Ingredient decoder

Propylene glycol stearate: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Propylene Glycol Stearate

Acne verdict Moderate clog risk

Rated a pore-clogger

  • Comedogenic0-3 / 5
  • Irritancy0-1 / 5

What it does

Emulsifier and softener that thickens creams.

  • Skin conditioning
  • Surfactant

Propylene glycol stearate in plain English

Propylene glycol stearate is an emulsifier and softener made from propylene glycol and stearic acid. It has moderate ratings on older 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 propylene glycol stearate bad for acne?

It can be. Propylene glycol stearate has a moderate clog risk rating for acne-prone skin. In Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear test it scored 0 to 3 out of 5 for clogging pores and 0 to 1 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 with moderate ratings on older lists.

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

Also called

  • Propylene Glycol Stearate
  • Propylene glycol monostearate

Related ingredients

Browse all ingredients A to Z

Frequently asked questions

Is propylene glycol stearate comedogenic?

Propylene glycol stearate scored 0 to 3 out of 5 for comedogenicity in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear study, where 0 means no clogging and 5 means severe. That is a moderate rating. The test used the raw ingredient, so a finished product may behave differently.

What does propylene glycol stearate do in skincare?

In short: emulsifier and softener that thickens creams. In formulas it is used for skin conditioning and surfactant.

What else is propylene glycol stearate called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, propylene glycol stearate can also appear as Propylene glycol monostearate.

Sources