Allantoin: Comedogenic Rating & Safety Profile
Also known as: Comfrey Extract
A gentle keratolytic and soothing agent that calms irritation and softens roughness without exfoliating aggressively.
Quick facts about Allantoin
Safe
0 = won't clog pores · 5 = highly pore-clogging
Safe
0 = inert · 5 = often irritating
Humectants
Generally considered safe
Typically yes
Comfrey Extract
Quick verdict
Allantoin is a humectant with a safe comedogenic profile (0/5) and safe irritancy (0/5). A gentle keratolytic and soothing agent that calms irritation and softens roughness without exfoliating aggressively.
What is Allantoin?
Allantoin is a small, naturally occurring molecule found in the comfrey plant, sugar beet and even mammalian urine — though cosmetic allantoin is synthetically produced for purity. It is a gentle keratolytic (it softens rough, thickened skin), a humectant and a powerful soothing agent. It has been used in dermatological and pharmaceutical products for over 80 years.
Comedogenic Rating: What 0/5 Means for Your Skin
Allantoin is rated 0/5 comedogenic. It is a small water-soluble molecule with no oily content and no mechanism for blocking follicles.
Benefits for skin
- Soothes redness and itching
- Mild keratolytic for rough patches
- Wound-healing support
- Non-sensitising even in compromised skin
Potential side effects & who should avoid it
Allantoin is one of the lowest-risk ingredients in cosmetics. Allergy and irritation are essentially unreported. It is widely used in baby products, post-procedure ointments and ultra-sensitive skincare.
Best for
- Sensitive
- Dry
- Eczema
- Compromised barrier
- Babies
Avoid if
No widely reported groups need to avoid this ingredient. Patch-test if you have a history of sensitivities.
How to use Allantoin safely
No special precautions. Use freely as part of any routine.
Commonly found in
Allantoin appears in moisturisers, soothing serums, after-sun products, baby balms and many post-procedure recovery creams.
Found Allantoin in your skincare?
Paste the full ingredient list into our INCI Analyser to see how this ingredient interacts with everything else in the formula.
Frequently asked questions
Is allantoin comedogenic?
Is allantoin safe for sensitive skin?
Can I use allantoin every day?
What does allantoin do?
Other humectants to know
Hyaluronic Acid
A powerhouse humectant that draws moisture from the air into the skin, holding up to 1,000 times its weight in water.
Panthenol
Converts to Vitamin B5 in the skin. A humectant, soothing agent and barrier-repair active in one molecule.
Sodium Hyaluronate
The salt form of hyaluronic acid. Smaller, more stable and faster to penetrate the upper layers of the skin.
Glycerin
The most studied humectant in skincare. Draws water into the skin, supports barrier function and is suitable for every skin type.
Want the full picture on pore-clogging ingredients? Read our complete guide to comedogenic ingredients for the dermatology research behind the 0–5 scale and the full list of high-risk ingredients to avoid.
Written by ScanSkinAI Cosmetic Science Team · Last updated June 2026
This information is for educational purposes only. Always patch-test new products and consult a dermatologist if you have specific skin concerns.