What is Lauryl Olivate?
Lauryl Olivate falls into the ester / emollient category — a synthetic emollient ester. An olive-derived lauryl ester named on pore-clogging lists in the moderate range.
Where Lauryl Olivate shows up
As a synthetic emollient ester, Lauryl Olivate typically appears in 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 Lauryl Olivate bad for acne-prone skin?
A moderate rating means Lauryl Olivate clogs some people and not others. If you're prone to congestion, patch-test a product that features it prominently before committing.
Worth flagging: Lauryl Olivate'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: Lauryl Olivate 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 Lauryl Olivate, 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).