Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Conditioning agent · INCI: Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Reviewed by Elysiana Aguilar, master esthetician
How we read it
Not a pore-clogger. Considered safe for acne-prone skin.
Is Behentrimonium Methosulfate comedogenic?
No. Behentrimonium Methosulfate isn't considered pore-clogging, and we read it as safe to use on acne-prone skin. That doesn't make it right for everyone, but congestion isn't the thing to watch for with it.
Why we read it this way
Behentrimonium methosulfate is a conditioning agent derived from rapeseed oil that clings lightly to hair to smooth and detangle it, and it doubles as an emulsifier in creams. It is a haircare staple more than a skincare one. We read it as not pore-clogging.
The nuance
Despite the name it is not a sulfate cleanser and it does not foam. It is usually sold blended with fatty alcohols such as cetyl alcohol, which carries its own reading, and conditioner reaches the hairline, shoulders and back as it rinses.
Where it shows up
Rinse-out conditioners, leave-in conditioners, detangling sprays and hair masks, and now and then a face or body lotion where it serves as the emulsifier.
Related ingredients
One ingredient rarely tells the whole story. The acne ingredient checker reads everything in a product at once, and there is more on what comedogenic means. Also in the guides: The types of acne lesions.