Ingredient decoder

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

INCI name: Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil

Acne verdict Moderate clog risk

Rated a pore-clogger

  • ComedogenicNo published rating
  • IrritancyNo published rating

What it does

Heavy plant oil that softens skin and may clog pores.

  • Emollient

Palm oil in plain English

Palm oil is a heavy plant oil used as an emollient and in soaps. It has moderate to high ratings on older comedogenic 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 palm oil bad for acne?

It can be. Palm oil 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: A heavy oil with moderate to high ratings on older lists.

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

Also called

  • Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil
  • Elaeis guineensis oil

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Frequently asked questions

Is palm oil comedogenic?

Palm 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. A heavy oil with moderate to high ratings on older lists.

What does palm oil do in skincare?

In short: heavy plant oil that softens skin and may clog pores. In formulas it is used for emollient.

What else is palm oil called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, palm oil can also appear as Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil or Elaeis guineensis oil.

Sources