Is the Comedogenic Scale Even Legit Anymore?

If you’ve ever Googled an ingredient and seen a comedogenic rating (0–5), you’ve likely used that scale to make skincare decisions. But what if I told you that scale is outdated and not based on human skin?

 Why the Scale Isn’t Based on Real Skin

The comedogenic ratings you see today were developed in the 1970s 80s tested on rabbit ears, not humans. Rabbit skin reacts far more than ours, so many ingredients flagged as pore clogging often don't cause breakouts in real world use.

No Official Human Update

There’s no widely accepted, updated scale based on human trials. Sure, formulators and derms make adjustments based on experience but nothing standardised exists. Whether an ingredient clogs pores depends on:

• Your skin type (oily, dry, acne prone)

• Full formulation, not just one ingredient

• How much and how often you use it

• Application method (leave on vs. rinse off)

• Synergy between ingredients

So… Should You Trust It?

Use the comedogenic scale as a general guide, not gospel. Instead:

1. Focus on balanced formulations

2. Evaluate if it actually works for YOUR skin

3. Always patch test first