Skincare Ingredient Checker
Is Your Product Safe?
Instantly analyze your beauty products for pore clogging ingredients using our specialized comedogenic checker.
Skincare ingredient checker
Paste your product's ingredient list or search a single ingredient to check
for comedogenicity, irritants, and skin type compatibility.
How it Works?
How our comedogenic ingredient checker works
Copy
Find the ingredient list on the back of your bottle or a retailer's website.
Paste
Drop the text into the box above.
Analyze
Our tool cross-references the list against our comedogenic ingredient checker database.
Result
Ingredients are highlighted and assigned a safety rating from 0 (Safe) to 5 (High Clogging Risk).
List of pore-clogging (comedogenic) ingredients
Having a handy pore clogging ingredients checker list can help you prevent future breakouts and chronic skin irritation. While our interactive app provides an instant analysis, understanding the common culprits allows you to shop with confidence.
For a full A-Z breakdown of over 200+ triggers, visit our Complete List of Pore Clogging Ingredients.
1-Acetoxyhexadecane
1-Hexadecanol Acetate
A & D Additive
Acai Berry Oil
Acetol
Acetulan
Acetylated Lanolin
Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol
Active Soil Complex
Agar
Ahnfeltia Concinna
Alaria Esculenta
Algae / Algae Extract
Algin / Alginate
Aloe Butter
Almond Oil (Sweet)
Amaranth Oil
Andiroba Seed Oil
Anhydrous Lanolin
Apricot Kernel Oil (Prunus Armeniaca)
Arachidic Acid
Argan Oil (Argania Spinosa)
Ascophyllum Nodosum
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Astrocaryum Murumuru Seed Butter
Avocado Butter
Avocado Oil (Persea Gratissima)
Babassu Butter
Babassu Oil
Baobab Oil
Beef Tallow
Beeswax (Cera Alba)
Behenic Acid
Benzaldehyde
Benzoic Acid
Bismuth / Bismuth Oxychloride
Black Cumin Seed Oil
Black Kelp
Bladderwrack
Blue / Blue Green Algae
Borage Oil
Brazil Nut Oil
Broccoli Butter
Brown Algae
Buriti Oil
Butyl Stearate
Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter)
Cacao Seed Butter
Cajeput Oil
Calendula Extract
Camellia Oil
Camphor / Camphor Oil
Canola Oil
Capric Acid
Carnauba Wax
Carrageenan (Chondrus Crispus) / Carrageenan Moss
Carrot Butter
Carrot Seed Oil
Castor Oil (Ricinus Communis)
Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract
Ceteareth-20
Cetearyl Alcohol
Cetearyl Alcohol + Ceteareth 20
Cetyl Acetate
Cetyl Alcohol
Chaetomorpha Linum
Chaulmoogra Oil
Cherry Seed Oil
Chlorella / Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Cladosiphon Okamuranus Extract
Coal Tar
Cocoa Butter (Theobroma Cacao)
Coconut Alkanes
Coconut Butter
Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera)
Coffee Butter
Colloidal Sulfur
Corallina Officinalis / Corallina Officinalis Extract
Corn Oil (Zea Mays)
Cotton Seed Oil
Cranberry Butter
Cranberry Seed Oil
D&C Red Pigments (#3, 17, 19, 21, 27, 30, 36, 40)
Date Seed Oil
Decyl Oleate
Di (2-ethylhexyl) Succinate
Dictyopteris Membranacea
Dioctyl Malate
Dioctyl Succinate
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
Disodium Monooleamido PEG-2 / PEG-2 Sulfosuccinate
Dodecanoic Acid (Lauric Acid)
Dulse (Palmaria Palmata)
Dunaliella Salina Extract
Ecklonia (all species) / Ecklonia Cava Extract
Eicosanoic Acid
Emu Oil
Emulsifying Wax NF
Enteromorpha Compressa
Ethoxylated Lanolin
Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Ethylhexyl Pelargonate
Ethylhexyl Stearate
Evening Primrose Oil
Flaxseed Oil (Linseed Oil)
Fucoxanthin
Fucus Vesiculosus
Gelidiella Acerosa Extract
Gelidium Cartilagineum
Gigartina Stellata Extract
Glyceryl Oleate
Glyceryl Stearate SE
Glyceryl-3-Diisostearate
Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil
Grapeseed Butter
Grapeseed Oil (Vitis Vinifera)
Groundnut Oil
Guava Seed Oil
Haematococcus Pluvialis Extract
Haslea Ostrearia / Haslea Ostrearia Extract
Hazelnut Seed Oil
Hemp Seed Oil
Hexadecanol Acetate
Hexadecyl Alcohol
Hexylene Glycol
Himanthalia Elongata / Himanthalia Elongata Extract
Hizikia Fusiforme Extract
Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract
Hypnea Musciformis / Hypnea Musciformis Extract
Illipe Butter
Irish Moss
Isocetyl Alcohol
Isocetyl Stearate
Isodecyl Oleate
Isopropyl Isostearate
Isopropyl Lanolate
Isopropyl Linoleate / Isopropyl Linolate
Isopropyl Myristate
Isopropyl Neopentanoate
Isopropyl Palmitate
Isostearic Acid
Isostearyl Alcohol
Isostearyl Isostearate
Isostearyl Neopentanoate
Jania Rubens Extract
Jojoba Butter
Jojoba Oil / Butter
Jojoba Wax
Kapok Oil
Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract
Karanja Oil
Kelp (Macrocystis Pyrifera)
Kukui Nut Butter
Kukui Nut Oil
Laminaria (all species) / Laminaria Digitata / Laminaria Saccharina
Laneth-10
Lanolic Acid
Lanolin / Lanolin Oil / Lanolin Acid
Lanolin Alcohol
Lanolin Wax
Laureth-4
Laureth-23
Lauric Acid
Lauryl Alcohol
Linseed Oil
Lithothamnium Calcareum
Macadamia Nut Butter
Macadamia Nut Oil / Macadamia Oil
Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract
Magnesium Myristate
Mahua Seed Oil
Mango Seed Butter / Oil
Marine Algae
Marula Oil
Mastocarpus Stellatus
Mineral Oil
Mink Oil
Moringa Oil
Mowrah Butter
Myreth-3 Myristate
Myristic Acid
Myristyl Alcohol
Myristyl Lactate
Myristyl Myristate
Myristyl Propionate
Neem Butter
Neem Oil
Nori
Norwegian Kelp
Octyl Palmitate
Octyl Stearate
Octyldodecanol
Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil
Oleic Acid
Oleth-3 / Oleth-3 Phosphate
Oleth-5
Oleth-10
Oleyl Alcohol
Olive Butter
Padina Pavonica
Palm Kernel Oil
Palm Oil
Palmaria Palmata
Palmitic Acid
Papaya Seed Oil
Passionfruit (Maracuja) Seed Oil
Peach Kernel Oil
Peanut Oil
Pecan Oil
PEG 100 / PEG 150 Distearate
PEG 16 Lanolin (Solulan 16)
PEG 200 Dilaurate
PEG 8 Castor Oil
PEG 8 Stearate
PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil
Pelvetia Canaliculata Extract
Pentaerythrityl Tetraisostearate
Perilla Oil
PG Caprylate/Caprate
PG Dipelargonate
PG Monostearate
Phytantriol
Phytessence Wakame
Plankton / Plankton Extract
Plum Seed Oil
Polyglyceryl-3-Diisostearate
Porphyra / Porphyra Umbilicalis
Porphyridium Cruentum
Potassium Chloride
PPG 10 Cetyl Ether
PPG 12 PEG 65 Lanolin Oil
PPG 2 Myristyl Propionate
PPG 5 Ceteth 10 Phosphate
Prickly Pear Seed Oil
Propylene Glycol Monostearate
Pumpkin Seed Oil
Rapeseed Oil
Red Algae
Rice Bran Oil
Rockweed
Rosehip Seed Oil / Butter
Safflower Oil (Cooking variety)
Sal Seed Butter
Sandalwood Seed Oil
Sargassum / Sargassum Extract
Seaweed / Sea Grass / Sea Whip
Sesame Oil / Sesame Seed Oil
Shark Liver Oil
Sodium Alginate
Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
Solulan 16
Sorbitan Isostearate
Sorbitan Laurate
Sorbitan Oleate
Spirulina
Squalene (Shark derived)
Steareth-10
Steareth-2 / Steareth-20
Stearic Acid
Stearic Acid TEA
Stearyl Alcohol
Stearyl Heptanoate
Sulfated Castor Oil
Sulfated Jojoba Oil
Sunflower Oil (GMO) / Butter
Sweet Almond Oil / Butter
Tallow
Tamanu Oil / Butter
Tocopherol (Vitamin E)
Tomato Seed Oil
Tribehenin
Triethanolamine
Ulva Lactuca
Undaria / Undaria Pinnatifida
Vitamin A Palmitate
Wakame
Walnut Seed Oil
Water-Soluble Sulfur
Wheat Germ Glyceride
Wheat Germ Oil
Xylene
Zea Mays (Corn Starch)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find the ingredient list for my skincare product?
The easiest way is to look at the physical packaging or the brand’s official website under the “Ingredients” or “Full Formula” tab. You can also search for your product on major retailer sites, then copy and paste the text directly into our pore clogging checker.
Why should I use a checker if my product is labeled "Non-Comedogenic"?
The term “non-comedogenic” is not strictly regulated by the FDA. Many brands use it as a marketing claim even if the product contains ingredients with a high rating on the comedogenic scale. Using a dedicated non-comedogenic checker gives you an unbiased, scientific look at what’s actually in the bottle.
Is a product safe if it only has one or two pore-clogging ingredients?
If you have highly acne-prone skin, even a single high-rated ingredient (Rating 3–5) can trigger a breakout. However, the concentration matters—if a pore-clogger is at the very bottom of the list, it might be less reactive. For best results, we recommend sticking to products that score a “0” on our acne ingredient checker.
Which types of products are most important to check?
You should prioritize checking “leave-on” products that stay on your skin all day, such as moisturizers, sunscreens, and foundations. These have the longest contact time with your pores. Rinse-off products like cleansers are generally less likely to cause issues, but still worth a quick scan.
Can I shop for products that are already verified as acne-safe?
Yes! We have curated lists of top-rated, tested products so you don’t have to do the manual work. Check out our guides for the Best Non-Comedogenic Moisturizers and Best Non-Comedogenic Sunscreens to build a safe routine.
Does the order of ingredients on the label matter?
Yes! Ingredients are listed in descending order of concentration. The first 5 to 7 ingredients usually make up about 80% of the product. If a pore-clogging ingredient is in the top 5, it is much more likely to cause a breakout than if it is the very last ingredient on the list (where it may be present at less than 1%).
What is the difference between "Comedogenic" and "Acnegenic"?
While often used interchangeably, they mean different things. Comedogenic ingredients cause “comedones” (blackheads and whiteheads) by physically blocking the pore over time—this can take weeks or months to show up. Acnegenic ingredients cause an immediate inflammatory reaction or irritation (red pimples) within days of use. Our acne ingredient checker screens for both types of triggers.
