What is Myristyl Myristate?
Chemically, Myristyl Myristate is a synthetic emollient ester. A waxy emollient ester used to thicken and give a velvety finish. Sits at the top of the comedogenic scale at 5/5.
Where Myristyl Myristate shows up
Myristyl Myristate is commonly formulated into 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 Myristyl Myristate bad for acne-prone skin?
If you are acne-prone, Myristyl Myristate 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.
Note for fungal-acne (malassezia) sufferers: Myristyl Myristate 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 Myristyl Myristate, 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).