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

What it does

Light emollient ester that softens skin.

• Emollient
• Skin conditioning

Myristyl propionate in plain English

Myristyl propionate is a light emollient ester used to soften skin and improve how a product spreads. It belongs to the isopropyl myristate family, but it has been tested less on its own, so it sits at a moderate level. 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 propionate bad for acne?

It can be. Myristyl propionate has a moderate 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: An ester in the isopropyl myristate family. Less tested on its own.

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

Also called

• Myristyl Propionate

Related ingredients

• Acetylated lanolin alcoholHigh clog riskLight lanolin-based emollient that softens skin
• Algae extractHigh clog riskSeaweed extract that hydrates but rates high for clogging pores
• Bladderwrack extractModerate clog riskBrown seaweed extract that hydrates and may clog pores
• Butyl myristateModerate clog riskSoftening ester in the myristate family, may clog pores
• Butyl stearateHigh clog riskEmollient ester that softens skin and adds slip
• Cetyl acetateModerate clog riskEmollient ester that softens skin