Ingredient list › Apricot Kernel Oil
Does Apricot Kernel Oil clog pores?
Quick answer: Rarely — Apricot Kernel Oil has only a mild pore-clogging risk (rated 2/5) and suits most skin types, though very acne-prone skin may want to patch test. It is also a common fungal-acne (Malassezia) trigger.
Apricot Kernel Oil carries only a mild pore-clogging risk. It is fine for most skin types; very reactive or acne-prone skin may still want to patch test a new product that contains it.
What is Apricot Kernel Oil?
Apricot Kernel Oil is a plant or carrier oil used to moisturise and condition skin. On an ingredient label it may also appear as prunus armeniaca kernel oil. You'll most often see it in facial oils, cleansing oils, balms, lip products and richer moisturisers.
Fungal-acne (Malassezia) safe? No — this is a common Malassezia (fungal acne) trigger, so avoid it if you have fungal acne. Check a whole product for fungal-acne triggers →
Is Apricot Kernel Oil comedogenic?
Apricot Kernel Oil has a comedogenicity rating of 2/5 — a mild, low pore-clogging risk. Remember that where an ingredient sits in the list matters: Apricot Kernel Oil near the top means a higher concentration and more impact than the same ingredient near the end.
Acne-safe alternatives to Apricot Kernel Oil
If Apricot Kernel Oil breaks you out, these lower-rated oil options are far less likely to clog pores:
- Meadowfoam Seed Oil — Low risk · 1/5
- Mineral Oil — Low risk · 1/5
- Pomegranate Seed Oil — Low risk · 1/5
- Rosehip Oil — Low risk · 1/5
- Squalane — Low risk · 1/5
How we rate comedogenicity — and its limits
The 0–5 comedogenicity scale comes from dermatology research that measured how much individual ingredients clogged pores, originally using the rabbit-ear assay (Fulton et al., 1984). A rating reflects an ingredient's potential to clog pores at high concentration — not a guarantee that any finished product will break you out.
That distinction matters. A later review (Draelos & DiNardo, 2006) found that a single ingredient's comedogenic score does not reliably predict how a complete formula behaves on real skin: concentration, the rest of the formula, and your own skin all change the result. So read Apricot Kernel Oil's 2/5 as a risk signal — most useful when the ingredient sits near the top of the list — rather than a verdict on one specific product.
AcneSafeCheck compiles published comedogenicity ratings and dermatology references into one searchable database. It is educational, not a lab test of your specific product, and not medical advice.
References
- Fulton JE Jr, Pay SR, Fulton JE III. Comedogenicity of current therapeutic products, cosmetics, and ingredients in the rabbit ear. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1984;10(1):96–105. PubMed
- Draelos ZD, DiNardo JC. A re-evaluation of the comedogenicity concept. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;54(3):507–512. PubMed
- American Academy of Dermatology. Acne: causes, treatment and skin-care guidance. aad.org
By Mitchell Zandwijken · Rated against the published comedogenicity references above · Last updated July 2026.