Free Pore-Clogging Ingredients Checker
Sneaky Pore Blockers
We’ve made it effortless to check if your skincare and makeup products are truly skin-friendly:
Step 1. Search for your product’s full name in Google followed by “ingredients” (i.e. “Rush Hour Serum ingredients”)
Step 2. Copy the full ingredient list
Step 3. Paste the list into the pore-clogging ingredients checker below
Step 4. Hit “Verify” to instantly see if your product is supporting your glow or clogging your pores
Breakout-Proof Test
If you have acne-prone skin, think of every product you apply as a potential suspect. Labels like “non-comedogenic” or “oil-free” sound reassuring, but here’s the truth: there’s no strict regulation behind those claims. Brands can still sneak in pore-clogging ingredients that work against your skin, not for it. The best way to protect your glow? Always check the ingredient list before letting anything touch your face. Your skin will thank you!
No matter how brands spin it, a pore-clogging ingredient is always a pore-clogging ingredient. Some may claim their formulations make these ingredients “safe,” but science says otherwise. If it has the potential to clog pores, it still does—no exceptions. Stay ahead of breakouts by always checking ingredient lists before anything touches your skin!
List of Pore-Clogging (Comedogenic) Ingredients:
This list is based on decades of dermatological research and clinical studies that identify ingredients known to clog pores. The list was built by cross-checking several comedogenic rating systems and confirming each ingredient with expert advice and trusted sources like Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the International Journal of Cosmetic Science and scientific study by Dr. James Fulton. If an ingredient is on this list, it has a track record of contributing to breakouts, no exceptions.
1-9
1-acetoxyhexadecane
1-hexadecanol acetate
1-hexadecanol
A
Acetic acid hexadecyl ester
Acetylated Lanolin
Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol
Acetylated wool fat
Acetylated wool wax
Active soilAdansonia digitata l.
Ahnfeltia concinna
Alaria Esculenta
Almond Oil
Andiroba Seed Oil
Apricot Kernel Oil
Apricot Oil
Arthrospira platensis
Ascophyllum
Ascophyllum nodosum
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Avocado
Avocado ButterAgar
Ahnfeltiopsis concinna extract
Alaria esculenta extract
Alga bladderwrack
Algae
Algae Extract
Algin
Alginate
Alginic acid
Algea
Aphanothece sacrum polysaccharide
Arthrospira plantensis
Ascophyllum nodosum extract
Asparagopsis armata extract
B
Babassu Oil
BaobabBeeswax
Beef tallow
Bismuth
Bismuth Oxychloride
Black Kelp
Bladderwrack
Blue algae
Blue green algae
Borage Oil
Brazil Nut Oil
Brown algaeBryopsis africana
Buriti OilButyl Octadecanoate
Butyl Stearate
Butyl Stearic acid
Butyrospermum
Butyrospermum ParkiiC
Cacao seed butter
Canola OilCapea biruncinata var. denuda sonder
Capea biruncinata var. elongata sonder
Carageenan gum
Carastay c
Carrot Seed OilCaulerpa lentillifera extract
Caulerpa filiformis
Carrageenan
Carrageenan Moss
Cera alba
Cera bianca
Cera flava
Cera olea
Cetearyl Alcohol + Ceteareth 20Cetyl Acetate
Chaetomorpha linum (aerea) cladophora radiosa
Cherry Seed OilChlamydomonas reinhardtii extract
Chlorella
Chlorophyceae
Chondrus Crispus
Chullu Seed OilCladophora cf. subsimplex
Cladophora radiosaCladosiphon okamuranus extract
Coal Tar
Cocoa Butter
Coconut Alkanes
Coconut Butter
Coconut Extract
Coconut Fruit ExtractCoconut Nucifera extract
Coconut Oil
Cocos NuciferaCocos nucifera oil
cocos nucifera seed butter
Coenochloris signiensis extract
Colloidal Sulfur
Codium Fragile ExtractCorallina officinalis extract
Corn
Corn oil
Cotton Awws
Cotton Awws Oil
Cotton Oil
Cotton Seed Oil
Cranberry Seed OilCreosote
Cupuacu ButterCystoseira tamariscifolia extract
D
D & C Red # 17
D & C Red # 21
D & C Red # 3
D & C Red # 4
D & C Red # 6
D & C Red # 7
D & C Red # 9
D & C Red # 19
D & C Red # 27D & C Red # 30
D & C Red # 33D & C Red # 36
D & C Red # 40Decyl Oleate
Decyloleate
Dicotyledons succinate
Dictyopteris membranacea
Dictyopteris polypodioides
Diethylhexyl sodium sulfosuccinate
Diisooctyl succinate
Diisostearyl MalateDilsea carnosa extract
Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate
Dioctyl Succinate
Disodium laureth sulfosuccinate
Disodium Monooleamido
Disodium Monooleamido peg-2 sulfosuccinate
Disodium oleamido peg-2 sulfosuccinate
Dodecanoic acid
Dodecoic acid
Dodecylic acid
Dunaliella salina extract
Duodecylic acid
DulseDurvillaea antarctica extract
E
EckloniaEcklonia cava
Ecklonia cava extract
Ecklonia radiata
Enteromorpha compressa extract
Ethoxylated Lanolin
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Eucheuma spinosum extract
Evening Primrose OilF
Fucoxanthin
Fucus serratus
Fucus vesiculosus
Flax Oil
Flaxseed OilG
Gamtae extract
Gelidiella acerosa extract
Gelidium amansii extract
Gigartina stellata extract
Glyceryl monostearate
Glyceryl Stearate SE
Glyceryl-3 Diisostearate
Glycine soja oil
Glycine max
Gracilariopsis chorda extract
H
Haematococcus pluvialis extract
Haematococcus pluvialis
Haslea OstreariaHaslea ostrearia extract
Hexadecanol acetate
Hexadecyl Acetate
Hexadecyl Alcohol
Himanthalia ElongataHimanthalia elongata extract
Hizikia fusiforme extract
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Hydrolyzed rhodophycea extract
Hydrous magnesium silicate
Hypnea musciformis extract
Hypneaceae extract
I
Irish Moss
Isoceteth-20Isocetyl Alcohol
Isocetyl Stearate
Isodecyl Oleate
Isohexadecanol
Isohexadecyl alcohol
Isohexadecyl stearate
Isooctadecyl isooctadecanoate
Isopalmitic alcohol
Isopalmityl alcohol
Isopropyl isodecanoate
Isopropyl Isostearate
Isopropyl Linolate
Isopropyl Myristate
Isopropyl Palmitate
Isostearyl Isostearate
Isostearyl Neopentanoate
J
Jania rubens extract
Jojoba ButterJojoba wax
K
KappaphycusKappaphycus alvarezii extract
Karite
Kelp
Kousou ekisu
L
Laminaria
Laminaria DigitataLaminaria Digitata Extract
Laminaria Saccharina Extract
Lanolic Acid
LanolicLanolin acetate
Lanolin alcohol acetate
Lanolin polyoxyethylene ether
Laureth-12Laureth-23
Laureth-4
Laureth-7Lauric Acid
Laurostearic acid
Lcd
Linolate
Linseed
Linseed Oil
Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil
Lithothamnium CalcareumLiquor carbonis detergens
Liquor picis carbonis
Lithothamnium calcareum powder
Lola ImplexaLpc
M
Macadamia Nut Oil
MacroalgaeMacrocystis pyrifera extract
Magnesium Myristate
Mahua Seed OilMangifera indica seed butter
Mango Butter
Marine algaeMarula
Marula oil
Methylsilanol mannuronate
Mink Oil
Moss
Myristate
Myristic Acid
Myristyl
Myristyl AlcoholMyristyl Lactate
Myristyl MyristateMyristate
Myristyl Propionate
N
N-hexadecyl alcohol
N-hexadecyl ethanoate
Norwegian KelpO
Octadecanoic acid
Octadecyl heptanoate
Octyl Palmitate
Octyl Stearate
Olea Europaea Fruit OilOleth-3
Oleth-3 phosphate
Oleyl Alcohol
Olive ButterP
Palash Oil
Palm Butter
Palm Kernel Oil
Palm Oil
Palmaria Oalmarta Extract
Palmaria Palmate
Palmaria palmata extractPalmityl Acetate
Palmityl Alcohol
Palmitic Acid
Papaya Seed OilParkii
Peanut OilPEG-2 Sulfosuccinate
PEG-2 Sulfosuccinate
PEG 16 Lanolin
PEG 200 Dilaurate
PEG-75
PEG 8 Stearate
Pentaerythrityl Tetraoleate
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Pequot Oil
Persea Americana
Persea Gratissima OilPelvetia canaliculata extract
PES
Phaeodactylum tricornutum extract
Phaeophyceae
Phytessence Wakame
Pilu Oil
Pine Nut OilPix carbonis
PG Monostearate
PGMS PPG-2 Myristyl
PPG 2 Myristyl Propionate
PPG 2 Myristyl Ether Propionate
PPG-5 Ceteth-10 Phosphate
Propanoic AcidPlankton
Polyethylene glycol 200
Polyethylene glycol dodecyl ether
Polyethylene glycol jojoba acid
Polyethylene glycol lauryl ether
Polyethylene glycol monododecyl ether
Polyethylene glycol stearate
Polyoxyethylene lauryl ether
Polysiphonia elongata extract
Polyglyceryl-Diisostearate
Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
PorphyraPorphyra umbilicalis
Porphyridium
Porphyridium CruentumPorphyridium cruentum extract
Porphyridium polysaccharide
Potassium Chloride
Potassium CocoatePotassium Salt
Pouteria Sapota Seed ButterPropanoic Acid
Propylene Glycol Monostearate
Pyrene coal tar pitch
R
Rapeseed Oil
Red Algae
Red Palm Oil
RockweedRhodophyta
Rhodophyceae extract
S
Sargassum
Sargassum filipendula extractSargassum fusiforme extract
Sclerocarya birrea
Sclerocarya birrea seed oil
Sea Grass
Sea Mayweed
Sea WhipSeaweed
Sea fern
Sesame
Sesamum indicum
Shark Liver Oil
Shark Squalene
Shea
Shea Butter
Shea Nut OilSheep alcohol
Simmondsia chinensis seed wax
Sles
Slo
Sls
Sodium Alginate
Sodium Alkylethersulfate
Sodium Docusate
Sodium Dodecyl sulphate
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Sodium Lauryl Ether sulfate
Sodium Lauryl
Sulfate
Soja
Solulan 16Sorbitan Monooleate
Sorbitan Oleate
Soy
SoybeanSoybean Oil
Sphacelaria
Spirulina
Squalene
Steareth 10
Stearic Acid Tea
Stearyl Heptanoate
Starch
Sulfated Castor Oil
Sulfated Jojoba Oil
Sulfosuccinate
Sulphated castor oil
Sunflower Butter
Sweet Almond Butter
Sweet Almond Oil
Synthetic Beeswax
Synthetic WaxT
Talc
Talcum
Tallow
Tapioca StarchTea stearate
Tetradecanoic acid
Tetradecyl lactate
Tetradecyl myristate
Tetradecyl propionate
Theobroma butter
Theobroma cocoa seed butter
Theobroma oil
Triticum aestivum
Triticum vulgare
Turkey red oil
Tucuma ButterU
Undaria
Undaria PinnatifidaUlva lactuca
Ulva fasciata
Ulva rhacodes
V
Vegetable gelatin
Vitellaria paradoxa
Vitamin E OilVulvic acid
W
Wakame
Wheat
Wheat Germ Glyceride
Wheat Germ Oil
Wool alcohol
Wool fat
X
Xanthophyta
Xylene
Z
Zea mays