What Comedogenic Ingredients should you Avoid if you have Acne Prone skin?
What does the word ‘Comedogenic’ mean?
The term comedogenicity refers to “the potential of various agents to promote abnormal keratinization (hyperkeratinization) and desquamation of follicular epithelium.”
This basically means that comedogenic ingredients are those that have the capacity to block pores and hence contribute to the formation of the first lesion of acne known as comedones (popularly known as blackheads or whiteheads)
There are more than 120 comedogenic ingredients scientifically shown to trigger product acne, also known as acne cosmetica. These ingredients have the capacity to break out acne-prone skin.
Hence, it is important to know which are the notorious ingredients and consequently avoid them since the majority of people with acne are still unknowingly using these pore-cloggers on a daily basis.
Are Oils Comedogenic?
It is worthwhile to remember that natural skincare can (and often does) contain comedogenic ingredients. Most natural products contain comedogenic oils such as coconut oil, almond oil, soybean oil, avocado oil, and olive oil, amongst others mentioned in the list below.
Also, note that most of the carrier oils being used in skincare today have not been tested before. Oils such as argan oil, borage oil, hemp oil, macadamia oil, pumpkin seed oil, rosehip oil, tamanu oil, and walnut oil. These cannot be confirmed as acne-safe, and most tested oils came up as comedogenic. Hence, my recommendation will be to avoid them.
On the other hand, sunflower oil, safflower oil, jojoba oil, squalane, castor oil, and all essential oils have been found to be acne-safe. As we saw before, most oils are comedogenic, but these carrier oils and all essential oils were found to be acne-safe.
Common Comedogenic ingredients Used in Skincare (A-Z)
The ingredient names listed below are quoted from Dr. Fulton’s paper “Comedogenicity and irritancy of commonly used ingredients in skincare products.”Β The complete paper is available below for your perusal. In my opinion, Dr. Fulton’s study is the only comprehensive guide of comedogenic ingredients done to date.
Beware! You may find different comedogenic ingredients and ratings listed on other sites. Make sure you source the information and check its origin. If you find other resources, feel free to share them in the comments below.
- A & D additive
- Acetylated lanolin alcohol
- Almond oil
- Apricot kernel oil
- Ascorbyl Palmitate
- Avocado oil
- Beeswax*
- Capric acid
- Cera alba (beeswax)*
- Cetearyl alcohol + ceteareth 20
- Ceteareth-20
- Cetearyl alcohol
- Cetyl acetate
- Cetyl alcohol
- Cocoa butter
- Coconut alkanes (coconut oil)
- Coconut butter
- Coconut oil
- Cocos nucifera (coconut oil)
- Corn oil
- Cotton seed oil
- D&C red (most pigments)
- Decyl oleate
- Di (2 ethylhexyl) succinate
- Dioctyl malate
- Dioctyl succinate
- Eicosanoic acid
- Ethylhexyl palmitate
- Ethylhexyl pelargonate
- Evening primrose oil
- Flaxseed oil
- Glyceryl stearate SE
- Glyceryl-3-diisostearate
- Glycine soya oil (soybean)
- Grapeseed oil
- Hexylene glycol*
- Hydrogenated vegetable oil
- Isocetyl alcohol
- Isodecyl oleate
- Isopropyl isostearate
- Isopropyl lanceolate
- Isopropyl linoleate
- Isopropyl myristate
- Isopropyl neo pentanoate
- Isopropyl palmitate
- Isostearic acid
- Isostearyl alcohol
- Isostearyl isostearate
- Isostearyl neopentanoate
- Laneth-10
- Lanolic acid
- Lanolin alcohol
- Laureth-23
- Laureth-4
- Lauric acid
- Linoleic acid
- Linolenic acid
- Linseed oil
- Mineral oil*
- Mink oil
- Mink oil, refined
- Myreth-3 myristate
- Myristic acid
- Myristyl alcohol
- Myristyl lactate
- Myristyl myristate
- Octyl palmitate
- Octyl stearate
- Octyldodecanol
- Olea europaea fruit oil
- Oleic acid (in natural oils)
- Oleth-10
- Oleth-3
- Oleth-3 phosphate
- Oleth-5
- Oleyl alcohol
- Olive oil
- Palm oil
- Palmitic acid
- Peach kernel oil
- Peanut oil
- PEG 100 distearate
- PEG 150 distearate
- PEG 16 lanolin
- PEG 200 dilaurate
- PEG 8 stearate
- PG caprylate/caprate
- Pentaerythritol tetraisostearate
- PG dipelargonate
- PG monostearate
- Phytantriol
- Polyglyceryl-3-diisostearate
- PEG 16 lanolin
- PPG 10 cetyl ether
- PPG 12 PEG 65 lanolin oil
- PPG 2 myristyl propionate
- PPG 5 Ceteth 10 phosphate
- Prunus amygdalus dulcis oil
- Prunus dulcis oil (almond)
- Sandalwood seed oil
- Sesame oil
- Shark liver oil
- Sorbitan isostearate
- Sorbitan laurate
- Sorbitan oleate
- Soy oil
- Soybean oil
- Steareth-10
- Steareth-20
- Stearic acid
- Stearic acid: TEA
- Stearyl alcohol
- Stearyl heptanoate
- Sulfated jojoba oil
- Sweet almond oil
- Tocopherol (under 2% may be ok)*
- Triethanolamine
- Vitamin A palmitate
- Vitamin E oil (under 2% may be ok)*
- Vitis vinifera (grapeseed) oil
- Water-soluble sulfur
- Wheat germ glyceride
- Wheat germ oil
- Xylene
UNTESTED OILS (comedogenicity unknown, best to avoid) :
- Argan oil
- Avocado butter
- Borage oil
- Hemp oil
- Kukui nut Oil
- Macadamia oil
- Maracuja oil
- Marula oil
- Pumpkin seed oil
- Rosehip oil
- Tamanu oil
- Walnut oil
- …and all other carrier oils and butter are not listed here.
The Verdict
Being mindful of what products you choose and what ingredients they contain can help you tremendously in your journey towards clear skin.
What you consume in terms of your diet and other lifestyle factors plays an equally important role in achieving glowing skin and overall radiant health. Here is a quick starter guide towards the Top 7 Supplements to Improve Longevity.
Being proactive in our choices today can ensure better overall health for years.
If you struggle with stubborn weight, fatigue, skin issues, or other health problems and feel like youβve reached a plateau with your healing, check out our telehealth integrative health coaching consultation.
In my telehealth integrative health coaching clinic, we go the extra mile to uncover all areas of your health that can contribute to your skin and overall health problems.
Even though health problems can be overwhelming, we aim to walk with you on your journey to better health naturally.
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Till then,
Continue to glow, thrive, and shine as always.
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References
- Safety assessment on comedogenicity of dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate in Asian subjects: A double-blind randomized controlled trial. Contemporary clinical trials communications. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8387765/
- Comedogenicity of current therapeutic products, cosmetics, and ingredients in the rabbit ear. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8387765/
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