Facial Skincare and Acne

Changing facial products may lead to increased acne. Wondering how you can select the right type of skincare product to avoid acne? The research in this area is still not very strong. We have a good idea which ingredients are comedogenic, ie. have the potential to cause acne; however, products containing comedogenic ingredients may not necessarily be comedogenic. Having said that, you may be able to choose more wisely between some products knowing which of them contain more comedogenic ingredients.

Here is an easy-to-navigate rating of some commonly used cosmetic ingredients and their comedogenic potential:

Comedogenic Ratings (causing acne)
0 – Will Not Clog Pores
1 – Low
2 – Moderately Low
3 – Moderate
4 – Fairly High
5 – High

Oils
Almond Oil – 2
Apricot Kernel Oil – 2
Avocado Oil – 2
Camphor – 2
Castor Oil – 1
Cocoa Butter – 4
Coconut Butter – 4
Coconut Oil – 4
Corn Oil – 3
Cotton Seed Oil – 3
Evening Primrose Oil – 2
Grape Seed Oil – 2
Hemp Seed Oil – 0
Mineral Oil – 0
Mink Oil – 3
Olive Oil – 2
Peanut Oil – 2
Petrolatum – 0
Safflower Oil – 0
Sandalwood Seed Oil – 2
Sesame Oil – 2
Shea Butter – 0
Soybean Oil – 3
Sunflower Oil – 0
Wheat Germ Oil – 5
Shark Liver Oil – 3

Waxes
Beeswax – 2
Candelilla Wax – 1
Carnuba Wax – 1
Ceresin Wax – 0
Emulsifying Wax NF – 2
Jojoba Oil – 2
Lanolin Wax – 1
Sulfated Jojoba Oil – 3

Botanicals
Algae Extract – 5
Aloe Vera Gel – 0
Calendula – 1
Carrageenans – 5
Chamomile – 2
Chamomile Extract – 0
Cold Pressed Aloe – 0
Red Algae – 5

Vitamins & Herbs

Ascorbic Acid – 0
Black Walnut Extract – 0
Tocopherol (Vitamin E) – 2
Vitamin A Palmitate – 2
Panthenol – 0

Antioxidants

Beta Carotene – 1
BHA – 2

Minerals
Algin – 4
Colloidal Sulfur – 3
Flowers of Sulfur – 0
Potassium Chloride – 5
Precipitated Sulfur – 0
Sodium Chloride (Salt) – 5
Talc – 1
Zinc Stearate – 0

Thickeners, Emulsifiers, Detergents
Carbomer 940 – 1
Hydroxypropyl Cellulose – 1
Kaolin – 0
Magnesium Aluminum Silicate – 0
Sodium Laureth Sulfate – 3
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate – 5
Sorbitan Oleate – 3

Alcohol, Esters, Ethers, & Sugars
Polysorbate 20 – 0
Polysorbate 80 – 0
Sterol Esters – 0
Behenyl Triglyceride – 0
Butylene Glycol – 1
Cetearyl Alcohol – 2
Diethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether-0
Glycerin – 0
Glyceryl Stearate NSE – 1
Glyceryl Stearate SE – 3
Glyceryl Tricapylo/Caprate – 1
Glyceryl-3-Diisostearate – 4
Hexadecyl Alcohol – 5
Isocetyl Stearate – 5
Isopropyl Alcohol – 0
Laureth 23 – 3
Laureth 4 – 5
Octyl Stearate – 5
Oleth-10 – 2
Oleth-3 – 5
Oleyl Alcohol – 4
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG 400) – 1
Polyethylene Glycol 300 – 1
Polyglyceryl-3-Diisostearate – 4
Propylene Glycol – 0
Propylene Glycol Monostearate – 4
SD Alcohol 40 – 0
Sorbitan Laurate – 1
Sorbitol – 0
Steareth 10 – 4
Steareth 100 – 0
Steareth 2 – 2
Steareth 20 – 2
Wheat Germ Glyceride – 3

References:

1.A re-evaluation of the comedogenicity concept. J Am Acad Dermatol 2006 Mar;54(3):507-12.

2.https://www.beneficialbotanicals.com/facts-figures/comedogenic-rating.html