Complete list of comedogenic ingredients to avoid if you have acne

Are you concerned about comedogenic ingredients in your beauty products? In this post, you will find a list of all the pore-clogging ingredients found in skin care and also a list of my favourite non-comedogenic beauty products that are completely safe for acne.

what is product acne?

Whilst those big, red pimples are usually a sign of a deeper imbalance and chronic inflammation, the small skin coloured bumps and clogged pores that you are struggling with are more likely to be caused by comedogenic ingredients in your skin care – this is what is known as “product acne” which is a type of comedonal acne, consisting on non-inflammatory spots like blackheads and whiteheads.

Product acne caused by comedogenic ingredients

It’s very common to have BOTH product acne and inflammatory acne as often hormone imbalances, nutrient deficiencies and other lifestyle factors will turn a clogged pore into a big red spot.

Clogged pores are the result of a combination of dead skin cells, debris and sebum and when a pore gets clogged up, it creates the perfect environment for acne-causing bacteria to thrive. The bad bacteria then over populates the pore and causes a bacterial infection which the body will then attempt to fight, resulting in acne symptoms such as redness and inflammation.

Product and inflammatory acne caused by diet, lifestyle and comedogenic ingredients

If you’re struggling with those annoying colourless bumps that just won’t go away – it’s important that you check every single ingredient in your beauty cabinet as there are many pore clogging ingredients out there that could be making your acne worse.

are comedogenic ingredients bad for everyone?

Not necessarily! There are a number of reasons why you may break out from a product containing comedogenic ingredients and your friend may not – this includes (but is not limited to):

Your friend has smaller pores
Your friend produces less oil naturally
You have more sensitive androgen receptors in your skin
Your friends diet and lifestyle is better equipped to prevent clogged pores and sebum oxidisation.

The information provided below is based on the 1989 study by James E. Fulton “Comedogenicity and irritancy of commonly used ingredients in skin care products”. (source)

full list of comedogenic ingredients to avoid if you have acne

These are all the comedogenic ingredients that can potentially clog pores and include synthetic and natural oils, fatty acids, waxes, alcohols, silicones, detergents and thickeners.

I’ve also included many natural oils that were never tested in the original study on comedogenic ingredients. As there is no scientific evidence to prove that they comedogenic, their fatty acid profile leads experts to believe they could still cause issues. For that reason I recommend avoiding them all until you are completely clear then slowly experiment to see which oils you can and can’t tolerate.

Some people with acne can still tolerate natural oils that are considered more comedogenic such as Shea Butter and Grapeseed in small doses in leave-on products such as moisturisers and higher doses with wash-off products such as cleansers, shampoos and conditioners. So, if they’re working for you, don’t stress out because you see them on this list! Trust your instinct and use what works for you.

Everyone’s skin reacts differently, but all of these are potentially pore clogging ingredients and have been known to cause problems with acne skin types. You may find some of these ingredients are perfectly fine with your skin but I wanted to provide you all with a comprehensive list of all the ingredients that I look out for and avoid when choosing my own skin care products and cosmetics.

A

Acetylated Lanolin
Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol
Algin
Amodimethicones
Apricot Kernel Oil
Avocado Oil
Avocado Butter
Ascorbyl palmitate
Algae Extract

B

Baobab Oil
Beeswax
Behenic acid
Benzaldehyde
BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole)
Benzoic Acid
Bismuth oxychloride
Borage Oil
Buriti Oil
Butyl Stearate

C

Carrageenan
Camphor Oil
Capric Acid
Cera alba
Cetearyl Alcohol & Ceteareth-20
Cetearyl Alcohol
Ceteareth 20
Cetyl Acetate
Cetyl Alcohol
Cheru Seed Oil
Cherry Seed Oil
Chullu Oil
Chia Oil
Carrot Seed Oil
Carrageenan Moss
Chlorella
Chondrus Crispus
D&C Red 17 (C.I.12390)
D&C Red 21 (C.I.12300)
D&C Red 3 (C.I.12120)
D&C Red 30 (C.I.12330)
D&C Red 36 (C.I.12085)
Coal Tar
Coconut Butter
Coconut Alkanes
Cocoa Butter
Coconut Oil
Colloidal Sulfur
Corn Oil
Cotton Seed Oil
Corn Starch (Zea Mays)
C13-14 Isoparaffin
Cyclomethicone
Cyclohexasiloxane
Cyclopentasiloxane

D

Decyl Oleate
Dhupa Seed Oil
Dimethicone Copolyol
Dimethiconol
Di (2 ethylhexyl) succinate
Dioctyl malate
Dioctyl Succinate
Dhupa Seed Oil
Disodium Monooleamido PEG2-Sulfosuccinate

E

Ethoxylated Lanolin
Eicosanoic acid
Ethylhexyl pelargonate
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Evening Primrose Oil

F

Flax Seed Oil

G

Glyceryl Stearate SE (MUST have SE at end)
Gorgonian Coral Extract
Glyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Groundnut Oil
Glycine Soya Oil

H

Hazelnut Oil
Hemp Oil
Hexadecyl Alcohol
Hexylene Glycol
Hydrogenated Vegetable

I

Isocetyl Alcohol
Isocetyl Stearate
Isodecyl Oleate
Isopropyl Isostearate
Isopropyl lanolate
Isopropyl Linolate
Isopropyl Myristate
Isopropyl Palmitate
Isostearyl Isostearate
Isostearyl Neopentanoate
Isostearic acid
Isostearyl alcohol
Irish Moss

J

Kapok seed Oil
Kukui nut Oil
Kusum Oil
Kokum Oil
Kokum Butter
Kelp

L

Laminaria Digitata Extract
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Laneth-10
Lanolic acid
Lanolin alcohol
Linoleic acid
Linolenic acid
Laureth-4
Laureth-23
Lauric Acid
Linseed Oil

M

Mahua Seed Oil
Methicone
Mink Oil
Mineral Oil
Macadamia oil
Maracuja oil
Marula oil
Moringa oil
Melon Seed Oil
Myristic Acid
Myristyl Alcohol
Myristyl Lactate
Myristyl Myristate

N

Nahor Seed Oil
Neem Oil

O

Octyl Palmitate
Octyl Stearate
Oleth-3
Oleth-5
Oleyl Alcohol
Olive Oil
Octyldodecanol
Oleic acid
Oleth-10
Oleth-3 phosphate
Oleth-5
Oleyl alcohol

P

Palash Oil
Palm Kernel Oil
Palm Oil
Peach Kernel Oil
Peanut Oil
PEG-8 Stearate
PEG-100 Distearate
PEG-150 Distearate
PEG-200 Dilaurate
PEG-16 Lanolin
Phenyl trimethicone
Pilu Oil
Pisu Oil
Polyglyceryl-Diisostearate
Polyglyceryl-3-Diisostearate
Potassium Chloride
PPG 2 Myristyl Propionate
Propylene Glycol (PG) Monostearate
Palmitic acid
PEG 200 dilaurate
PEG 8 stearate
PG caprylate/caprate
Pentaerythrital tetraisostearate
PG dipelargonate
Phytantriol
PPG 10 cetyl ether
PPG 12 PEG 65 lanolin oil
PPG 5 Ceteth 10 phosphate
Pumpkin Seed Oil
Prunus dulcis oil

R

Red Algae
Rhodophyta
Ratanjyat Oil
Retinyl palmitate (Vitamin A Palmitate)
Rice Bran Oil
Rosehip Oil
Red Raspberry Seed Oil

S

Sea Whip
Sesame Oil
Shorea Robusta Seed Oil
Sodium Alginate
Sodium Chloride
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Sodium Myreth Sulfate
Sodium Carbomer
Solulan 16
Sorbitan Oleate
Soybean Oil
Steareth-2
Steareth-10
Shark liver oil
Sorbitan isostearate
Sorbitan laurate
Soy oil
Steareth-20
Sulfulated jojoba oil
Stearic Acid TEA
Stearyl Alcohol
Stearyl Heptanoate
Sulfated Castor Oil
Sulfated Jojoba Oil
Sweet Almond Oil
Shea Butter

T

Tamanu Oil
Tribehenin
Triethanoleamine
Tamanu oil
Tocopherol (under 2% is ok)

U

Undi Oil

V

Vitamin A Palmitate
Vitis vinifera Oil

W

Wheat Germ Glycerides
Wheat Germ Oil
Wild Apricot Oil
Water-soluble sulfur
Walnut oil

X

Xylene

so what CAN you use on your skin?

While it might feel like there’s nothing suitable for acne prone skin, there is! Focus on the ingredients you CAN use on the skin. As I mentioned before, skin nourishing ingredients such as Aloe Vera, Hyaluronic Acid, Green Tea, MSM, Niacinimide, Manuka Honey and Marshmallow Extract are all great for acne prone skin without being comedogenic!

And while most natural skin care oils are comedogenic, there are a small selection of oils that ARE safe for the skin, these include:

Squalane (my favourite)
Organic Jojoba
Organic Safflower
Organic Sunflower
Organic Castor Oil

(truly) non-comedogenic beauty products for acne

If you are struggling with congestion and clogged pores it is essential that you look at your skin care products and eliminate any product that contains pore clogging ingredients.

Don’t be fooled by brands labelling their product as “non comedogenic” or “non pore clogging” as this means NOTHING! It’s an unregulated marketing term which has zero meaning and any brand can add it to their product.

Below are some of my most trusted products for acne that are are free from comedogenic ingredients.

PLEASE NOTE: When a URL link on this site changes or becomes broken, a strikethrough will appear through the product name. This DOES NOT mean that I no longer recommend that product, just that the link needs updating!

make up remover for acne

cleanser for acne

facial mist for acne

serum for acne

facial oil for acne

Naissance Squalane Oil
Indie Lee Squalane Oil
Bybi Beauty Booster Bakuchiol Oil & Olive Squalane
Garden of Wisdom Deep-C Squalane Oil
Garden of Wisdom Pure Squalane Oil
The Ordinary Squalane Oil
Timeless 100% Squalane Oil
Dr Brenner Squalane Oil
Other oils containing only Jojoba, Safflower, Sunflower, Squalane or Castor oil will also be fine.

moisturiser for acne

SPF for acne

This is the hardest section! SPF is so so so important, not just for skin protection and anti-ageing, but it also plays a vital role in protecting your skin from sebum oxidisation, clogged pores and acne. It took me years to find facial SPF that not only fit with my philosophy, but was also free from comedogenic ingredients…however the wait was worth it as my skin is so much calmer wearing SPF daily (plus it helps keeps me looking young)!

TiZo 2 Facial Primer Sunscreen SPF40
TiZo AM Replenish SPF40
MDSolar Sciences Mineral Creme SPF30
MDSolar Sciences Mineral Creme SPF50
MDSolar Sciences Mineral Creme SPF30 (UK)
MDSolar Sciences Mineral Creme SPF50 (UK)
Cane + Austin Mattifying Primer SPF50
Suntegrity Moisturising Face Sunscreen SPF30 – contains low levels of pomegranate oil
Juice Beauty Oil-Free Moisturiser SPF30 – less that 2% vitamin E
Juice Beauty Oil-Free Moisturiser SPF30 (UK) – less that 2% vitamin E
Earthwise Beauty Farizads Veil Mineral Powder

foundation for acne

TOP TIP: You can add some mineral powder to your favourite facial oil to make your own lightweight liquid foundation without any comedogenic ingredients!

concealer for acne

I’ve ALWAYS struggled with concealer for spots – I usually get much better results using a small beauty sponge and my foundation to build up coverage! However, these are the best non-comedogenic ones I’ve found:

facial tools for acne

fake tan for acne

spot treatments for acne

Please note that some of the links on this page are affiliated. This means that if you click through one of these links and make a purchase, I receive a small commission. It doesn’t cost you any extra but it’s these small commissions that help keep this blog going! Please bear in mind that I only ever recommend brands and products that I have personally tried, tested and loved and will never support a brand that doesn’t share my philosophy and ethos.

Peace, Love & Clear Skin

Comments

Alex says

May 3, 2020 at 3:08 pm

I was wondering why some recommendations are crossed out?

- Amy Saunders says
  
  May 5, 2020 at 11:36 am
  
  Hi Alex – I mention it before the list of recommendation, it’s to do with Amazon links changing, it doesn’t mean I don’t recommend them anymore – it’s just that the link is broken/redirected 🙂 Amy x
  
L. says

May 22, 2020 at 6:37 pm

What are your thoughts about using argan oil for a moisturizer?

Laura says

May 25, 2020 at 11:12 am

Hi! What are your thoughts about using argan oil as a moisturizer? Also, do you revommend using raspberry seed oil for some sun protection? Thank you!

- Amy Saunders says
  
  May 27, 2020 at 7:13 am
  
  I personally don’t get on with it, but my skin is still very reactive when it comes to oils (I will only use oils for my first cleanse) everything else in my routine is oil free! If Argan oil is working for you, then please continue to use it! However, if you are still struggling with persistent spots and congestion then you might want to experiment with avoiding oils for 3 months and seeing if there’s an improvement! If there is and you want to experiment with oils again, try one thing at a time and don’t add anything else for another 3 months as that’s how long spots take to form from a tiny, invisible clogged pore!
  
- Amy Saunders says
  
  May 27, 2020 at 7:15 am
  
  Also! Red Raspberry seed oil can be used as a booster within other SPF formulas (if you can tolerate oils) but I wouldn’t rely on it as your only UV protection 🙂 x