Pore-Clogging Ingredient Checker

Paste a product’s ingredient list below. This tool flags exact matches from our pore-clogging ingredient list.

This checker is a reference tool only. Comedogenicity depends on formulation, concentration, and individual skin type.

Common Pore-Clogging Ingredients (Reference List)

  • Acetylated Lanolin
  • Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol
  • Algae Extract
  • Algin
  • Butyl Stearate
  • Carrageenan
  • Cetyl Acetate
  • Cetearyl Alcohol + Ceteareth 20
  • Chondrus Crispus (aka Irish Moss or Carageenan Moss)
  • Chlorella
  • Coal Tar
  • Cocoa Butter
  • Coconut Alkanes
  • Coconut Butter
  • Coconut Oil
  • Colloidal Sulfur
  • Cotton Seed Oil
  • D & C Red # 17
  • D & C Red # 21
  • D & C Red # 3
  • D & C Red # 30
  • D & C Red # 36
  • Decyl Oleate
  • Dioctyl Succinate
  • Disodium Monooleamido PEG 2- Sulfosuccinate
  • Ethoxylated Lanolin
  • Ethylhexyl Palmitate
  • Glyceryl Stearate SE
  • Glyceryl-3 Diisostearate
  • Hexadecyl Alcohol
  • Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
  • Isocetyl Alcohol
  • Isocetyl Stearate
  • Isodecyl Oleate
  • Isopropyl Isostearate
  • Isopropyl Linolate
  • Isopropyl Myristate
  • Isopropyl Palmitate
  • Isostearyl Isostearate
  • Isostearyl Neopentanoate
  • Kelp
  • Laminaria Digitata Extract
  • Laminaria Saccharina Extract (Laminaria Saccharine)
  • Laureth-23
  • Laureth-4
  • Lauric Acid
  • Mink Oil
  • Myristic Acid
  • Myristyl Lactate
  • Myristyl Myristate
  • Octyl Palmitate
  • Octyl Stearate
  • Oleth-3
  • Oleyl Alcohol
  • PEG 16 Lanolin
  • PEG 200 Dilaurate
  • PEG 8 Stearate
  • PG Monostearate
  • PPG 2 Myristyl Propionate
  • Plankton
  • Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate
  • Potassium Chloride
  • Propylene Glycol Monostearate
  • Red Algae
  • Seaweed
  • Shark Liver Oil (Squalene)
  • Shea Butter
  • Sodium Laureth Sulfate
  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
  • Solulan 16
  • Sorbitan Oleate
  • Soybean Oil (Glycine Soja)
  • Spirulina
  • Steareth 10
  • Stearic Acid Tea
  • Stearyl Heptanoate
  • Sulfated Castor Oil
  • Sulfated Jojoba Oil
  • Wheat Germ Glyceride
  • Wheat Germ Oil
  • Xylene

About this ingredient list

The ingredients listed are some of the most commonly associated with pore congestion in acne-prone skin. They tend to be heavier, more occlusive, or lipid-rich, which can make it easier for oil, dead skin cells, and debris to become trapped inside the pore.

Not everyone will experience breakouts from these ingredients. Skin reactions depend on the full formula, quality of the ingredient, concentration, frequency of use, and individual skin type. This list is meant to be a helpful reference — not a definitive rule for every product or every person.