Comedogenic Rating
Given botanical oils' powerful and far-reaching benefits, it's unsurprising that these natural wonders have become a mainstay in pursuing flawless skin.
It has been said that oils can clog the pores of your skin, but this notion couldn't be further from the truth.
It all comes down to the comedogenic rating of each oil and its components.
The comedogenic scale is based on a rating of 0 to 5. The closer an oil is to zero, the less comedogenic or pore-clogging it is.
The notion that all oils are predominantly pore-clogging still prevails. Not only has this been proven untrue by dermatologists and estheticians, but the application of the comedogenic scale ensures you use the most suitable botanical oils for your skin based on your skin type.
This means you can use these oils without any adverse reactions.
Comedogenic substances are skincare ingredients with a greater probability of clogging your pores.
The scale isn't limited to oils and can rank other skincare ingredients in a formulation.
Since oils are the star of our expertly formulated blends, understanding the ranking system and the potential effect of these oils is important.
The Comedogenic Scale
0: will not clog pores
1: low probability of clogging pores
2: low to moderate pore-clogging
3: moderate pore-clogging
4: moderate to high pore-clogging
5: high pore-clogging
Typically, oils with higher fatty acid content or are more emollient-rich will rank higher on the scale.
Butters are a perfect example of this.
But the consistency (thick and greasy or lightweight) has very little to do with the oil's comedogenic rating.
It's also important to note that the percentage of an oil within a formulation matters as much as its rating.
A product with a formulation where comedogenic oils make up less than 5% of the total formulation will be less likely to clog pores.
The purpose of the rating is to serve as a guide.
While some oils may rank higher (between 3 to 5) on the comedogenic scale, this isn't an accurate representation of the oil's effects on your skin.
Essentially, not every "pore-clogging" oil will clog your pores.
When you look at the comedogenic ratings of the oils used in our blends, you will see we have a few that rank between 3 - 5
We have weighed the addition of these more comedogenic products in our blends and believe their benefits outweigh their higher comedogenic ratings. Also, we keep their concentrations below 5% of the finished product to minimise their effect on the end comedogenic rating.
We have not listed any essential oils on our comedogenic chart below. This has less to do with the rating of each essential oil or their presence in our formulations, as essential oils are both present in our formulas and have a comedogenic rating.
Instead, their absence has to do with their usage rate in our blends, making it impossible for them to affect a product's overall comedogenic rating.
Typically, each essential oil is used in quantities that make up less than 2% of a formulation.
Even with these low usage rates, you still get the benefits of the essential oils in the product because essential oils are potent when blended with our botanical oils.
The comedogenic ratings of our oils:
Abyssinian Seed Oil 0
Argan Oil 0
Hemp Seed Oil 0
Safflower Oil 0
Squalane Oil 0-1
Cloudberry Seed Oil 1
Grapeseed Oil 1
Hazelnut Oil 1
Meadowfoam Oil 1
Pomegranate Seed Oil 1
Rosehip Seed Oil 1
Sea Buckthorn Oil 1
Sweet Almond Oil 2
Tamanu Oil 2
Vitamin E Oil 2
Apricot Kernel Oil 2
Borage Oil 2
Jojoba Oil 2
Murumuru Butter 2-3
Marula Oil 3-4
Cupuacu butter 4