Pore-clogging ingredients list and label checker

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The full list

Every ingredient our screen flags, with the list or reason behind each flag. Link to any row with its anchor (for example #i-isopropyl-myristate).

How the screen works

Matching is literal, not fuzzy. Squalane is not squalene; soybean seed extract is not soybean oil; polyglyceryl-4 diisostearate is not polyglyceryl-3 diisostearate. Over-the-counter drug labels list inactive ingredients alphabetically, so when a list looks alphabetical the checker treats every flagged ingredient as if it were near the top.

What comedogenic ratings can and can't tell you

Most pore-clogging lists trace back to the rabbit-ear assay of the 1970s and 80s, where ingredients were applied to the inner ear and follicles were scored for blockages [3][4]. That model is more reactive than human facial skin, ingredients were often tested undiluted, and results varied between labs. Dermatologists Draelos and DiNardo concluded that a raw material's rating doesn't automatically carry over to a finished product, which has to be tested itself [5]. We use the lists as a conservative filter: they remove known risks, but a pass is not a guarantee. Patch test new products, and see a dermatologist for persistent acne.

FAQ

What are pore-clogging (comedogenic) ingredients?

Ingredients that, in lab tests, tended to block hair follicles and form comedones (the start of blackheads and whiteheads). Common examples include isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, coconut oil, cocoa butter, algae extracts and some lanolin derivatives.

Is this list a guarantee a product won't break me out?

No. The ratings come from tests on raw ingredients, often at high concentrations, and the finished formula matters. A clean result means no known flagged ingredient, not a guarantee.

Why does position in the ingredient list matter?

US cosmetic ingredients are listed from most to least, so the first several ingredients make up most of the product. We flag Acne.org-listed ingredients only in the first seven, but Face Reality-listed ingredients anywhere.

Does this checker store what I paste?

No. The check runs entirely in your browser; nothing you paste is sent or saved.

Sources

1. Face Reality Skincare: Pore-clogging ingredients list (retrieved October 8, 2026)
2. Acne.org: Common comedogenic ingredients (retrieved October 8, 2026)
3. Kligman AM, Mills OH. Acne cosmetica. Arch Dermatol. 1972;106:843-50
4. Fulton JE. Comedogenicity and irritancy of commonly used ingredients in skin care products. J Soc Cosmet Chem. 1989;40:321-333
5. Draelos ZD, DiNardo JC. A re-evaluation of the comedogenicity concept. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2006;54:507-12
6. de Groot AC, Frosch PJ. Adverse reactions to fragrances: a clinical review. Contact Dermatitis. 1997;36:57-86 (fragrance allergy)
7. EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 (Annex III fragrance-allergen labeling)
8. ACOG: Skin conditions during pregnancy (FAQ)

Not medical advice. Flags are educational. If you have severe or scarring acne, or a reaction that doesn't settle, see a board-certified dermatologist.

Related guides

• Non-comedogenic moisturizers: what the label means, and which ones pass a stricter screenWhy “non-comedogenic” isn't a guarantee, and moisturizers that pass a stricter ingredient screen.
• How to read a skincare ingredient listThe descending-order rule, the 1% line, why drug labels are alphabetical, and what to scan for.
• A skincare routine for acne-prone skin that doesn't fight itselfMatch the active to your breakouts, keep everything else pore-safe and gentle, and give it at least 4–6 weeks.
• Fragrance-free vs unscented: what the labels actually meanWhy “unscented” can still contain fragrance, and how artificial fragrance differs from essential oils.