Acetylated Lanolin
Emollient · INCI: Acetylated Lanolin
Reviewed by Elysiana Aguilar, master esthetician
How we read it
Known to clog pores. If you break out easily, this is the one to skip.
Is Acetylated Lanolin comedogenic?
Yes. Acetylated Lanolin is a known pore-clogging ingredient, and we read it as highly comedogenic. If you're acne-prone, it's worth avoiding, especially when it sits near the top of an ingredient list.
Why we read it this way
Acetylated lanolin is wool wax chemically modified to resist water and feel silky instead of sticky, which is why it turns up in makeup and creams. We read it as highly comedogenic. We read it as highly comedogenic, and it is among the most consistently flagged of the lanolin family.
The nuance
Its reputation comes from the ingredient on its own, and formulas tend to use it in small amounts. Near the end of a label it is a lesser concern than near the top. Acetylated lanolin alcohol is a separate ingredient that we flag too.
Where it shows up
Foundations, cream blushes, lipsticks and concealers, plus baby oils, bath oils and body lotions that aim for a smooth, water-resistant finish.
Names we read the same way
- Acetylated Wool Fat
- Acetylated Wool Wax
Related ingredients
One ingredient rarely tells the whole story. The acne ingredient checker reads everything in a product at once, the pore-clogging ingredients list has the rest of what we flag, and there is more on what comedogenic means. Also in the guides: What causes acne.