Laureth-4
Emulsifier · INCI: Laureth-4
Reviewed by Elysiana Aguilar, master esthetician
How we read it
Clogs pores for some people. Fine for many, worth watching if you're mid-breakout.
Is Laureth-4 comedogenic?
Sometimes. Laureth-4 is potentially pore-clogging, so we read it as one to use with caution. Plenty of people use it without trouble; if you're actively treating acne, it's worth watching.
Why we read it this way
Laureth-4 is lauryl alcohol joined to a short water-loving chain, used as an emulsifier and light cleansing agent that helps oil and water mix. The short chain leaves it more oil-loving than the longer laureths, so our reading is use with caution.
The nuance
The number in the name is the length of the water-loving chain, and it changes the reading. We read Laureth-7 as not pore-clogging, and the two look alike on a label. In a rinse-off product it matters less.
Where it shows up
Hair color, shampoos, bath and shower oils, and some gel treatments and light lotions, where it helps an oily ingredient disperse in water.
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: The types of acne lesions.