Ingredient decoder

Steareth-2: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Steareth-2

Acne verdict Moderate clog risk

Rated a pore-clogger

  • Comedogenic2 / 5
  • Irritancy2 / 5

What it does

Emulsifier that helps hold creams together.

  • Emulsifying
  • Surfactant

Steareth-2 in plain English

Steareth-2 is an ethoxylated emulsifier made from stearyl alcohol, often paired with steareth-21 to hold creams together. 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 steareth-2 bad for acne?

It can be. Steareth-2 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 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 with moderate ratings on older lists.

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

Also called

  • Steareth-2
  • Peg-2 stearyl ether

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Frequently asked questions

Is steareth-2 comedogenic?

Steareth-2 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 steareth-2 do in skincare?

In short: emulsifier that helps hold creams together. In formulas it is used for emulsifying and surfactant.

What else is steareth-2 called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, steareth-2 can also appear as Peg-2 stearyl ether.

Sources