Esters
43 ingredients in this family, 20 rated 3/5 or higher. Grouped by published comedogenic rating, highest first.
Emollient esters: an alcohol joined to a fatty acid (isopropyl myristate, ethylhexyl palmitate, glyceryl stearate). The family that contains most of the classic 4–5 ratings.
5/5 — highest (5)
4/5 — high (9)
- 4/5Cetyl AcetateOften paired with acetylated lanolin alcohol.
- 4/5Ethylhexyl PalmitateWidely used ester; caution rating.
- 4/5Isopropyl LinoleateEster, strongly comedogenic in the original testing.
- 4/5Isopropyl PalmitateCommon ester, strongly comedogenic.
- 4/5Isostearyl IsostearateEster, strongly comedogenic.
- 4/5Myristyl LactateEster, strongly comedogenic.
- 4/5PPG-2 Myristyl PropionateEster, strongly comedogenic.
- 4/5Propylene Glycol MonostearateCited 0–3 in the original Fulton testing and up to 4 in later compilations; higher-caution value kept.
- 4/5Stearyl HeptanoateEster, strongly comedogenic.
3/5 — moderate (6)
- 3/5Butyl StearateEster, moderate.
- 3/5Decyl OleateEster, moderate.
- 3/5Diethylhexyl MalateGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 3.
- 3/5Isodecyl OleateGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 2–3 depending on source; higher kept.
- 3/5Isostearyl NeopentanoateEster, rated moderate.
- 3/5Wheat Germ GlycerideGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 3.
2/5 — low-to-moderate (8)
- 2/5Ascorbyl PalmitateLow-moderate.
- 2/5Diethylhexyl SuccinateGraded 2 in the original Fulton 1989 table, where it appears as dioctyl succinate (some later unattributed lists cite 3).
- 2/5Ethylhexyl PelargonateGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 2.
- 2/5Glyceryl StearateCommon emulsifier, low-moderate.
- 2/5Pentaerythrityl TetraisostearateGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 2.
- 2/5Propylene Glycol Caprylate/CaprateGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 2.
- 2/5Propylene Glycol DipelargonateGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 2.
- 2/5Retinyl PalmitateLow-moderate.
1/5 — low (4)
- 1/5Caprylic/Capric TriglycerideFractionated coconut oil; lightweight ester rated low — the lauric and myristic acids of whole coconut oil are removed.
- 1/5Cetyl EstersGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 1.
- 1/5Diisostearyl MalateLip-gloss ester, rated low (some compilations say up to 2).
- 1/5Propylene Glycol Dicaprylate/CaprateGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 1.
0/5 — not rated as comedogenic (11)
- 0/5Behenyl ErucateLong-chain ester rated 0 in the original Fulton testing.
- 0/5Cetyl PalmitateEster rated 0 in the original Fulton testing.
- 0/5Diisopropyl AdipateGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 0.
- 0/5Diisopropyl Dimer DilinoleateGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 0.
- 0/5Glycol StearateGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 0.
- 0/5Octyldodecyl StearateGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 0 — large esters rate low.
- 0/5Octyldodecyl Stearoyl StearateGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 0.
- 0/5Propylene Glycol LaurateGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 0 for comedogenicity (irritancy graded higher).
- 0/5Tocopheryl AcetateEsterified vitamin E, the common form in products — graded 0 in the original Fulton 1989 table. Plain tocopherol has no published-lineage rating.
- 0/5TriacetinGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 0.
- 0/5Tridecyl NeopentanoateGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 0.
About these ratings
Every number is a published rabbit-ear assay grade (Fulton 1989 lineage), shown with its source and a confidence tier on the ingredient page. A rating describes a raw ingredient as tested, not a finished product: concentration, formulation and individual skin decide real-world behaviour. 3/5 and up is where the 1989 AAD symposium recommended caution. How we rate · full sortable table and CC-BY download.