Pore Clogging Ingredients
For those of us with acne-prone skin, it is crucial that we never apply products that have pore clogging ingredients in them. Unfortunately, the due diligence falls on us to read ingredient lists, as claims like “non-comedogenic” or “won’t clog pores” are not monitored by any agency, so companies can say whatever they want on the packaging.
The list below reflects all pore clogging ingredients rate 3, 4, or 5 on the 0-5 scale. (Ratings of 0, 1, and 2 are almost never harmful to acne-prone skin.) Any products that will come in contact with our skin (skin care, hair care, makeup, even laundry detergent) need to be 100% free of pore clogging ingredients to ensure that we won’t add residue and buildup to our skin, ultimately clogging our pores and causing breakouts.
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- Acetylated Lanolin
- Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol
- Algae Extract
- Algin
- Butyl Stearate
- Carrageenan
- Cetyl Acetate
- Cetearyl Alcohol + Ceteareth 20
- Chondrus Crispus (aka Irish Moss or Carageenan Moss)
- Chlorella
- Coal Tar
- Cocoa Butter
- Coconut Alkanes
- Coconut Butter
- Coconut Oil
- Colloidal Sulfur
- Cotton Awws Oil
- Cotton Seed Oil
- D & C Red # 17
- D & C Red # 21
- D & C Red # 3
- D & C Red # 30
- D & C Red # 36
- Decyl Oleate
- Dioctyl Succinate
- Disodium Monooleamido PEG 2- Sulfosuccinate
- Ethoxylated Lanolin
- Ethylhexyl Palmitate
- Glyceryl Stearate SE
- Glyceryl-3 Diisostearate
- Hexadecyl Alcohol
- Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
- Isocetyl Alcohol
- Isocetyl Stearate
- Isodecyl Oleate
- Isopropyl Isostearate
- Isopropyl Linolate
- Isopropyl Myristate
- Isopropyl Palmitate
- Isostearyl Isostearate
- Isostearyl Neopentanoate
- Kelp
- Laminaria Digitata Extract
- Laminaria Saccharina Extract (Laminaria Saccharine)
- Laureth-23
- Laureth-4
- Lauric Acid
- Mink Oil
- Myristic Acid
- Myristyl Lactate
- Myristyl Myristate
- Octyl Palmitate
- Octyl Stearate
- Oleth-3
- Oleyl Alcohol
- PEG 16 Lanolin
- PEG 200 Dilaurate
- PEG 8 Stearate
- PG Monostearate
- PPG 2 Myristyl Propionate
- Plankton
- Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
- Potassium Chloride
- Propylene Glycol Monostearate
- Red Algae
- Seaweed
- Shark Liver Oil (Squalene)
- Shea Butter
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- Solulan 16
- Sorbitan Oleate
- Soybean Oil
- Spirulina
- Steareth 10
- Stearic Acid Tea
- Stearyl Heptanoate
- Sulfated Castor Oil
- Sulfated Jojoba Oil
- Wheat Germ Glyceride
- Wheat Germ Oil
- Xylene
Points to Note:
Most common offenders include the “SLS”s Sodium Laureth Sullfate and Sodium Lauryl sulfate, which are surfactants found in many cleansing products and detergents.
Natural oils like coconut oil, shea butter, and coconut butter are also common culprits, and highly pore clogging. Feel free to use these on elbows and knees, but never apply them anywhere prone to breakouts.
Other natural oils (like jojoba, sunflower, safflower, olive, lanolin, etc) can be mildly comedogenic and irritating. Avoid products with many natural oils or combined with pore cloggers.
Both over the counter and prescription topicals for treating acne can, and often do, have pore clogging ingredients in them. Always read product labels before applying them to your skin!