The Comedogenic Ingredients to Watch Out For

You’ve probably heard of the phrase “comedogenic ingredients,” but not known what exactly that means. Or maybe you’ve heard “non-comedogenic ingredients” and know that that product hopefully won’t make you break out. Well, I regret to inform you that even if a product says it won’t clog your pores, sometimes it still has comedogenic ingredients in it that can wreak havoc on your skin. 

I’ve worked as a beauty editor/writer for the last 10+ years, and I’ve tried about a million and one different beauty products for my job. I have very sensitive, acne-prone skin (here is the best skincare for sensitive acne prone skin). So I’m always looking for a formula that won’t clog my pores and doesn’t contain any comedogenic ingredients. Below, I will talk more about what, exactly, comedogenic ingredients are so that you can try to avoid them in your own skin cycling routine if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin.  

The Comedogenic Ingredients to Watch Out For

What Are Comedogenic Ingredients?

Comedogenic ingredients are substances found in skincare and beauty products that have the potential to clog your pores. When these ingredients sit on the skin, they can trap oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria underneath the surface. This can lead to blackheads, whiteheads, or full-on acne breakouts. Comedogenicity is actually measured on a scale of zero to five, based on how likely an ingredient is to block pores for most skin types. Zero means the ingredient is unlikely to clog pores at all, while five means it’s highly likely to cause congestion. Ingredients that fall somewhere in the middle may or may not cause issues depending on the individual. This is why two people can use the exact same product and have completely different experiences with it.

It’s also worth noting that comedogenicity isn’t absolute. Just because an ingredient has a high comedogenic rating doesn’t automatically mean a product will break you out. And just because something is labeled “non-comedogenic” doesn’t mean it’s totally in the clear. Which, as I mentioned above, is unfortunately very true. The concentration of an ingredient in a formula, how the product is applied, and your own skin’s unique chemistry all play a role in how your skin ultimately reacts. Learning which specific ingredients your skin personally doesn’t like is honestly the most useful thing you can do if you’re acne-prone.

How To Know If Ingredients Are Comedogenic

The best way to figure out if an ingredient is comedogenic is to cross-reference it against the comedogenic scale. I’ll go over that in more detail below. There are also a handful of free online resources and databases (Sofie Pavitt’s Ingredients Checker is my favorite, but there’s also CosDNA and INCIDecoder) where you can paste in a product’s full ingredient list and get a breakdown of which ingredients may be potentially pore-clogging. I do this all the time before trying a new product, and it has saved my skin more than once.

That said, knowing an ingredient’s comedogenic rating is only part of the picture. Ingredient concentration matters a lot. For example, an ingredient with a moderate comedogenic rating that appears near the bottom of an ingredient list is present in such a small amount that it may not cause any issues at all. Skin type plays a huge role too. Especially since oily and acne-prone skin tends to be much more reactive to pore clogging ingredients than dry or normal skin types. At the end of the day, the most accurate way to know how your skin will respond to a specific ingredient is to patch test new products before applying them all over your face.

What Is The Comedogenic Scale?

The comedogenic scale is a rating system that ranks ingredients from zero to five based on how likely they are to clog pores and trigger breakouts. It was originally developed through research in the 1970s. It’s since become a widely referenced tool in the skincare and dermatology world. It’s not a perfect system—and it was largely developed through testing on animal skin rather than human skin, which is worth keeping in mind—but it’s still one of the most useful reference points we have when evaluating whether a product is a safe bet for acne-prone skin.

Here’s a breakdown of what each rating means:

• 0 – Non-comedogenic: No pore-clogging risk whatsoever — safe for all skin types.
• 1-2 – Low risk: Generally safe for most skin types, including acne-prone skin.
• 3 – Moderate risk: May clog pores depending on your skin sensitivity and the concentration of the ingredient in the formula.
• 4-5 – High risk: More likely to cause breakouts, especially for those with acne-prone or oily skin.

If you have sensitive or acne-prone skin like me, I’d recommend that you stick to products that are formulated with ingredients rated zero to two. You want to be really cautious about anything rated three or above. Especially if it appears high up on the ingredient list. Which means it’s present in a higher concentration in the formula.

What Ingredients Are Comedogenic?

Heavy Oils and Butters

Heavy oils and butters are some of the most notorious pore-cloggers in the skincare and beauty world. They show up in more products than you’d think. Because of their thick, rich texture, these ingredients sit on top of the skin. They can trap oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells underneath the surface rather than allowing the skin to breathe. You can find heavy oils and butters in body lotions, hair products, lip balms, and rich moisturizers. The tricky thing is that they’re often marketed as nourishing and hydrating (which they definitely can be for some skin types). But for acne-prone skin, they can be a total nightmare. Some of the most common comedogenic heavy oils and butters to watch out for include:

• Coconut oil — one of the most well-known comedogenic offenders, with a rating of four out of five on the comedogenic scale. Coconut oil is everywhere right now, from cleansing balms to hair masks, to body oils and DIY skincare recipes. If you’re acne-prone, I’d steer clear of putting it anywhere near your face. And believe me, I’ve already tried this many years ago on my skin and it did not end well. 
• Cocoa butter — another incredibly popular ingredient in body lotions and lip products that rates high on the comedogenic scale. It’s deeply moisturizing, but that richness is exactly what makes it so likely to clog pores.
• Wheat germ oil — one of the highest-rated comedogenic ingredients on the scale, coming in at a five out of five. You can find this ingredient in anti-aging and nourishing skincare products, but it’s one I personally avoid entirely.

Fatty Alcohols and Waxes

Fatty alcohols and waxes are another category of comedogenic ingredients that tend to fly under the radar because the word “alcohol” often gets associated with drying, stripping formulas. But fatty alcohols are actually the opposite. They’re thick, waxy substances used to give products a smooth, creamy texture, and they can be incredibly occlusive on acne-prone skin. This means that they can form a barrier on the skin’s surface that can trap everything underneath. You’ll find these ingredients in everything from foundations and concealers to moisturizers and sunscreens. Common examples include:

• Isopropyl myristate — a synthetic oil used as a moisturizing agent and texture enhancer in a wide range of cosmetics, including foundations, primers, and body lotions. It has a comedogenic rating of five, making it one of the highest-risk ingredients on the entire scale. If you see this near the top of an ingredient list, I’d put the product back on the shelf.
• Lanolin — a natural wax derived from sheep’s wool that’s widely used in lip balms, hand creams, and nipple creams. It has a moderate to high comedogenic rating and can also trigger allergic reactions in some people, making it a double whammy for sensitive skin types.
• Myristyl myristate — a waxy emollient used to thicken and soften cosmetic formulas, commonly found in moisturizers, foundations, and hair products. It carries a high comedogenic rating and is one that I always flag when I’m reading through an ingredient list.

Common Cosmetic Emollients

Emollients are ingredients used to soften and smooth the skin by filling in the gaps between skin cells, and while many of them are perfectly fine for most skin types, some of the most commonly used ones in cosmetics can be problematic for acne-prone skin. They’re found in pretty much every category of product (foundations, primers, moisturizers, serums, and sunscreens), which is why understanding which ones to avoid is so important if your skin is on the sensitive or breakout-prone side.

• Silicones — silicones like dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane, and cyclohexasiloxane are used extensively in makeup primers, foundations, and skincare products to create that smooth, blurring, velvety finish. They’re not technically rated high on the comedogenic scale, but they are occlusive. They can form a film on the skin that can trap sebum, bacteria, and other products underneath, which can contribute to congestion over time, especially with daily use. If you notice your skin breaking out more since switching to a silicone-heavy primer or foundation, that could very well be the culprit.
• Certain thickening agents — ingredients like carbomer, cetyl alcohol, and stearic acid are commonly used in creams and foundations to give them their rich, spreadable texture. While some of these have low comedogenic ratings on their own, they can contribute to pore congestion when combined with other heavy ingredients in a formula. This is why it’s always worth looking at the full ingredient list rather than just flagging individual ingredients in isolation.

How To Check Comedogenic Ingredients

Always read ingredient labels

Getting into the habit of reading the full ingredient list before purchasing anything new is one of the best things you can do for your skin. Especially if you’re acne-prone. Ingredients are listed in order of concentration. So if you spot a highly comedogenic ingredient in the first five to ten ingredients on the list, that’s a red flag worth paying attention to.

Cross-check ingredients using comedogenic rating databases

Once you have your ingredient list, cross-reference it against a free comedogenic rating database like Sofie Pavitt’s Ingredients Checker, CosDNA, or INCIDecoder—they will give you a detailed breakdown of every ingredient in a product, including its comedogenic rating and potential irritant score. I use these tools all the time before trying something new, and they have genuinely saved my skin more times than I can count.

Look for “non-comedogenic” claims but don’t rely on them alone

If a product is labeled “non-comedogenic,” that’s a good starting point. But the term is not regulated by the FDA. This means brands can technically put it on their packaging without being held to any specific standard. I’ve personally broken out from products that were proudly labeled non-comedogenic. Which is exactly what prompted me to start reading ingredient lists so obsessively in the first place.

Patch test new products before full-face use

Before applying anything new all over your face, apply a small amount to a discreet area (like your inner wrist or along your jawline). Then wait 24 to 48 hours to see how your skin reacts. It’s a small step that can save you from a major breakout and a lot of frustration down the line.

Introduce products one at a time to identify triggers

When you introduce multiple new products into your routine at the same time, it becomes nearly impossible to figure out which one is causing a reaction if your skin starts acting up. Add one new product at a time and give it at least two to four weeks before introducing anything else so you can actually identify what is and isn’t working for your skin.

What Ingredients Are Non Comedogenic?

If you have acne-prone or sensitive skin like me, knowing which ingredients are considered non-comedogenic is just as useful as knowing which ones to avoid. Here are some of the most common non-comedogenic ingredients you’ll come across in skincare and beauty products that are generally considered safe for acne-prone skin:

Non-comedogenic oils:

• Argan oil (0–1)
• Rosehip oil (1)
• Hemp seed oil (0)
• Squalane (0–1)
• Marula oil (1)
• Jojoba oil (2)
• Sea buckthorn oil (1)

Humectants and hydrators:

• Hyaluronic acid (0)
• Glycerin (0)
• Aloe vera (0)
• Niacinamide (0)

Emollients and occlusives:

• Dimethicone (1) — though it can still cause congestion for some people with prolonged use
• Shea butter (0–2) — lower comedogenic rating than cocoa butter, but can still vary by individual

Acids and actives:

• Salicylic acid (0)
• Glycolic acid (0)
• Lactic acid (0)
• Azelaic acid (0)

Lightweight moisturizing agents:

• Allantoin (0)
• Centella asiatica (0)
• Ceramides (0)

It’s worth noting that even ingredients with a zero rating can occasionally cause reactions in certain individuals. So patch testing is always a good idea regardless of how clean an ingredient list looks!