Ingredient list › Steareth-20
Is Steareth-20 comedogenic?
Steareth-20 is an emulsifier that keeps oil and water mixed in a formula. Its comedogenicity rating is 2/5 — a mild, low pore-clogging risk.
Steareth-20 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 Steareth-20?
Steareth-20 is an emulsifier that keeps oil and water mixed in a formula. On a product label it may also appear under names such as: steareth-20.
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 →
Acne-safe alternatives to Steareth-20
If Steareth-20 breaks you out, these lower-rated emulsifier options are far less likely to clog pores:
- Cetearyl Glucoside — Acne safe · 0/5
- Polysorbate 20 — Acne safe · 0/5
- Hydrogenated Lecithin — Low risk · 1/5
- PEG-100 Stearate — Low risk · 1/5
- PEG-150 Distearate — Low risk · 1/5
How to read this rating
A comedogenicity rating is general guidance, not a lab result for a specific formula. An ingredient near the end of an ingredient list is present in a small amount, so its rating matters less than one near the top. Read our full sources & methodology.