What is Dioctyl Succinate?
Dioctyl Succinate falls into the ester / emollient category — a synthetic emollient ester. An emollient ester rated 3/5, used for a smooth, spreadable feel.
You may see it on labels as Dioctyl Succinate, Di (2 Ethylhexyl) Succinate, Dioctyl Malate, Dioctyl Malate, so it can hide under more than one name in an ingredient list.
Where Dioctyl Succinate shows up
As a synthetic emollient ester, Dioctyl Succinate typically appears in lotions, sunscreens, primers, and colour cosmetics, where it adds a smooth, non-greasy slip. Separately from clogging, its irritancy is rated 2/5 — low, so it's unlikely to sting or sensitise on its own.
Is Dioctyl Succinate bad for acne-prone skin?
A moderate rating means Dioctyl Succinate clogs some people and not others. If you're prone to congestion, patch-test a product that features it prominently before committing.
Note for fungal-acne (malassezia) sufferers: Dioctyl Succinate 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 Dioctyl Succinate, 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).