Pore Clog Checker

Is Beeswax Pore-Clogging?

Beeswax rates a low 2 out of 5, so it is generally regarded as non-comedogenic and safe for acne-prone skin.

That is the low-risk tier, so Beeswax is generally considered safe for acne-prone skin and is often used as a gentler substitute for heavier ingredients. Beeswax is a structural wax. A structural wax used in balms and mascara, rated 0-2. Low comedogenic risk but a fatty-ester wax that fungal-acne routines often avoid.

Comedogenic rating
2/5 · Low risk
Irritancy
0/5
Category
Wax
Low risk · 2/5WaxFungal-acne flagged

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No pore-clogging ingredients found

Recognized 9 of 9 listed ingredients.

Your report: 9 ingredients checked, 0 pore-clogging

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  • Glycerin
    Humectant
    Low risk · 0/5

    A universal humectant rated 0/5. Non-comedogenic and fungal-acne safe, suitable for all skin types.

  • Cetearyl Alcohol
    Fatty alcohol
    Low risk · 2/5

    A blend of cetyl and stearyl alcohols used as an emollient thickener. Rated 2/5; fatty alcohols are considered fungal-acne safe.

  • Low risk · 2/5

    A structural wax used in balms and mascara, rated 0-2. Low comedogenic risk but a fatty-ester wax that fungal-acne routines often avoid.

  • Low risk · 1/5

    A plant wax used to harden sticks and balms, rated 1/5 and generally well tolerated.

  • Low risk · 1/5

    A hard palm-leaf wax used for structure and shine, rated 1/5.

  • Dimethicone
    Silicone · disputed
    Low risk · 1/5

    A breathable silicone that smooths and blurs. Rated 1/5 and fungal-acne safe; occasionally blamed for congestion when layered heavily, but the ingredient itself is low-risk.

  • Squalane
    Emollient
    Low risk · 1/5

    The stable, hydrogenated form of squalene. Rated 0-1, lightweight, and one of the go-to fungal-acne-safe emollients. Do not confuse with squalene.

  • Low risk · 2/5

    Vitamin E, a common antioxidant rated 2/5. Widely used at low levels where its clogging impact is minimal.

  • Phenoxyethanol
    Preservative
    Low risk · 0/5

    A broad-spectrum preservative rated 0/5 for clogging, mildly irritating for a few.

From our data: Our database rates 185 cosmetic ingredients, and 39 of them score 4 or higher for pore-clogging potential. Beeswax rates 2/5.

What is Beeswax?

Chemically, Beeswax (INCI name: Cera Alba) is a structural wax. A structural wax used in balms and mascara, rated 0-2. Low comedogenic risk but a fatty-ester wax that fungal-acne routines often avoid.

You may see it on labels as Beeswax, Cera Alba, Cera Flava, Cera Bianca, so it can hide under more than one name in an ingredient list.

Where Beeswax shows up

Beeswax is commonly formulated into balms, lipsticks, mascaras, and stick products, where it adds structure. Separately from clogging, its irritancy is rated 0/5 — low, so it's unlikely to sting or sensitise on its own.

Is Beeswax bad for acne-prone skin?

Because it barely registers on the comedogenic scale, Beeswax is generally a safe pick for breakout-prone skin and is often recommended as a gentler alternative to heavier ingredients.

Note for fungal-acne (malassezia) sufferers: Beeswax is commonly avoided in fungal-acne routines, since it falls into the fatty-acid or ester families the yeast can feed on. The evidence there is looser than for comedogenicity — see our fungal-acne checker for context.

Related ingredient checks

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Sources

Informational only, not medical advice. Comedogenic ratings are a screening guide; individual skin varies.