In Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear test it scored 5 out of 5 for clogging pores and 2 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: A waxy ester 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

  • Myristyl Myristate
  • Tetradecyl tetradecanoate

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Frequently asked questions

Is myristyl myristate comedogenic?

Myristyl myristate scored 5 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 myristyl myristate do in skincare?

In short: waxy emollient that thickens creams and softens skin. In formulas it is used for emollient, opacifying and skin conditioning.

What else is myristyl myristate called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, myristyl myristate can also appear as Tetradecyl tetradecanoate.

Sources