Acne-safe ingredient checker
Is your
skincare
acne-safe?
Most breakouts start somewhere on the label. Paste any product's ingredient list and we'll read it for you: what's fine, what's worth watching, and what tends to clog pores.
01
Highly comedogenic
Known to clog pores. The one to skip if you break out easily.
02
Use with caution
Clogs pores for some people. Fine for many, worth watching mid-breakout.
03
Not pore-clogging
Not a pore-clogger. Nothing to worry about here.
04
Not yet rated
We haven't rated this one yet, so we don't guess.
Good to know
Common questions
- How do I find a product's ingredient list?
- On the back of the packaging or the box, and nearly every brand lists it on the product page online. Grab the whole thing, in order. Order matters, since ingredients run from the most used to the least.
- Does a pore-clogging ingredient mean a product will definitely break me out?
- No. Comedogenic means an ingredient has a track record of clogging pores, not that it will for everyone. How much is used, where it sits in the list, and your own skin all change the outcome. One flag is a reason to pay attention. Several flags in something you use every day is a likely culprit.
- What do Highly comedogenic, Use with caution, and Not pore-clogging mean?
- Highly comedogenic is a known pore-clogger, the one to skip if you're acne-prone. Use with caution can clog pores for some people, so it's worth watching if you're treating acne. Not pore-clogging is just that: considered safe for acne-prone skin.
- Why is an ingredient marked Not yet rated?
- It isn't in our data yet. We'd rather say we don't know than guess it's safe, so it stays unrated and the verdict says how many ingredients it was based on. New ingredients are added all the time.
- If a label says non-comedogenic, is it acne-safe?
- Not necessarily. Non-comedogenic and oil-free are marketing claims with no regulated definition, so a product can carry them and still contain well-known pore-cloggers. The ingredient list is the one part of the label that can't spin.
- Which products should I check?
- Anything that touches your face or ends up there: cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, makeup, primer, and yes, haircare. Conditioner, styling products, and hair oils are a classic hidden cause of breakouts along the hairline, jaw, and back.