Oils by comedogenic rating
Every plant and animal oil and butter in our database (102), grouped by published comedogenic rating from 5 down to 0. Each links to its source and confidence tier.
5/5 — highest (1)
4/5 — high (9)
- 4/5Bacuri ButterCited high in butter compilations.
- 4/5Carrot Seed OilCited 3–4; higher kept.
- 4/5Cocoa ButterRich butter, strongly comedogenic.
- 4/5Coconut ButterAs comedogenic as the oil.
- 4/5Coconut OilBeloved, but strongly comedogenic on facial skin.
- 4/5Cupuacu ButterConflicting citations (1–4); higher-caution 4 kept.
- 4/5Flaxseed OilStrongly comedogenic in classic lists.
- 4/5Palm Kernel OilStrongly comedogenic.
- 4/5Palm OilStrongly comedogenic.
3/5 — moderate (17)
- 3/5Avocado ButterRicher processed form; cited higher than avocado oil.
- 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.
- 3/5Kombo ButterCited 2–3; higher kept.
- 3/5Macadamia ButterCited 2–3; higher kept.
- 3/5Mafura ButterCited 2–3; higher kept.
- 3/5Mango ButterCited 2–3; higher kept.
- 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.
- 3/5Ucuuba ButterCited 2–3; higher kept.
- 3/5Walnut OilCited 1–3 across lists; higher-caution 3 kept.
2/5 — low-to-moderate (39)
- 2/5Acai Berry OilFruit oil, low-moderate.
- 2/5Almond ButterLow-moderate, like the oil.
- 2/5Almond OilGraded 2 crude / 1 refined in Fulton 1989.
- 2/5Andiroba Seed OilAmazonian seed oil, low-moderate.
- 2/5Apricot Kernel OilGraded 2 crude / 1 refined in Fulton 1989.
- 2/5Avocado OilGraded 3 crude / 2 refined in Fulton 1989; compilations cite 2, which we keep for cosmetic grades.
- 2/5Baobab Seed OilCited 2 in oils compilations.
- 2/5Black Cumin Seed OilCited 0–2 across lists; higher kept.
- 2/5Blackberry Seed OilCited 1–2; higher kept.
- 2/5Borage OilGLA-rich seed oil, low-moderate.
- 2/5Brazil Nut OilNut oil, low-moderate.
- 2/5Buriti OilCarotenoid-rich fruit oil, low-moderate.
- 2/5Cherry Kernel OilKernel oil, low-moderate.
- 2/5Coffee ButterCited 1–2; higher kept.
- 2/5Cranberry Seed OilLow-moderate.
- 2/5Guava Seed OilCited 1–2; higher kept.
- 2/5Illipe ButterCited 1–2; higher kept.
- 2/5Jojoba OilWax ester; usually fine, low-moderate rating.
- 2/5Karanja OilNeem relative, low-moderate.
- 2/5Kokum ButterCited 0–2 across lists; higher kept.
- 2/5Kukui Nut OilLow-moderate.
- 2/5Macadamia Nut OilLow-moderate.
- 2/5Murumuru ButterAmazonian seed butter, cited 0–2; we keep the higher-caution 2.
- 2/5Olive ButterProcessed olive-oil butter, low-moderate.
- 2/5Olive OilGraded 2 crude / 1 refined in Fulton 1989 — oleic-rich, low-moderate.
- 2/5Passionfruit Seed OilCited 1–2; higher kept.
- 2/5Peach Kernel OilKernel oil, low-moderate.
- 2/5Peanut OilLow-moderate.
- 2/5Pecan OilNut oil, low-moderate.
- 2/5Perilla OilCited 1–2; higher kept.
- 2/5Pistachio ButterLow-moderate.
- 2/5Plum Kernel OilCited 1–2; higher kept.
- 2/5Pumpkin Seed OilLow-moderate.
- 2/5Rice Bran OilLow-moderate.
- 2/5Sandalwood Seed OilGraded 2 in the original Fulton 1989 table (some later unattributed lists cite 3).
- 2/5Sesame OilGraded 3 crude / 1 refined in Fulton 1989; cosmetic grades are refined, and compilations cite 2.
- 2/5Tamanu OilLow-moderate.
- 2/5Tomato Seed OilLow-moderate.
- 2/5Tucuma ButterLow-moderate.
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.
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.
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.