Steareth-2
Emulsifier / solubilizer · INCI: Steareth-2
Reviewed by Elysiana Aguilar, master esthetician
How we read it
Not a pore-clogger. Considered safe for acne-prone skin.
Is Steareth-2 comedogenic?
No. Steareth-2 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
Steareth-2 is stearyl alcohol with a very short water-loving chain, which leaves it waxy and more at home in oil than in water. It works as the oil-side partner in an emulsifier pair, steadying creams and lotions. Our reading is not pore-clogging.
The nuance
It is the most oil-friendly of the common steareths, which is why a flag can seem plausible, and some lists do flag it. It sits close to stearyl alcohol, which we also leave unflagged, and it is used in small amounts.
Where it shows up
Roll-on antiperspirants are a common place to see it, along with body lotions, richer face creams and sunscreens.
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.