Ingredient decoder

Wheat germ oil: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil

Acne verdict High clog risk

Rated a pore-clogger

  • ComedogenicNo published rating
  • IrritancyNo published rating

What it does

Rich vitamin E oil that rates high for clogging pores.

  • Emollient
  • Skin conditioning

Wheat germ oil in plain English

Wheat germ oil is a thick plant oil naturally high in vitamin E, used to soften and nourish skin. It rates high on classic 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 wheat germ oil bad for acne?

It can be. Wheat germ oil has a high 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: Rates high on classic comedogenic lists.

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

Also called

  • Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil
  • Triticum vulgare germ oil

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Frequently asked questions

Is wheat germ oil comedogenic?

Wheat germ 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. Rates high on classic comedogenic lists.

What does wheat germ oil do in skincare?

In short: rich vitamin E oil that rates high for clogging pores. In formulas it is used for emollient and skin conditioning.

What else is wheat germ oil called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, wheat germ oil can also appear as Triticum Vulgare (Wheat) Germ Oil or Triticum vulgare germ oil.

Sources