Pore-Clogging Ingredients

It is hard to determine how much any one particular ingredient will clog the pores as our bodies system fluctuates constantly for various reasons. So, I tell my clients… if there is even a small possibility that an ingredient could lead to a breakout, it is not worth it! Therefore, do not ever put anything on your skin or your hair without checking for pore clogging ingredients first, even if it says “Won’t Clog Pores” or “Non-Comedogenic” on the bottle. No government agency oversees this, so skincare companies can claim their products promote clear skin and still have pore-clogging ingredients in their formulas.

Below is a list of ingredients to avoid in all of your products; skin care, acne care, makeup, hair and even laundry products. Take a look at your current set of products and see if they contain any of these clogging ingredients. If they do, it’s time to look for something acne safe. All the products I sell at True Simplicity (Face Reality Skincare & Priia mineral derm makeup) are free of pore clogging ingredients so you never need to worry about if it’s OK for your skin. 

Be Aware

  • Natural oils can be some of the worst offenders, like cocoa butter and coconut oil which are found in many “organic” skin care lines.

  • Other oils such as jojoba, olive, and lanolin are mildly comedogenic and can be a problem if formulated with other comedogenic ingredients.

  • Some prescription products like the cream form of Retin A have pore-clogging ingredients. Many over-the-counter acne medications contain them as well.

  • “Oil-free” products can be comedogenic.

Pore-Clogging Ingredients to Avoid

  • Acetylated Lanolin

  • Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol

  • Algae Extract

  • Algin

  • Beeswax

  • Bismuth

  • Butyl Stearate

  • Butyrospermum Parkii

  • 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

  • Cocos nucifera oil

  • Colloidal Sulfur

  • Corn Oil

  • 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

  • Jojoba Wax

  • Kelp

  • Laminaria Digitata Extract

  • Laminaria Saccharina Extract (Laminaria Saccharine)

  • Laureth-23

  • Laureth-4

  • Lauric Acid

  • Mango Butter

  • Mink Oil

  • Myristic Acid

  • Myristyl Lactate

  • Myristyl Myristate

  • Octyl Palmitate

  • Octyl Stearate

  • Oleth-3

  • Oleyl Alcohol

  • Parkii

  • PEG 2 Sulfosuccinate

  • 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

  • Talc

  • Wheat Germ Glyceride

  • Wheat Germ Oil

  • Xylene