Isocetyl Stearate
Emollient ester · INCI: Isocetyl Stearate
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 Isocetyl Stearate comedogenic?
Yes. Isocetyl Stearate 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
Isocetyl stearate is a liquid ester of stearic acid and a branched fatty alcohol, used to help makeup and creams spread evenly and leave skin feeling soft. We read it as highly comedogenic, like the isocetyl alcohol it is made from.
The nuance
It is easy to mistake for cetyl alcohol or stearic acid, and we read each of those only as one to use with caution. This ester is a separate ingredient, and we rate it a step higher than either one.
Where it shows up
Foundations, concealers, lipsticks and eye shadows are its usual home, along with sunscreens and moisturizers that aim for a smooth, easy spread.
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.