Ingredient decoder

Oleth-3: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Oleth-3

Acne verdict High clog risk

Rated a pore-clogger

  • Comedogenic5 / 5
  • Irritancy2 / 5

What it does

Emulsifier that helps oil and water blend.

  • Emulsifying

Oleth-3 in plain English

Oleth-3 is an ethoxylated emulsifier made from oleyl alcohol that helps oils mix into water-based formulas. It rates high on classic comedogenic lists. 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 oleth-3 bad for acne?

It can be. Oleth-3 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: An emulsifier that rates high on classic comedogenic lists.

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

Also called

  • Oleth-3
  • Peg-3 oleyl ether

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Frequently asked questions

Is oleth-3 comedogenic?

Oleth-3 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 oleth-3 do in skincare?

In short: emulsifier that helps oil and water blend. In formulas it is used for emulsifying.

What else is oleth-3 called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, oleth-3 can also appear as Peg-3 oleyl ether.

Sources