What is Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate?
Chemically, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate is an emulsifier that helps oil and water mix. A polyglyceryl emulsifier built on isostearic acid, named on comedogenic lists in the moderate range.
You may see it on labels as Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Polyglyceryl-3 Diiosostearate, Polyglyceryl-Diisostearate, so it can hide under more than one name in an ingredient list.
Where Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate shows up
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate 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 Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate bad for acne-prone skin?
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate 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.
Worth flagging: Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate'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: Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate 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 Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, 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).