- Comedogenic
- Not rated
- Irritancy
- 0 / 5
- Fungal acne
- Trigger
- Type
- Emulsifier
- INCI name
- Polysorbate 80
Who should avoid it?
Suitable for all skin types, including oily and acne-prone skin.
Acne-safe breakdown
Polysorbate 80 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.
Fungal-acne safe ingredients list
Print the pore-clogging and fungal-acne cheat sheet →
Frequently asked questions
Is Polysorbate 80 comedogenic?
Polysorbate 80 has no standard rating on the comedogenic scale. It is, however, a fungal-acne trigger. An emulsifier derived from oleic acid that can feed Malassezia yeast.
Is Polysorbate 80 safe for fungal acne?
No. Polysorbate 80 can feed Malassezia yeast, so people with fungal acne usually avoid it.
Does Polysorbate 80 cause acne?
It is unlikely to. Breakouts usually come from other ingredients in the formula, or from non-cosmetic causes.