Ingredient decoder

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

INCI name: Arachis Hypogaea (Peanut) Oil

Acne verdict Moderate clog risk

Rated a pore-clogger

  • Comedogenic2 / 5
  • Irritancy0 / 5

What it does

Plant oil that softens skin and may clog pores.

  • Skin conditioning

Peanut oil in plain English

Peanut oil is a plant oil used to soften skin. It rates moderate 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. People with peanut allergies may also want to avoid it.

Is peanut oil bad for acne?

It can be. Peanut oil has a moderate clog risk rating for acne-prone skin. In Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear test it scored 2 out of 5 for clogging pores and 0 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: Rates moderate on older lists.

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

Also called

  • Arachis Hypogaea (Peanut) Oil
  • Arachis hypogaea oil
  • Groundnut oil

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Frequently asked questions

Is peanut oil comedogenic?

Peanut oil scored 2 out of 5 for comedogenicity in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear study, where 0 means no clogging and 5 means severe. That is a low to moderate rating. The test used the raw ingredient, so a finished product may behave differently.

What does peanut oil do in skincare?

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

What else is peanut oil called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, peanut oil can also appear as Arachis Hypogaea (Peanut) Oil, Arachis hypogaea oil or Groundnut oil.

Sources