Is Sunflower Oil Comedogenic?
The simple answer is that sunflower oil is not comedogenic and offers many benefits when used in skin care products. But let’s dig a little deeper!
In addition to not clogging your pores, sunflower oil provides an extra boost of hydration to your skin by providing essential fatty acid, nourishment, and moisture while reducing the appearance of wrinkles or signs of aging and balancing the skin’s natural protective oils.
What ‘Non-Comedogenic’ Means
Something is considered non-comedogenic if it’s a skin care or cosmetic product that is specially formulated to make sure it does not cause blocked pores. Acne forms when pores become clogged with excess sebum.
To breakdown the word, “comedo” means “acne lesion” or a hard blockage created due to excess sebum in a pore.
Comedogenic oils are known to clog pores and cause acne breakouts. Non-comedogenic oils breakdown any excess oil on the skin without stripping it of the necessary moisture and nutrients it needs.
Non-Comedogenic Skin Care
Non-comedogenic skin care product may not necessarily prevent acne or breakouts, but they also do not promote any pore-clogging acne production either.
These products are recommended by dermatologists for those who have oily or acne-prone skin and men who typically have naturally oilier skin than women.
Keep it mind, while there are official ratings for comedogenic levels used for labeling, there aren’t specific regulations for how companies designate them.
Comedogenic Ratings
As always, do your research. It’s important to know what the ratings mean beyond numbers and how they relate to the best non-comedogenic oils that are best for your skin.
Comedogenicity is rated on a spectrum from one to five by the American Academy of Dermatology with zero being absolutely non-comedogenic.
Also, consider what their ratings are as a zero comedogenic may have a very low chance of clogging or irritating your pores, it might otherwise have any benefits for your skin aside from moisturization.
Comedogenic Habits
Using non-comedogenic products does not guarantee acne free skin. While it should reduce or clear breakouts, you may still experience clogged pours from other comedogenic habits.
Acne thrives on bacteria and there’s plenty of other ways it can be transported from your hands to your face.
Non-comedogenic tips:
- Wash your hands regularly with warm, soapy water.
- Avoid touching your face with your hands.
- Avoid phone calls and/or clean and wipe down your handheld devices.
- Clean remote controls, keyboards, and other devices regularly.
Sunflower Oil Properties
Sunflower oil is rated 2 for comedogenicity and is known to have those added benefits discussed. It has a wide range of nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that your body craves.
This is what makes sunflower oil (especially the high oleic ones) typically such a great natural oil for skin care where your body can easily absorb them instead of taken orally.
So there you have it, while sunflower is not quite on the zero end of the comedogenic scale, it’s still commonly known as non-comedogenic and has many of the properties we typically use those types of oils for in skin care products.
It’s important to know exactly what products and ingredients you are putting onto your body and what that means in the proper context. Comedogenicity is on a scale that reflects more than a few different properties.
Metrin Skincare is proud to include high – oleic, cold pressed sunflower oil in our products! Shop our best selling skincare systems sets now
