Ingredient decoder

Sorbitan oleate: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Sorbitan Oleate

Acne verdict Moderate clog risk

Rated a pore-clogger

  • Comedogenic3 / 5
  • Irritancy0 / 5

What it does

Emulsifier that helps oil and water blend.

  • Emulsifying

Sorbitan oleate in plain English

Sorbitan oleate is an emulsifier made from sorbitol and oleic acid that helps oil and water blend. 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 sorbitan oleate bad for acne?

It can be. Sorbitan oleate has a moderate clog risk rating for acne-prone skin. In Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear test it scored 3 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: 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

  • Sorbitan Oleate
  • Sorbitan monooleate

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Frequently asked questions

Is sorbitan oleate comedogenic?

Sorbitan oleate scored 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 sorbitan oleate do in skincare?

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

What else is sorbitan oleate called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, sorbitan oleate can also appear as Sorbitan monooleate.

Sources