Is almond oil comedogenic?

In Fulton’s rabbit-ear test, almond oil scored 2 out of 5 for comedogenicity, and 0 out of 5 for irritation. A more refined grade of 1 appears in parentheses in the source. On Fulton’s own scale, 0–1 is not significant, 2–3 borderline, and 4–5 positive.

These grades come from rabbit ears: the ingredient applied daily, five days a week for two weeks, usually diluted to 10% in propylene glycol. The grade also shifts with the vehicle and the raw-material source, so one number isn’t the whole story.

SourceFulton JE Jr. Comedogenicity and irritancy of commonly used ingredients in skin care products. J Soc Cosmet Chem. 1989;40(6):321-333.

Sweet almond oil has been tested mostly as a moisturizer. A 2023 review column by dermatologist Leslie Baumann collects the studies:

• A hand cream with 7% sweet almond oil and 2% colloidal oatmeal was safe and effective for moderate to severe hand dermatitis (2018).
• In 90 premature babies, skin hydration was better with oil than without, with no difference between sunflower seed oil and almond oil (2020).
• In 160 first-time pregnant women, an almond oil cream reduced redness and itching and helped keep stretch marks from spreading (2018).

A 2018 review adds that almond oil mostly stays on the skin’s surface.

SourcesBaumann LS. Almonds and almond oil. MDedge Dermatology, September 2023 (review column).Lin TK, Zhong L, Santiago JL. Anti-inflammatory and skin barrier repair effects of topical application of some plant oils. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(1):70 (review).

Cleveland Clinic’s dermatologist says almond oil was once thought to help during pregnancy, but that research suggests it may cause premature birth. That conflicts with the stretch-mark trial above, so ask your OB-GYN before using it on your belly.

SourceCleveland Clinic: Cocoa Butter Won’t Help Stretch Marks, but These Options Can (dermatologist John Anthony, MD, February 2023).

A human-skin model found the rabbit ear more sensitive than human skin: weak rabbit comedogens were judged probably safe, except perhaps for acne-prone people. When finished products were patch-tested on acne-prone backs, products containing comedogenic ingredients were not necessarily comedogenic.

Comedogenic risk also depends on concentration. Ingredients that clog pores when applied neat showed no effect at the under-15% levels typical of face products, and you cannot tell from an ingredient list whether a product will cause acne — only testing the finished product can.

SourcesMills OH Jr, Kligman AM. A human model for assessing comedogenic substances. Arch Dermatol. 1982;118(11):903-905 (abstract).Draelos ZD, DiNardo JC. A re-evaluation of the comedogenicity concept. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;54(3):507-512 (abstract).Kligman AM. Petrolatum is not comedogenic in rabbits or humans: a critical reappraisal of the rabbit ear assay and the concept of 'acne cosmetica'. J Soc Cosmet Chem. 1996;47(1):41-48.

The AAD tells acne-prone people to look for products labeled “non-comedogenic” or “won’t clog pores.” But “non-comedogenic” has no FDA definition, so a brand can use the label without any standard test behind it. The honest takeaway: a single comedogenicity number — high or low — is a weak guide. If a product breaks you out, that is the real test.

SourcesAmerican Academy of Dermatology: Acne: Tips for managing.Starzyk T, Aust N, Schur N, Miller R. Comedogenicity in cosmeceuticals: a review of clinical relevance, regulatory gaps, and future directions. JAAD Reviews. 2025;6:78-83 (open access).U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Cosmetics Labeling Claims.