What is Laureth-23?
Chemically, Laureth-23 is an emulsifier that helps oil and water mix. A higher-ethoxylate laureth used as a solubiliser, rated 3/5.
You may see it on labels as Laureth-23, Laureth 23, so it can hide under more than one name in an ingredient list.
Where Laureth-23 shows up
Laureth-23 is commonly formulated into almost any lotion or cream, where it keeps the oil and water phases blended. Separately from clogging, its irritancy is rated 0/5 — low, so it's unlikely to sting or sensitise on its own.
Is Laureth-23 bad for acne-prone skin?
Laureth-23 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.
Note for fungal-acne (malassezia) sufferers: Laureth-23 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 Laureth-23, these lower-risk ingredients serve a similar role and are gentler on pore-prone skin:
- Glyceryl Stearate — rated 1/5 (Low risk).
- Cetearyl Alcohol — rated 2/5 (Low risk).