Ingredient decoder

Marula oil: is it comedogenic? What it does in skincare

INCI name: Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil

Acne verdict Low clog risk

Not a known pore-clogger

  • ComedogenicNo published rating
  • IrritancyNo published rating

What it does

Softening plant oil with little published clogging data.

  • Hair conditioning
  • Humectant

Marula oil in plain English

Marula oil is a plant oil from the marula fruit seed, used to soften and moisturize skin. It is often called pore-clogging online, but there is little published testing to back that up. Comedogenic ratings like this come from old rabbit-ear tests of raw ingredients, so treat them as a rough guide.

Is marula oil bad for acne?

Not based on the evidence we have. Marula oil is not a known pore-clogger. Our checker rates it as fine for acne-prone skin, so judge by how your own skin reacts.

Clean routine and still breaking out? The cause may be internal. See what is driving it

Also called

  • Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
  • Sclerocarya birrea oil
  • Marula seed oil

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Frequently asked questions

Is marula oil comedogenic?

There is no published comedogenic rating for marula oil in Fulton's 1989 table, and it is not known as a pore-clogger.

What does marula oil do in skincare?

In short: softening plant oil with little published clogging data. In formulas it is used for hair conditioning and humectant.

What else is marula oil called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, marula oil can also appear as Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Sclerocarya birrea oil or Marula seed oil.

Sources