What is Grapeseed Oil?
Grapeseed Oil (INCI name: Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil) falls into the oil category — a plant- or seed-derived oil. A light, astringent oil rated 0-1, high in linoleic acid and friendly to oily skin.
You may see it on labels as Grapeseed Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, so it can hide under more than one name in an ingredient list.
Where Grapeseed Oil shows up
As a plant- or seed-derived oil, Grapeseed Oil typically appears in facial oils, cleansing balms, moisturisers, hair products, and many products marketed as natural. Separately from clogging, its irritancy is rated 0/5 — low, so it's unlikely to sting or sensitise on its own.
Is Grapeseed Oil bad for acne-prone skin?
Because it barely registers on the comedogenic scale, Grapeseed Oil 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: Grapeseed Oil 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.