Is Marula Oil comedogenic?

INCI name: Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil

Possibly. Some published lists rate it 3/5, but sources disagree about this ingredient.

Comedogenic rating: 3/5; Moderately comedogenic
Evidence confidence: low; Source lists disagree about this ingredient. Treat the rating as a caution, not a verdict.
Also appears as: marula oil

What is Marula Oil?

Marula oil, a trendy facial oil high in oleic acid, marketed for glow and rapid absorption. Sources disagree on its clogging risk; its fatty-acid profile resembles avocado oil.

What to do if you're acne-prone

Because the sources disagree, the cautious move is to avoid it in leave-on products while paying attention to how your own skin responds. Don't discard a product you already tolerate well over this ingredient alone.

Where this rating comes from

Our ratings consolidate two lineages: the original rabbit-ear comedogenicity assays published by James Fulton and colleagues (Fulton, Pay & Fulton, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1984; Fulton, Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, 1989), and the pore-clogger lists maintained by acne-specialist estheticians in the Face Reality lineage that refine those assays with decades of client observation. The source lists disagree about this ingredient, which is why its confidence is marked low.

Last reviewed 2026-08-15 by the PorePass editorial team.

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Related pore-clogging ingredients

Comedogenicity ratings come from published ingredient studies and esthetician-compiled lists. They are imperfect and formulation-dependent, and this page isn't medical advice. Reactions vary by skin, concentration, and the rest of the formula.