Ethylhexylglycerin: is it comedogenic?

Reviewed October 16, 2026

The short answer

Ethylhexylglycerin's comedogenicity rating is unknown: we did not find a verified published rating. It does not appear in the 1989 Fulton rabbit-ear table, a standard published ingredient table for this question. So there is no sourced number to give you, and this page will not make one up.

What is it?

Ethylhexylglycerin is a synthetic glycerin-derived ingredient - an alkyl glyceryl ether, in the Cosmetic Ingredient Review's grouping - used in skincare as a skin-conditioning agent and as a preservative booster: it helps a formula's preservative system work, so it shows up on many modern ingredient lists. Its long chemical name describes a routine supporting ingredient, not an active.

What did the safety review conclude?

The CIR assessed ethylhexylglycerin within its alkyl glyceryl ethers review and published a final report in 2011. The panel concluded that the alkyl glyceryl ethers are safe in the present practices of use and concentration described in that safety assessment. That is a safety conclusion, not an acne rating.

How to read it on a label

US cosmetic labels generally list ingredients in descending order of amount, but anything at 1% or less can appear in any order after those above 1%. Its position does not tell you the exact concentration. Judge the whole product, how it feels on your skin, and what changes when you add or drop it.

What not to conclude

This page does not say ethylhexylglycerin is or is not comedogenic. It says we found no sourced rating, and that the safety review addresses cosmetic safety, not breakouts. Test a new product on a small area of skin, twice daily for 7 to 10 days, before full use, and ask a clinician about ongoing acne.