Ingredient decoder

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

INCI name: Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil

Acne verdict Low clog risk

Not a known pore-clogger

  • Comedogenic2(1) / 5
  • Irritancy0 / 5

What it does

Softening plant oil, rich in oleic acid.

  • Masking
  • Perfuming
  • Skin conditioning

Olive oil in plain English

Olive oil is a classic plant oil used to soften and moisturize skin. It rates low to moderate, but it is rich in oleic acid, which some acne-prone skin does not like. Comedogenic ratings like this come from old rabbit-ear tests of raw ingredients, so treat them as a rough guide.

Is olive oil bad for acne?

Not based on the evidence we have. Olive oil is not a known pore-clogger: it scored 2(1) out of 5 in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear test of the raw ingredient. 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

  • Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil
  • Olea europaea fruit oil
  • Olea europaea oil

Related ingredients

Browse all ingredients A to Z

Frequently asked questions

Is olive oil comedogenic?

Olive oil scored 2(1) out of 5 for comedogenicity in Fulton's 1989 rabbit-ear study, where 0 means no clogging and 5 means severe. That is a low to moderate rating. The test used the raw ingredient, so a finished product may behave differently.

What does olive oil do in skincare?

In short: softening plant oil, rich in oleic acid. In formulas it is used for masking, perfuming and skin conditioning.

What else is olive oil called on ingredient labels?

On ingredient lists, olive oil can also appear as Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Olea europaea fruit oil or Olea europaea oil.

Sources