Non-comedogenic oils
36 plant and animal oils and butters with a published comedogenic rating of 0 or 1 — the range the 1989 AAD symposium described as unlikely to clog pores. The rating is for the raw oil; the source and confidence tier are on each entry.
“Non-comedogenic” here means one thing only: the oil scored 0 or 1 in the published rabbit-ear tables. It is not a promise about your skin, and a low-rated oil in a heavy formula can still behave differently from the raw material. How to read these numbers.
0/5 — not rated as comedogenic (9)
- 0/5Abyssinian Seed OilLight wax-ester-like oil, rated 0.
- 0/5Argan OilNon-comedogenic.
- 0/5Hemp Seed OilNon-comedogenic.
- 0/5Maleated Soybean OilGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 0 — modification drops soybean oil's grade.
- 0/5Poppy Seed OilLinoleic-rich, rated 0.
- 0/5Raspberry Seed OilNon-comedogenic, linoleic-rich.
- 0/5Safflower Seed OilLinoleic-rich, non-comedogenic.
- 0/5Shea ButterDespite richness, classic lists rate it 0 — low clogging.
- 0/5Sunflower Seed OilLinoleic-rich, non-comedogenic.
1/5 — low (27)
- 1/5Aloe ButterAloe extract in a coconut-derived base, cited 0–1; higher kept.
- 1/5Babassu OilGraded 1 in the original Fulton 1989 table (some later unattributed lists cite 2).
- 1/5Black Currant Seed OilLinoleic-rich, cited 0–1; higher kept.
- 1/5Blueberry Seed OilCited 0–1; higher kept.
- 1/5Broccoli Seed OilRated low.
- 1/5Camellia Seed OilOleic tea-seed oil, rated low.
- 1/5Canola OilCited 0–1; higher kept.
- 1/5Castor OilLow.
- 1/5Chaulmoogra OilGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 1.
- 1/5Cloudberry Seed OilNordic berry oil, rated low.
- 1/5Cucumber Seed OilRated low.
- 1/5Emu OilLow.
- 1/5Grapeseed OilLight, low rating.
- 1/5Hazelnut OilRated low.
- 1/5Hydrogenated Castor OilGraded in the original Fulton 1989 table at 1, same as plain castor oil.
- 1/5Kalahari Melon OilCited 0–1; higher kept.
- 1/5Kiwi Seed OilLinolenic-rich, rated low.
- 1/5Meadowfoam Seed OilSebum-like lightweight oil, rated 0–1; we list the higher value.
- 1/5Milk Thistle OilRated low.
- 1/5Neem OilLow.
- 1/5Pomegranate Seed OilLow.
- 1/5Prickly Pear Seed OilLow.
- 1/5Rosehip Seed OilLow.
- 1/5Sal ButterRated low.
- 1/5Sea Buckthorn OilLow.
- 1/5Strawberry Seed OilRated low.
- 1/5Watermelon Seed OilCited 0–1; higher kept.
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.