What is Diisostearyl Malate?
Chemically, Diisostearyl Malate is a synthetic emollient ester. A thick emollient ester common in lipsticks and cream blushes. Frequently flagged as pore-clogging; exact rating is not firmly established, so treat as moderate.
Where Diisostearyl Malate shows up
Diisostearyl Malate is commonly formulated into lotions, sunscreens, primers, and colour cosmetics, where it adds a smooth, non-greasy slip. Separately from clogging, its irritancy is rated 0/5 — low, so it's unlikely to sting or sensitise on its own.
Is Diisostearyl Malate bad for acne-prone skin?
Diisostearyl Malate sits in the grey zone. Plenty of people tolerate it well; those who break out easily may prefer to keep it low on their ingredient lists.
Worth flagging: Diisostearyl Malate's rating is disputed. Credible sources land on different numbers, which is why we show a range rather than a single score — and why your own experience is the best tiebreaker.
Note for fungal-acne (malassezia) sufferers: Diisostearyl Malate 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.
Non-comedogenic alternatives
If you're avoiding Diisostearyl Malate, these lower-risk ingredients serve a similar role and are gentler on pore-prone skin:
- Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride — rated 1/5 (Low risk).
- Squalane — rated 1/5 (Low risk).