The Clear Skin Program | Pore-Clogging Ingredients

Below is a list of ingredients that can be found in skincare products, makeup, and hair products that can clog your pores and may exacerbate acne. Always check the ingredients of any non-Face Reality products you use on your skin or hair, even if it says “Won’t Clog Pores” or “Non-Comedogenic” on the package.

Natural oils can be some of the worst offenders (like cocoa butter and coconut oil) and are found in many “organic” skin care lines. Other oils such as jojoba, olive, and lanolin are mildly comedogenic and can be a problem if formulated with other comedogenic ingredients. Some prescription products like the cream form of Retin-A, as well as many over-the-counter acne medications also contain pore clogging ingredients. “Oil-free” products can be formulated with pore-clogging ingredients. The following list is meant as a guideline:

Acetylated Lanolin

Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol

Algae Extract

Algin

Butyl Stearate

Carrageenan

Cetyl Acetate

Cetearyl Alcohol + Ceteareth 20

Chondrus Crispus.(aka Irish Moss or Carageenan Moss)

Chlorella

Coal Tar

Cocoa Butter

Coconut Alkanes

Coconut Butter

Coconut Oil

Colloidal Sulfur

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- Sulfosuccinate

Ethoxylated Lanolin

Ethylhexyl Palmitate

Glyceryl Stearate SE

Glyceryl-3 Diisostearate

Hexadecyl Alcohol

Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil

Isocetyl Alcohol

Isocetyl Stearate

Isodecyl Oleate

Isopropyl Isostearate

Isopropyl Linolate

Isopropyl Myristate

Isopropyl Palmitate

Isostearyl Isostearate

Isostearyl Neopentanoate

Kelp

Laminaria Digitata Extract

Laminaria Saccharina Extract (Laminaria Saccharine)

Laureth-23

Laureth-4

Lauric Acid

Mink Oil

Myristic Acid

Myristyl Lactate

Myristyl Myristate

Octyl Palmitate

Octyl Stearate

Oleth-3

Oleyl Alcohol

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

Shark Liver Oil (Squalene)

Shea Butter

Sodium Laureth Sulfate

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Solulan 16

Sorbitan Oleate

Soybean Oil (Glycine Soja)

Spirulina

Steareth 10

Stearic Acid Tea

Stearyl Heptanoate

Sulfated Castor Oil

Sulfated Jojoba Oil

Wheat Germ Glyceride

Wheat Germ Oil

Xylene