Red pimples
Comedogenic Ingredients: A Dermatologist’s Guide
Have you ever experienced persistent breakouts or stubborn comedones even after religiously following your skincare routine? The cause could be lurking in your product’s ingredient list—comedogenic ingredients that clog pores and trigger acne.
This article combines scientific research, dermatological experience, and ingredient databases (PubMed, CosIng, and Dr. Baumann’s Skin Type Solution) to guide you through identifying and avoiding pore-clogging ingredients. At Dermatocare, we’ve also curated an ingredient-based tool to make this process simpler for you.
MUST TRY: Skip the guesswork, take REGIME FINDER questionnaire and get dermatologist-approved products and regimes customised to your skin and hair needs.
What Are Comedogenic Ingredients?
Comedogenic ingredients are substances that block your pores, leading to blackheads, whiteheads, and inflammatory acne lesions. They form comedones by trapping sebum and dead skin within the follicle.
These ingredients are often emollients, waxes, or fatty compounds added to provide smoothness, hydration, or shine to the skin—but not all skin types tolerate them.
Why Should You Avoid Comedogenic Ingredients?
These ingredients can lead to comedones or black/whiteheads in oily or acne-prone skin, as demonstrated in rabbit ear assays. You should especially avoid them if:
You are above 25 and still get acne or comedones
You have resistant acne that doesn’t respond well to treatment
You have oily-sensitive or combination skin, as per Dr. Baumann’s classification.
Comedogenicity Scale (1–5)
Comedogenic ingredients are graded based on their pore-clogging potential:
1: Very low
2: Low
3: Moderate
4: High
5: Very high
How to use this scale:
Avoid ingredients with a grade of 3–5, even if they appear at the end of the ingredient list.
Ingredients graded 1–2 should be avoided only if they are among the top 5–7 ingredients, which indicates high concentration.
Note: Even if an ingredient is comedogenic in isolation, the final product may not be. Solvents and formulation factors can reduce pore-clogging potential. Hence, prefer products labeled “Non-Comedogenic.”
List of Comedogenic Ingredients
The following list is compiled from peer-reviewed scientific sources, especially the authoritative publication: Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists (1989; 40:321–333), along with CosIng and dermatological literature.
Acetylated Hydrogenated Castor Glyceride |
Acetylated Lanolin |
Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol |
Acid Red 18 |
Acid Red 27 |
Acid Red 33 |
Acid Red 52 |
Acid Red 92 |
Acid Violet 43 |
Algae Extract |
Algin |
Almond Oil Glycereth-8 Esters |
Almond Oil PEG-6 Esters |
Almond Oil PEG-8 Esters |
Almond Oil/‚ÄãPolyglyceryl-10 Esters |
Arachidic Acid |
Arachis Hypogaea Oil |
Ascorbyl Palmitate |
Azulene |
Benzaldehyde |
Benzoic Acid |
oxybezone |
Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane |
Butyl Stearate |
Butylated Hydroxyanisole |
Calendula Officinalis Flower Oil |
Camphor |
Capric Acid |
Caprylic Acid |
Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil |
Castor Isostearate Beeswax Succinate |
Castor Isostearate Succinate |
Castor Oil Bis-Hydroxypropyl Dimethicone Esters |
Castor Oil Hydrogenated Ethoxylated |
Castor Oil Phosphate |
Castoryl Maleate |
Ceteareth-20 |
Ceteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol |
Cetyl Acetate |
Coconut Oil Aminoethoxyethanol Amides |
Coconut Oil Glycereth-8 Esters |
Coconut Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters |
Cocos Nucifera Oil |
Decyl Oleate |
Ethylhexyl Palmitate |
Evening Primrose Oil/‚ÄãPalm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters |
Glycine Soja Oil |
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil |
Hydrogenated Apricot Kernel Oil |
Hydrogenated Apricot Oil Unsaponifiables |
Hydrogenated Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil |
Hydrogenated Avocado Oil |
Hydrogenated Black Currant Seed Oil |
Hydrogenated Castor Oil |
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Behenyl Esters |
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Dimer Dilinoleate |
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Hydroxystearate |
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate |
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Stearate |
Hydrogenated Castor Oil Triisostearate |
Hydrogenated Coconut Oil |
Hydrogenated Corn Oil |
Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil |
Hydrogenated Cranberry Seed Oil |
Hydrogenated Evening Primrose Oil |
Hydrogenated Grapeseed Oil |
Hydrogenated Hemp Seed Oil |
Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil |
Hydrogenated Macadamia Seed Oil |
Hydrogenated Mineral Oil |
Hydrogenated Oat Kernel Oil |
Hydrogenated Olive Oil |
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Caprylyl Esters |
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Cetyl Esters |
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Decyl Esters |
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Lauryl Esters |
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Myristyl Esters |
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters |
Hydrogenated Olive Oil Unsaponifiables |
Hydrogenated Palm Kernel Oil |
Hydrogenated Palm Oil |
Hydrogenated Palm/‚ÄãPalm Kernel Oil PEG-6 Esters |
Hydrogenated Peanut Oil |
Hydrogenated Pistacia Vera Seed Oil |
Hydrogenated Prunus Domestica Seed Oil |
Hydrogenated Rapeseed Oil |
Hydrogenated Rice Bran Oil |
Hydrogenated Ricinus Communis Seed Oil |
Hydrogenated Rosa Canina Fruit Oil |
Hydrogenated Soybean Oil |
Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil |
Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil Esters |
Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil Glyceryl Esters |
Hydrogenated Sunflower Seed Oil Polyglyceryl-3 Esters |
Hydrogenated Sweet Almond Oil |
Hydrogenated Sweet Almond Oil Unsaponifiables |
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil |
Hydrogenated Wheat Germ Oil |
Hydroxylated Lanolin |
Isocetyl Alcohol |
Isodecyl Oleate |
Isopropyl Isostearate |
Isopropyl Lanolate |
Isopropyl Linoleate |
Isopropyl Myristate |
Isopropyl Palmitate |
Isostearyl Isostearate |
Isostearyl Neopentanoate |
Laneth-10 |
Laneth-10 Acetate |
Laneth-15 |
Laneth-16 |
Laneth-40 |
Laneth-75 |
Lanolin |
Lanolin Acid |
Lanolin Alcohol |
Lanolin Cera |
Lanolin Oil |
Lanolin Wax |
Laureth-4 |
Linseed Oil Polyglyceryl-4 Esters |
Linseed Oil/‚ÄãPalm Oil Aminopropanediol Esters |
Maleated Soybean Oil |
Mink Oil |
Moringa Oil/‚ÄãHydrogenated Moringa Oil Esters |
Myristic Acid |
Myristyl Lactate |
Myristyl Myristate |
Oenothera Biennis Oil |
Olea Europaea Fruit Oil |
Oleth-10 |
Oleth-3 |
Oleyl Alcohol |
Orbignya Oleifera Seed Oil |
Palmitic Acid |
Peach Kernel Oil Glycereth-8 Esters |
PEG-10 Castor Oil |
PEG-10 Hydrogenated Castor Oil |
PEG-100 Hydrogenated Castor Oil |
PEG-15 Castor Oil |
PEG-18 Castor Oil Dioleate |
PEG-2 Castor Oil |
PEG-2 Hydrogenated Castor Oil |
PEG-20 Castor Oil |
PEG-20 Hydrogenated Castor Oil |
PEG-200 Castor Oil |
PEG-25 Castor Oil |
PEG-25 Hydrogenated Castor Oil |
PEG-30 Castor Oil |
PEG-30 Hydrogenated Castor Oil |
PEG-30 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate |
PEG-35 Castor Oil |
PEG-36 Castor Oil |
PEG-4 Castor Oil |
PEG-40 Castor Oil |
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil |
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Pca Isostearate |
PEG-5 Hydrogenated Castor Oil |
PEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil |
PEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Isostearate |
PEG-50 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Triisostearate |
PEG-6 Hydrogenated Castor Oil |
PEG-60 Castor Oil |
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil |
PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil Triisostearate |
PEG-7 Hydrogenated Castor Oil |
PEG-75 Castor Oil |
PEG-8 Castor Oil |
PEG-80 Hydrogenated Castor Oil |
Persea Gratissima Oil |
Potassium Castorate |
PPG-12-PEG-65 Lanolin Oil |
PPG-3 Hydrogenated Castor Oil |
PPG-40-PEG-60 Lanolin Oil |
PPG-5-Ceteth-10 Phosphate |
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil |
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil |
Ricinus Communis Seed Oil |
Santalum Album Seed Oil |
Sesamum Indicum Oil Unsaponifiables |
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil |
Shark Liver Oil |
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil |
Sodium Castorate |
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate |
Sorbitan Oleate |
Soybean Oil PEG-8 Esters |
Steareth-10 |
Steareth-100 |
Steareth-2 |
Steareth-20 |
Stearyl Heptanoate |
Sulfated Castor Oil |
Sweet Almond Oil Polyglyceryl-4 Esters |
Sweet Almond Oil Polyglyceryl-6 Esters |
Triethanolamine |
Xylene |
Do Comedogenic ingredients always make the product comedogenic?
It’s important to understand that the presence of a comedogenic ingredient does not automatically render the entire formulation comedogenic.
The final comedogenicity of a product depends on several critical factors:
Formulation synergy: Certain active ingredients like salicylic acid, niacinamide, or retinoids may counteract pore-clogging effects by promoting cell turnover or sebum regulation.
Concentration: Ingredients with low to moderate comedogenicity may not cause breakouts if used in minimal amounts, especially when listed toward the end of the ingredient list.
Vehicle and base: Non-occlusive or water-based formulations are less likely to clog pores, even if they contain mildly comedogenic agents.
Presence of surfactants and exfoliants: Surfactants can help emulsify and rinse away oil and debris, mitigating the risk of comedone formation.
Clinical Perspective: Many acne-fighting formulations include comedogenic carriers or emollients but remain non-comedogenic overall because they are buffered by active ingredients or low concentrations. Therefore, judging a product solely based on the presence of one or two comedogenic ingredients may be misleading.
However, caution is warranted when:
Multiple comedogenic ingredients with a rating of 3 or above are present, especially near the top of the list.
The product is occlusive, greasy, or targets sensitive/acne-prone users without proper balancing actives.
Conclusion:
Spotting comedogenic ingredients in-store or online can be overwhelming. That’s why Dermatocare has developed a unique Regime Finder Tool that:
Screens the ingredient list of 500+ global brands
Flags comedogenic and irritant substances
Tailors skincare recommendations based on your age, skin type, acne severity, and concerns
If you're struggling with persistent acne, especially beyond adolescence, it's time to check for comedogenic ingredients in your products. While these may not affect everyone, individuals with oily or acne-prone skin must be extra cautious.