Acne Lesson 6: Acne-Causing Ingredients You Need To Know for Clear Skin
Do you experience breakouts and can’t seem to stay clear? Your skincare and haircare may be to blame. If you have acne-prone skin, I highly recommend that you check your products for comedogenic ingredients before applying anything to your skin or hair. While some ingredients might not lead to clogged pores, they can still cause issues for acne-prone skin. It’s important to educate yourself about these ingredients and read labels carefully. If you notice new pimples forming when you were clear before, taking a closer look at the products you’ve been using is the next step.
We’ve outlined the top acne-causing ingredients to completely avoid below, along with other ingredients to look out for if you have acne-prone skin. If you are struggling to get clear, personalized advice is available from one of our acne specialists through our online Acne Coaching Program.
Acne-Causing Ingredients
Top Acne-Causing Ingredients To Always Avoid
- Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol
- Cetyl Acetate
- Cocoa Butter
- Coconut Butter
- Ethylhexyl Palmitate
- Glyceryl-3-Diistoreate
- Glyceryl Stearate SE
- Isocetyl Alcohol
- Isocetyl Stearate
- Isodecyl Oleate
- Isopropyl Isostearate
- Isopropyl Linolate
- Isopropyl Myristate
- Isopropyl Palmitate
- Isostearyl Isostearate
- Isostearyl Neopentanoate
- Myristyl Myristate
- Myristyl Lactate
- Laureth-4
- Lauric Acid
- Octyl Stearate
- Oleyl Alcohol
- Oleth-3
- Polyglyceryl-3-Diisostearate
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- Stearyl Heptanoate
- Steareth-10
- Wheat Germ Oil
- Xylene
Formulation Matters
Research on many of these ingredients clearly shows that formulation and refinement of the ingredients make a big difference in comedogenicity. A great example is olive oil, which has a comedogenicity rating of 4 when unrefined and a comedogenicity rating of 0 when refined. Because of this, we recommend treating the below list similar to the way you might treat an elimination diet. If you are currently dealing with acne, eliminate these ingredients until your breakouts are under control, and then try adding them back in one by one.
At Art of Skin Care, we mark formulations we know to be acne-safe with a special badge so you can shop with confidence. These are formulas we have tested extensively, proving their efficacy and safety for acne-prone skin.
Additional Acne-Causing Ingredients
The comedogenicity of the following ingredients depends greatly on formulation and ingredient refinement. If you are struggling to get or stay clear, consider using an “elimination diet” approach with these skincare ingredients.
- Acetylated Lanolin
- Algae Extract
- Algin
- Avocado Oil/Butter
- Argan Oil
- Almond/Sweet Almond oil
- Butyl Stearate
- Carrageenan
- Cetearyl Alcohol + Ceteareth 20 (only when combined)
- Chondrus Crispus (aka Irish Moss or Carageenan Moss)
- Chlorella
- Coal Tar
- Coconut Alkanes
- Coconut 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
- Hexadecyl Alcohol
- Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
- Kelp
- Laminaria Digitata Extract
- Laminaria Saccharina Extract (Laminaria Saccharine)
- Laureth-23
- Lauroyl Lysine
- Mink Oil
- Myristic Acid
- Myristyl Lactate
- Octyl Palmitate
- PEG 16 Lanolin
- PEG 200 Dilaurate
- PEG 8 Stearate
- PG Monostearate
- PPG 2 Myristyl Propionate
- Plankton
- Potassium Chloride
- Propylene Glycol Monostearate
- Red Algae
- Seaweed
- Sesame Oil
- Shark Liver Oil
- Shea Butter
- Solulan 16
- Sorbitan Oleate
- Soybean Oil
- Spirulina
- Stearic Acid Tea
- Sulfated Castor Oil
- Sulfated Jojoba Oil
- Wheat Germ Glyceride
Ingredient Considerations
Believe it or not, natural oils can be some of the worst offenders. While some oils may not be pore-clogging, they cause inflammation in the hair follicle and can cause severely inflamed acne. Oils such as avocado and lanolin are mildly comedogenic and can be a problem if combined with other acne-causing ingredients or if not properly refined.
“Oil-free” does not mean that a product is safe from acne-causing ingredients. Check every product against the ingredient list before it touches your skin.
Additionally, some prescription products, such as the cream form of Retin A, have pore-clogging and acnegenic ingredients. Many over-the-counter acne medications also have the potential to cause breakouts, so always be aware of the ingredients in your products.
A note about dimethicone: There has been a lot of misinformation swirling around about an ingredient called dimethicone. People are concerned that this smoothing, protective agent in many skincare products will clog pores. The answer to that is no, dimethicone is not an acne-causing ingredient. For more information about the benefits of dimethicone, see our blog post: What Is The Truth About Dimethicone?
Acne-Safe Makeup
Loose powder mineral makeup tends to be the safest choice for a foundation, but should still be checked for acnegenic ingredients. For a cream foundation, we recommend Illuminare makeup. If you prefer a more matte look, try Illuminare Mattifying Mineral Foundation. For more full coverage, layer it with Illuminare Concealing Mineral Foundation. For a dewy natural finish, try Illuminare Moisturizing Mineral Foundation. Tip: Illuminare makeup is very concentrated and a little goes a long way. Apply a few dots to a makeup brush or mix with your favorite acne-safe sunscreen.
WATCH CELINE’S ACNE CHAT ON ACNE COSMETICA FOR MORE INFO
