- Comedogenic
- Not rated
- Irritancy
- 1 / 5
- Fungal acne
- Trigger
- Type
- Fatty acid
- INCI name
- Oleic Acid
- Also listed as
- Oleic Acid, Cis-9-octadecenoic Acid
Who should avoid it?
Suitable for all skin types, including oily and acne-prone skin.
Acne-safe breakdown
Oleic Acid scores 0/5, so it is one of the ingredients acne-prone skin can use freely, though it is still a fungal-acne trigger. If a product containing it breaks you out, look at the other ingredients. Our scanner will flag them.
Products that contain Oleic Acid
Fungal-acne safe ingredients list
Print the pore-clogging and fungal-acne cheat sheet →
Frequently asked questions
Is Oleic Acid comedogenic?
Oleic Acid has no standard rating on the comedogenic scale. It is, however, a fungal-acne trigger. The main fatty acid in olive oil. It has no standard pore-clogging rating, but it is a favourite food of Malassezia yeast and can weaken the skin barrier.
Is Oleic Acid safe for fungal acne?
No. Oleic Acid can feed Malassezia yeast, so people with fungal acne usually avoid it.
Does Oleic Acid cause acne?
It is unlikely to. Breakouts usually come from other ingredients in the formula, or from non-cosmetic causes.
What are other names for Oleic Acid?
On labels it can also appear as Oleic Acid or Cis-9-octadecenoic Acid.