Top 5 Pore Clogging Ingredients To Avoid

What is a comedogenic?

Comedogenic is used to describe a pore-clogging ingredient. These ingredients can block hair follicles in the skin, leaving pores clogged with sebum, dead skin cells and debris that contribute to pimples and breakouts. The propensity for an ingredient to clog pores is determined by a comedogenic scale that gives ingredients a score between 0 and 5. Ingredients rating 4-5 are more likely to clog pores, but this will also depend on your specific skin and skin type.

 

Why should pore clogging ingredients be avoided?

In skincare, a comedogenic is often used to soften and hydrate the skin (depending on the type), and they aren’t necessarily bad for the skin. But some ingredients with a higher comedogenic factor aren't always suited for oily and acne-prone skin types that are more prone to clogged pores. You should avoid certain ingredients to minimise the chances of breakouts, as well as prevent a dull or lacklustre appearance that comes with congested skin.

 

What pore-clogging ingredients should I avoid?

The comedogenic scale isn’t necessarily an either-or classification, rather specific ingredients have more pore-clogging tendencies than others. While the list isn’t universal, below we’ve listed a few ingredients found in skincare and cosmetics with a higher chance of clogging pores. 

Butters

Butters can deeply nourish the skin, but their rich texture means they have a very high chance of causing clogged pores. Look out for ingredients like cocoa butter and shea butter that can exacerbate skin concerns that come with clogged pores. 

Plant oils

Not all oils are comedogenic, so you don't have to avoid them altogether. But some oils have a thicker consistency and are more likely to block pores. Similar to cocoa butter, coconut oil and coconut oil derivatives score high on the comedogenic scale. Look out for palm oil, linseed oil, carrot seed oil, and soybean oil as well. 

Mineral oil

In skincare, mineral oils act as a "film" over the skin to trap moisture underneath. But this film can also trap sebum, debris and dead skin cells into the pores. Mineral oil includes petroleum, white oil, and paraffin oil. 

Lanolin

Derived from wool, lanolin has very high hydrating properties, but its thick consistency means it has a much higher likelihood of clogging pores. 

Oleic acid

Rich in omega 3s, oleic acid has the power to deeply hydrate the skin and has soothing properties. However, this ingredient does occur naturally in the body and using it does have a higher potential of clogging pores. 

 

What ingredients won’t clog pores? 

This will depend on your skin type and the specific formula. Depending on their use in skincare, you can find alternative ingredients that provide similar benefits without the pore-clogging factor.

Moisturise and hydrate

• Hyaluronic acid: A naturally occurring substance in the skin that attracts and holds onto water, leaving skin feeling plump and hydrated.

• Glycerin: Another humectant, glycerin provides hydration by attracting moisture into the skin. It’s slightly stickier than hyaluronic acid but still lightweight and non-comedogenic. 

Deeply nourish and repair the skin

• Squalane: A stable, non-comedogenic oil often derived from olives or sugarcane that mimics the skin's natural sebum.

• Evening primrose oil: Rich in gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), this oil can be comforting for blemish-prone skin.

 

How to know if a product is non comedogenic

The chances of an ingredient clogging your pores will depend greatly on your skin type, but the best way to minimise the risk is to look for products labelled “non-comedogenic” when shopping for skincare and cosmetics. Fortunately, all CeraVe skincare products are non-comedogenic, making them suitable for all skin types!