The popularity of natural skin care is at an all-time high, leading to the availability of many organic and homeopathic products on the market. Understanding which Carrier Oils and Butters are suitable for your skin type is crucial. To help with this, the comedogenic five-point rating scale was introduced. It ranks skincare ingredients on a scale of 0 to 5 based on their potential to clog pores. A rating of 0 indicates non-comedogenic, while a score of 5 implies high comedogenicity.
The term “comedogenic” is used to refer to ingredients in skin care products that can clog pores. Comedones are skin imperfections commonly known as acne or breakouts of pimples and blackheads. These imperfections occur when excess sebum and impurities clog the pores.
The body’s sebaceous glands naturally produce sebum which is an oily waxy substance that coats, moisturizes, and protects the skin from moisture loss. However, if there is too little sebum, the skin can become dry. Using harsh products to remove natural oils may strip skin oil and cause excess oil production.
It’s important to consider the comedogenicity of different plant oils and butters when choosing skincare products based on skin type, condition, and age. It is important to note that your skin type may change throughout your lifetime as a result of diet, lifestyle, age, and climate. The different skin types include oily, combination, sensitive, normal, and dry.
The COMEDOGENIC five-point rating scale:
- 0 = No risk – will not clog pores
- 1 = Low risk – there is a very slight chance
- 2 = Moderately low risk – will not clog pores for most people
- 3 = Moderate risk – there is a chance of a breakout
- 4 = Fairly high risk – most people will experience a breakout but it does depend on the skin type
- 5 = High risk – will clog pores
The classification list below is a guideline only. It is important to pay attention to how YOUR skin reacts:
| Oil/Butter/Wax | Comedogenic Rating |
| Almond Sweet | 2 |
| Argan | 0 |
| Castor | 0-1 |
| Cocoa butter | 4 |
| Coconut oil | 4 |
| Coconut oil (fractionated) | 2-3 |
| Evening Primrose | 2-3 |
| Grapeseed | 1 |
| Jojoba | 2 |
| Palm oil | 4 |
| Rosehip | 1 |
| Shea butter | 2 |
The body cannot synthesize essential fatty acids, so they must be obtained from diet or topical application. This makes using natural and pure Carrier Oils important in skincare.
Carrier Oils recommended for:
- Normal skin – Jojoba, Sweet Almond and Grapeseed Oil
- Dry skin – Sweet Almond and Argan Oil
- Oily skin – Jojoba, Grapeseed and Sweet Almond Oil
- Mature skin – Jojoba, Rosehip Oil
- Combination skin – Argan Oil
- Sensitive skin – Sweet Almond and Jojoba Oil