Pore clearing,
not pore clogging
Find out why you break out
We help new acne prone clients pinpoint pore cloggers that could be causing breakouts by examining the skin care products you currently use, and recommending substitute ingredients that don’t clog your pores to achieve clear skin. Working together with you, Acne Specialists can help you achieve clear skin, even if you live outside of the Bay Area of California. Our Long-Distance Program allows you to tap into our expertise from afar and use our acne-safe products following a customized regimen for your unique skin.
Find out why you break out
We help new clients pinpoint pore cloggers that could be causing breakouts by examining the products you currently use, and recommending substitute ingredients that don’t clog your pores. Working together with you, Acne Specialists can help you achieve clear skin, even if you live outside of the Bay Area of California. Our Long-Distance Program allows you to tap into our expertise from afar and use our acne-safe products following a customized regimen for your unique skin.
Everyday ingredients clogging your pores
Common ingredients like cocoa butter are found in hair care, skin care, cosmetic and cleaning products are known to clog pores and trigger breakouts. Even if you read “won’t clog pores” or “non-comedogenic” on the bottle, the products may contain ingredients that actually worsen acne. While skincare companies market their products for acne-prone skin, no government agency oversees effectiveness for treating acne. Thus, skincare companies can say whatever they want and you might actually be using a pore clogger! We are here to help you achieve clear skin and avoid comedogenic ingredients. See our list of pore clogging ingredients below to make sure you're not using any.
Everyday ingredients clogging your pores
Treating and preventing acne
is what we do
That’s why Acne Specialists identified the infamous Pore Cloggers in the list below.
These ingredients are known to cause and aggravate acne. Guard yourself against these toxins. Check this list against the product label for anything that touches your skin. Become a pore clogging ingredient checker today!
Acne Safe Ingredient Checker
Enter a list of the ingredients listed on your product (separated by commas or line breaks):
These ingredients are safe in some formulas: tocopherol is safe when it’s at the middle to end of the deck as well as sodium chloride. Moringa oil is safe in SEEN products. Shea butter is safe in some hair care.
List of pore-clogging ingredients
- Acetylated Lanolin
- Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol
- algae extract
- algin
- butyl stearate
- carrageenan
- cetyl acetate
- cetearyl alcohol + ceteareth 20
- chondrus crispus (Irish Moss)
- Chlorella
- coal tar
- cocoa butter
- coconut alkanes
- coconut butter
- coconut oil
- cocos nucifera
- 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 sulfusuccinate
- ethoxylated lanolin
- ethylhexyl palmitate
- glycine soja oil
- glyceryl-3 diisostearate, Glyceral Stearate SE
- glyceryl stearate SE
- hexadecyl alcohol
- hydrogenated vegetable oil
- isocetyl alcohol
- isocetyl stearate
- isodecyl oleate
- isopropyl isostearate
- isopropyl linolate
- isopropyl myristate
- isopropyl palmitate
- isostearyl isostearate
- isostearyl neopentanoate
- isosteraric acid
- kelp
- Laminaria Digitata Extract
- Laminaria Saccharina (seaweed)
- Laureth-4, Laureth-23
- Lauric acid
- Lauroyl lysine
- linseed oil
- Mink Oil
- Myristic Acid
- Myristyl Lactate
- Myristyl Myristate
- Octyl Palmitate
- Octyl Stearate
- Oleic acid
- Oleth-3 (not Oleth-3 Phosphate)
- Oleyl Alcohol
- Palm oil
- 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
- Sea Whip Extract
- Shark Liver Oil (squalene, not squalane)
- Shea Butter
- Sodium Alginate
- Sodium Chloride (not if it’s at the end of the formula)
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- Solulan 16
- Soybean Oil
- Spirulina (seaweed)
- Steareth 10
- Stearic acid tea
- Sweet Almond Oil
- Wheat Germ Oil
- Xylene
- Acetylated Lanolin
- Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol
- algae extract
- algin
- butyl stearate
- carrageenan
- cetyl acetate
- cetearyl alcohol + ceteareth 20
- chondrus crispus (Irish Moss)
- Chlorella
- coal tar
- cocoa butter
- coconut alkanes
- coconut butter
- coconut oil
- cocos nucifera
- 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 sulfusuccinate
- ethoxylated lanolin
- ethylhexyl palmitate
- glycine soja oil
- glyceryl-3 diisostearate, Glyceral Stearate SE
- glyceryl stearate SE
- hexadecyl alcohol
- hydrogenated vegetable oil
- isocetyl alcohol
- isocetyl stearate
- isodecyl oleate
- isopropyl isostearate
- isopropyl linolate
- isopropyl myristate
- isopropyl palmitate
- isostearyl isostearate
- isostearyl neopentanoate
- isosteraric acid
- kelp
- Laminaria Digitata Extract
- Laminaria Saccharina (seaweed)
- Laureth-4, Laureth-23
- Lauric acid
- Lauroyl lysine
- linseed oil
- Mink Oil
- Myristic Acid
- Myristyl Lactate
- Myristyl Myristate
- Octyl Palmitate
- Octyl Stearate
- Oleic acid
- Oleth-3 (not Oleth-3 Phosphate)
- Oleyl Alcohol
- Palm oil
- 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
- Sea Whip Extract
- Shark Liver Oil (squalene, not squalane)
- Shea Butter
- Sodium Alginate
- Sodium Chloride (not if it’s at the end of the formula)
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
- Solulan 16
- Soybean Oil
- Spirulina (seaweed)
- Steareth 10
- Stearic acid tea
- Wheat Germ Oil
- Xylene