Hydrogenated Polydecene
Synthetic emollient · INCI: Hydrogenated Polydecene
Reviewed by Elysiana Aguilar, master esthetician
How we read it
Not a pore-clogger. Considered safe for acne-prone skin.
Is Hydrogenated Polydecene comedogenic?
No. Hydrogenated Polydecene 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
Hydrogenated polydecene is a synthetic hydrocarbon emollient, chemically closer to a light mineral oil than to a plant oil or a fatty ester. It carries no fatty acids for skin to react to and is not on the references behind our calls.
The nuance
It is occlusive, so it slows water loss by sitting on the surface. That can feel heavy on oily skin without being the thing that clogs a pore.
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: What causes acne.