Acne Pore-Clogging Ingredients

Below is a list of ingredients that can be found in skincare products, makeup, and hair products that can clog your pores and may exacerbate acne. Always check the ingredients of any non-Face Reality products you use on your skin or hair, even if it says “Won’t Clog Pores” or “Non-Comedogenic” on the bottle.

Natural oils can be some of the worst offenders (like cocoa butter and coconut oil) and 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, as well as many over-the-counter acne medications also contain pore-clogging ingredients. Oil-free products can be formulated with pore-clogging ingredients.
The following list is meant as a guideline.

Full list of non-acne-safe ingredients to AVOID

Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol
Algae Extract
Algin
Beeswax
Bismuth
Butyl Stearate
Carrageenan
Cetearyl Alcohol + Ceteareth 20
Cetyl Acetate
Chlorella
Chondrus Crispus (aka Irish Moss or Carrageenan Moss)
Coal Tar
Cocoa Butter
Coconut Alkanes
Coconut Butter
Coconut Oil
Cocos nucifera oil
Colloidal Sulfur
Cotton Awws Oil
Cotton Seed Oil
Corn 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
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
Shea
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

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The Face Reality products that are available for purchase are specifically formulated for acneic skin and are guaranteed to not clog your pores. However, they will not get your skin clear on their own. If you would like to get the other products in our product line that are strong enough to help you get your skin clear, you should make an appointment with us, so that we can examine and test your skin.