What is Isopropyl Lanolate?
Chemically, Isopropyl Lanolate is a lanolin-derived ingredient (from sheep's wool). A lanolin ester frequently named on pore-clogging lists in the high range.
Where Isopropyl Lanolate shows up
Isopropyl Lanolate is commonly formulated into lip products, rich balms, and heavy moisturisers. Separately from clogging, its irritancy is rated 0/5 — low, so it's unlikely to sting or sensitise on its own.
Is Isopropyl Lanolate bad for acne-prone skin?
If you are acne-prone, Isopropyl Lanolate is one to watch — especially when it appears in the first few ingredients, which means it's present at higher concentration. Lower down a long ingredient list, its practical impact drops considerably.
Worth flagging: Isopropyl Lanolate'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: Isopropyl Lanolate 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 Isopropyl Lanolate, these lower-risk ingredients serve a similar role and are gentler on pore-prone skin:
- Squalane — rated 1/5 (Low risk).
- Petrolatum — rated 0/5 (Low risk).