The Complete List of Pore-Clogging Ingredients to Avoid (2026 Guide)
If you have acne-prone skin, learning which ingredients clog pores is one of the most impactful things you can do for your skin. It sounds simple, but it's surprisingly hard. Pore-clogging (comedogenic) ingredients hide in moisturizers, sunscreens, foundations, hair products, and even products labeled "non-comedogenic."
This guide is your comprehensive reference. Bookmark it, share it, and use it every time you pick up a new product.
What Makes an Ingredient "Pore-Clogging"?
Comedogenic ingredients are substances that can penetrate the pore lining and contribute to clogged pores — leading to blackheads, whiteheads, and inflammatory acne. Researchers and dermatologists rate these ingredients on a comedogenic scale of 0 to 5:
- 0 — Non-comedogenic (won't clog pores)
- 1 — Slightly comedogenic (very low risk)
- 2 — Moderately low comedogenic potential
- 3 — Moderate comedogenic potential
- 4 — Fairly high comedogenic potential
- 5 — Highly comedogenic (very likely to clog pores)
Most estheticians and dermatologists recommend that acne-prone individuals avoid anything rated 2 or higher. Some take a stricter approach and avoid anything above 0.
A Note on Comedogenic Ratings
Most comedogenic ratings originate from rabbit ear assay tests conducted in the 1970s–1980s, where ingredients were applied undiluted to rabbit ears. This method has well-known limitations:
- Ingredients were tested in isolation and at 100% concentration, not in a finished formula
- Rabbit skin is more sensitive than human skin
- Concentration matters — an ingredient that clogs pores at full strength may be harmless at 1%
That said, these ratings remain the best reference we have. If you're acne-prone and struggling with unexplained breakouts, avoiding high-rated ingredients is a proven starting point — even if the science behind the ratings isn't perfect.
The Complete Pore-Clogging Ingredients List
Below is a categorized list of the most common comedogenic ingredients found in skincare, makeup, and hair products. The comedogenic rating is shown in parentheses.
Oils
| Ingredient | Rating |
|---|---|
| Wheat germ oil | 5 |
| Flaxseed oil / Linseed oil | 4 |
| Coconut oil | 4 |
| Cocoa butter | 4 |
| Palm oil | 4 |
| Soybean oil | 3 |
| Corn oil | 3 |
| Avocado oil | 2 |
| Sandalwood seed oil | 2 |
| Sesame oil | 2 |
| Cotton seed oil | 3 |
| Mink oil | 3 |
| Peach kernel oil | 2 |
| Sweet almond oil | 2 |
Safe alternatives (rated 0–1): Squalane, argan oil, hemp seed oil, sunflower oil, mineral oil, jojoba oil (technically a wax ester)
Fatty Acids
| Ingredient | Rating |
|---|---|
| Lauric acid | 4 |
| Oleic acid | 3 |
| Myristic acid | 3 |
| Stearic acid | 2 |
| Palmitic acid | 2 |
| Isostearic acid | 5 |
Lauric acid is a primary component of coconut oil, which is why coconut oil and its derivatives show up so often as acne triggers.
Emollients and Esters
These are the sneakiest pore cloggers — they don't sound like oils, but they act like them.
| Ingredient | Rating |
|---|---|
| Isopropyl myristate | 5 |
| Isopropyl isostearate | 5 |
| Myristyl myristate | 5 |
| Isocetyl stearate | 5 |
| Isopropyl palmitate | 4 |
| Octyl palmitate / Ethylhexyl palmitate | 4 |
| Butyl stearate | 3 |
| Isostearyl neopentanoate | 3 |
| Decyl oleate | 3 |
| Myristyl lactate | 3 |
| PPG-2 myristyl propionate | 3 |
| Octyl stearate | 5 |
| Stearyl heptanoate | 4 |
Isopropyl myristate (rating 5) is one of the most common offenders — it appears in countless lotions, foundations, and moisturizers as a texture-enhancing emollient.
Waxes and Lanolin Derivatives
| Ingredient | Rating |
|---|---|
| Acetylated lanolin | 4 |
| Acetylated lanolin alcohol | 4 |
| PEG-16 lanolin | 4 |
| Lanolin acid | 3 |
| Sorbitan oleate | 3 |
| Oleth-3 | 3 |
| Oleyl alcohol | 3 |
Lanolin itself has a variable rating (1–2), but acetylated lanolin and its derivatives are significantly more comedogenic.
Thickeners, Gelling Agents, and Algae Derivatives
| Ingredient | Rating |
|---|---|
| Algae extract | 5 |
| Red algae | 5 |
| Carrageenan | 5 |
| Algin | 4 |
| Sodium chloride (salt) | 5 |
| Potassium chloride | 5 |
Algae extract (rating 5) is a common surprise — it appears in many "marine," "ocean-based," and "natural" skincare products. If you see seaweed, kelp, or algae on the label, check the specific ingredient.
Dyes and Colorants
| Ingredient | Rating |
|---|---|
| D&C Red #17 | 3 |
| D&C Red #21 | 3 |
| D&C Red #3 | 3 |
| D&C Red #30 | 3 |
| D&C Red #36 | 3 |
| D&C Red #9 | 2 |
These show up primarily in makeup — blushes, lipsticks, tinted moisturizers, and foundations.
Surfactants and Detergents
| Ingredient | Rating |
|---|---|
| Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) | 5 |
| Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) | 3 |
| Laureth-4 | 5 |
| Laureth-23 | 3 |
SLS is both comedogenic and a known skin irritant. It's found in many foaming cleansers, body washes, and shampoos. Even though cleansers are rinse-off products, SLS can still disrupt the skin barrier and contribute to breakouts.
Silicones
Most silicones are not comedogenic. Dimethicone (rating 1) and cyclomethicone (rating 0) are generally safe. However, some heavier silicone derivatives can be problematic for sensitive, acne-prone skin. If you're strict about ingredients, watch for:
- Dimethicone — Rating 1 (safe for most people)
- Cyclomethicone — Rating 0
- Phenyl trimethicone — Rating 1
Silicones are rarely the culprit — focus on the other categories first.
The Most Common Offenders (Quick Reference)
If you only check for a few ingredients, watch out for these — they're everywhere:
- Isopropyl myristate (5) — Lotions, foundations, moisturizers
- Coconut oil (4) — "Natural" skincare, cleansers, hair products
- Lauric acid (4) — Coconut-derived products
- Algae extract (5) — Marine/ocean skincare lines
- Isopropyl palmitate (4) — Moisturizers, sunscreens
- Octyl palmitate / Ethylhexyl palmitate (4) — Sunscreens, foundations
- Sodium lauryl sulfate (5) — Foaming cleansers, shampoos
- Acetylated lanolin (4) — Rich creams, lip products
Why "Non-Comedogenic" Labels Can't Be Trusted
Here's the uncomfortable truth: the term "non-comedogenic" is not regulated by the FDA or any government body. Any company can put it on their packaging without any testing or verification.
Research has shown that many products marketed as non-comedogenic still contain known comedogenic ingredients. The label is marketing, not science.
The only way to know if a product is truly acne-safe is to check the actual ingredient list.
How to Check Your Products
You have a few options:
- The manual way: Cross-reference every ingredient against a comedogenic list (like this one). This works but is extremely time-consuming for products with 30+ ingredients.
- Web-based checkers: Tools like
How to Audit Your Current Routine
Ready to check everything you're putting on your skin? Here's a step-by-step process:
- Gather every product that touches your face — including makeup, hair products, and sunscreen
- Check each ingredient list against a comedogenic database (or scan with an app)
- Flag products that contain ingredients rated 2 or higher
- Replace flagged products with verified alternatives
- Give your new routine 4–6 weeks — your skin needs time to purge existing clogs and adjust
Don't forget products you might overlook:
- Hair products — Shampoo, conditioner, and styling products touch your forehead, temples, and jawline
- Makeup — Foundation, primer, and concealer sit on your skin for hours
- Laundry detergent and fabric softener — Your pillowcase touches your face all night
- Body products — Lotions and sunscreens on your chest and back can cause body acne
The Bottom Line
Pore-clogging ingredients are everywhere, and they're often hiding in products you'd never suspect — including ones labeled "clean," "natural," and "non-comedogenic." The most effective thing you can do for acne-prone skin is check every product before it goes on your face.
Sometimes the solution to persistent acne isn't a new treatment — it's removing the ingredient that's causing the problem.