Ingredients rated 3/5
36 ingredients carry a published comedogenic rating of 3 — moderate on the 0–5 scale. Grouped by ingredient family; each entry shows its source and confidence tier.
Plant and animal oils (11)
- 3/5Chia Seed OilConflicting citations (1–3); higher-caution 3 kept.
- 3/5Corn OilModerate.
- 3/5Cottonseed OilModerate.
- 3/5Evening Primrose OilGraded 3 in the original Fulton 1989 table; some compilations cite 2.
- 3/5Marula OilModerate; oleic-rich.
- 3/5Mink OilModerate.
- 3/5Moringa OilModerate.
- 3/5Papaya Seed OilCited 2–3; higher kept.
- 3/5Shark Liver OilModerate; squalene source.
- 3/5Soybean OilModerate.
- 3/5Walnut OilCited 1–3 across lists; higher-caution 3 kept.
Surfactants and emulsifiers (9)
- 3/5Glyceryl Stearate SESelf-emulsifying grade rates higher than plain glyceryl stearate.
- 3/5Laureth-23Emulsifier, rated moderate.
- 3/5Oleth-5Graded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 3 (oleth-3 rates 5; ethoxylation lowers the grade).
- 3/5PEG-200 DilaurateGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 3.
- 3/5PEG-8 StearateEmulsifier, rated moderate.
- 3/5Sodium Laureth SulfateModerate; rinse-off context softens it.
- 3/5Sorbitan OleateEmulsifier, moderate.
- 3/5Sulfated Castor OilModified castor oil, rated moderate (plain castor oil rates 1).
- 3/5TEA-StearateGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 3.
Plant butters (6)
Esters (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.
Colorants (2)
Actives (1)
Fatty acids (1)
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.