Comedogenic Ingredients

Comedogenic means there is a potential to clog pores.

Comedogenic ingredients tend to be fatty emollients (but not all fats). Below is a list of comedogenic ingredients that are commonly found in skin care and makeup. There are many lists like this floating around. And this is not a definitive list either because comedogenicity is complex. In fact, avoiding particular ingredients isn’t helpful because what really matters is the comedogenicity of the final product.

The degree of comedogenicity is determined by the quantity of the ingredient in question, the length of time it sits on the skin, where on the face or body it is applied, whether there are other comedogenic ingredients in the product, and individual skin chemistry.

In fact, comedogenicity is highly variable across people due to differences in a person’s skin enzymes. An ingredient may be highly comedogenic for one person, but not at all for another.

Also, the combination of ingredients in a product matters. You could have a combination of comedogenic ingredients but end up with a non-comedogenic product. And vice versa too. A product could be made of non-comedogenic ingredients but end up being comedogenic.

The method in which an ingredient is extracted and processed also matters. For example, mineral oil, which is often considered comedogenic is actually minimally comedogenic when it is cosmetic or pharmaceutical grade (extremely refined). A lower grade (less pure) oil is much more comedogenic.

Another thing to keep in mind, a comedogenic product may not clog skin immediately. It can take months of using it before clogging appears.

Highly Comedogenic

  • Acetylated lanolin alcohol
  • Butyl stearate
  • Cocoa butter
  • Decaglyceryl decaoleate
  • Flax (linseed) oil
  • Isocetyl stearate
  • Isoparaffin C9-11
  • Isopropyl isostearate
  • Isopropyl lanolate
  • Isopropyl linoleate
  • Isopropyl myristate
  • Isopropyl neopentanoate
  • Isopropyl palmitate
  • Isostearic acid
  • Lanolic acid
  • Myreth 3 myristate
  • Myristyl lactate
  • Myristyl myristate
  • Myristyl propionate
  • Octyl palmitate
  • Octyl stearate
  • Oleic acid
  • Oleyl alcohol
  • Peach kernel oil
  • Squalene [Note the spelling: not Squalane, which is a different ingredient]
  • Sweet almond oil
  • Wheat germ oil

Moderately Comedogenic

  • Ceramides
  • Coconut oil
  • Decyl oleate
  • Grape seed oil
  • Hexylene glycol
  • Isostearyl alcohol
  • Laneth-10
  • Laureth-4
  • Lauric acid
  • Linoleic acid
  • Linolenic acid
  • Mink oil
  • Myristic acid
  • Myristyl lactate
  • Octyl dodecanol
  • Palmitic acid
  • Peanut oil
  • Sesame oil
  • Sorbitan oleate
  • Tocopherol

Mildly Comedogenic

  • Avocado oil
  • Behenic acid
  • Black currant oil
  • Borage oil
  • Capric acid
  • Caprylic acid
  • Capric/Caprylic (Tri)glycerides
  • Castor oil
  • Corn oil
  • Crisco
  • Evening primrose oil
  • Glyceryl stearate
  • Lanolin (anhydrous)
  • Lanolin alcohol
  • Lanolin oil
  • Lauryl alcohol
  • Mineral oil (cosmetic grade)
  • Peanut oil
  • Safflower oil
  • Sunflower oil

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