Pore Clogging Ingredient Checker | Detect Acne Triggers in Skincare & Makeup
Paste your skincare, makeup, or hair product ingredient list to instantly identify pore-clogging and comedogenic ingredients rated on the standard 0 to 5 dermatological scale.
Understanding the 0 to 5 Comedogenic Scale
Our checker evaluates cosmetic formulas using the clinical comedogenicity ratings originally developed by Dr. Albert Kligman and Dr. James Fulton:
- Rating 0 (Non-Comedogenic): Will not clog pores (e.g., Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycerin, Niacinamide).
- Rating 1 (Very Low Risk): Slight chance of clogging, safe for almost all acne-prone individuals.
- Rating 2 (Moderately Low): Low pore-clogging risk; well tolerated by most normal and dry skin types.
- Rating 3 (Moderate Risk): Common trigger for closed comedones and whiteheads (e.g., Avocado Oil, Sesame Oil).
- Rating 4 (High Risk): Fairly high probability of clogging pores (e.g., Coconut Oil, Cocoa Butter, Isopropyl Palmitate).
- Rating 5 (Severe Risk): Severe pore clogger; strong trigger for cystic and inflammatory acne (e.g., Wheat Germ Oil, Isopropyl Myristate, Algae Extract).
Common Skincare Ingredient Checks
- Is Coconut Oil Comedogenic? — Rating 4 (High Risk). Can trigger persistent breakouts in oily and acne-prone skin.
- Is Squalane Comedogenic? — Rating 0 (Non-Comedogenic). Bio-compatible emollient ideal for acne-prone skin.
- Is Jojoba Oil Comedogenic? — Rating 2 (Moderately Low). Mimics natural human sebum.
- Is Shea Butter Comedogenic? — Rating 0-2 depending on processing. Rich emollient for dry barriers.
- Complete 200+ Ingredient Comedogenicity Directory
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I check if my moisturizer has pore-clogging ingredients?
- Copy the full INCI ingredients list printed on your product packaging or retailer website, paste it into our checker box above, and click "Check Ingredients" to see a color-coded safety breakdown.
- Does "non-comedogenic" on the label guarantee no acne?
- No. In the United States and EU, "non-comedogenic" is not an FDA-regulated term. Many commercial products labeled non-comedogenic still contain ingredients rated 3, 4, or 5 on the clinical scale.
- Is my data private?
- Yes. Text parsing and database lookup happen 100% client-side in your browser. We never collect or store your product formulas.