What is Propylene Glycol Monostearate?
Propylene Glycol Monostearate (INCI name: Propylene Glycol Stearate) is an emulsifier that helps oil and water mix. A stearate ester used to emulsify and thicken. Rated 4/5 for comedogenicity despite being non-irritating.
You may see it on labels as Propylene Glycol Monostearate, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Pg Monostearate, so it can hide under more than one name in an ingredient list.
Where Propylene Glycol Monostearate shows up
You'll most often find Propylene Glycol Monostearate in 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 Propylene Glycol Monostearate bad for acne-prone skin?
On acne-prone skin, Propylene Glycol Monostearate has a real chance of contributing to congestion. Check its position on the ingredient list before you worry — concentration changes everything.
Note for fungal-acne (malassezia) sufferers: Propylene Glycol Monostearate 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 Propylene Glycol Monostearate, 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).