I am not talking about toxins or chemicals. When I say poison, I refer to pore cloggers or comedogenic ingredients, which make their way down into the pores and form comedones, aka Acne. Anyone who is acne prone, even those who may get a pimple here or there, will be affected by pore-clogging ingredients.

Unfortunately, those experiencing cosmetic acne are unlikely to make the connection because the acne may take up to six months to develop from a product. The more you break out, the more product you use to cover it, causing more blemishes.

There are many products labeled "Non-Comedogenic," "Won't Clog Pores," and Hypoallergenic" that has some of the worst ingredients that will plug up the pores. Over-the-counter acne medications from the drug store are a major concern for us acne specialists because of this labeling skincare companies use to trick consumers into thinking the product will not cause acne when in fact, it fuels the fire. The government agency regulates drug claims but does not regulate marketing terms like "acne safe", "Free from," and "non-comedogenic."

You might wonder why manufacturers use pore cloggers in personal care products in the first place. There are several reasons chemists use these ingredients in formulas. Some of these acne-causing ingredients, like isopropyl myristate, which is one of the most clogging ingredient, is used to make the product apply more smoothly. Unfortunately, this also allows it to slide down into the pore, causing a plug. Some ingredients, like pigments, give makeup its color in cosmetic products.

 Some of the worst offenders are products marketed as natural skin care products because consumers believe them to be the best and safest option. The common ingredients in these Organic skin care products use natural oils and butter like coconut oil, olive oil, palm oils, shea butter, and cocoa butter, which will wreak havoc on acne-prone skin.

 For us acne-prone individuals, it is your best bet to check the list of ingredients in your current set of products and anything that may touch your skin surface. Hair care can be a big offender, check your hair products, acne products, and makeup products to ensure you are using acne-safe products. Also, check your toothpaste and fabric softeners, I have seen clients break out from both of those. This is the first step to getting clear skin.

I know checking the ingredients of products sounds like a daunting task, but trust me, this is the best way to ensure healthy skin. I have made this easy-to-use online search tool for acne sufferers to make the safest choice for our skin.

Online Pore-Clogging Ingredient Search Tool

I compiled this list of pore-clogging ingredients from the scientific study Comedogenicity and irritancy of commonly used ingredients in skin care products by Dr. James E. Fulton. Ingredient list by comedogenic rating, 0-5 rating, 5 being the highest rate of comedogenicity and irritancy, and 0 being the least.