Below is a List of Comedogenic Ingredients that can cause acne.

Unfortunately, they are commonly found in makeup, suntan lotions, cleansers and even acne products! If you are prone to breakouts, eliminating products with these ingredients is a MUST. For products that do NOT cause acne, I suggest looking at the Acne Product Protocols. The Blemish Serum & Beta Lotion are Best Sellers for Cystic Acne. *Cleansers aren't as important as the makeup and lotions you are leaving on your skin all day. ONE EXCEPTION: Cleansers with Sodium Laurel Sulfate will leave a film on your skin ALL day long. This is the worst problem with most cleansers. People with normal/dry skin, that aren't prone to break outs usually don't have a problem with most ingredients on the list.
Comedogenic Ranking: High High High High Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium High High Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium High Medium High Medium Medium High High High High High High High High High High Medium High Ingredient: Acetylated Lanolin Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol Algae Extract Algin Almond Oil Apricot Kernel Oil Arachidic Acid Ascorbyl Palmitate Avocado Oil Azulene Behenic acid Benzaldehyde Benzoic Acid BHA Bismuth oxychloride may cause cystic acne Butyl Stearate Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) Cajeput Oil Camphor Capric Acid Caprylic acid Carrageenans Cetearyl Alcohol Cetearyl Alcohol + Ceteareth 20 Cetyl Alcohol Chamomile Coal tar Cocoa Butter Coconut Butter Coconut Oil Colloidal Sulfur Corn Oil Cotton Aws Oil Cotton Seed Oil Crisco D & C Red # 17 D & C Red # 19 D & C Red # 21

High High High Medium Medium High High High High High Medium High High Medium High Medium High High High High High High High High High High High High High High High High High High High High High High High High Medium High Medium High High Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium High High Medium

D & C Red # 3 D & C Red # 30 D & C Red # 36 D & C Red #27 D & C Red #40 Decyl Oleate Dioctyl Succinate Disodium Monooleamido PEG 2-Sulfosuccinate Ethoxylated Lanolin Ethylhexyl Palmitate Evening Primrose Oil Glyceryl Stearate SE -MUST have SE after the stearate Glyceryl-3-Disostearate-(MUST have a "3" with it) Grape Seed Oil (extract is OK) Hexadecyl Alcohol Hexylene Glycol Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil Isocetyl Stearate Isodecyl Oleate isoproply linoleate Isopropyl Isosterate Isopropyl lanolate Isopropyl Myristate Isopropyl Palmitate isostearic acid isostearyl acid Isostearyl Isostearate Isostearyl Neopentanoate lanolic acid Laureth 23 Laureth 4 Lauric Acid Linseed oil Mink Oil Myreth 3 myrstate Myristic Acid Myristyl Lactate Myristyl Myristate Octyl Palmitate Octyl Stearate Octyldodecanol Oleic Acid Oleth-10 Oleth-3 Oleyl Alcohol Olive Oil (but Olive Oil Extract is OK) Palmitic Acid Peach Kernel Oil Peanut Oil PEG 100 Distearate PEG 150 Distearate PEG 16 Lanolin PEG 200 Dilaurate Peg 75 lanolin

High Medium Medium Medium High High High High High High Medium Medium High High High High High High High High High Medium Medium Medium High Medium High High High High Medium Medium Medium High High High

PEG 8 Stearate Pentarythrital Tetra Isostearate PG Dipelargonate PG Dipelargonate PG Monostearate Polyglyceryl-3-Disostearate (the "3" must be present) Potassium Chloride PPG 2 Myristyl Propionate Propylene Glycol Monostearate Red Algae Sandalwood Seed Oil Sesame Oil Shark Liver Oil Salt - Table Salt or Sodium Chloride Sodium Laureth Sulfate Sodium Lauryl Sulfate-leaves a film on skin-clogs pores Solulan 16 Sorbitan Oleate Sorbitan Sesquinoleate Soybean Oil Steareth 10 Steareth 2 Steareth 20 Stearic Acid Stearic Acid Tea Stearyl Alcohol Stearyl Heptanoate Sulfated Castor Oil Sulfated Jojoba Oil (Jojoba beads are OK) Syearyl Heptanoate Tocopherol (Tocopherol Acetate is OK) Triethanolamine Vitamin A Palmitate-(ONLY this form of Vitamin A) Wheat Germ Glyceride Wheat Germ Oil Xylene Mild- May be used **Please note that mildly comedogenic are generally not a problem when in diluted concentrations. Check to see their ranking of concentration on the ingredient label avocado oil castor oil corn oil d & c red number 4, 6 7 or 8 glyceryl stearate lanolin lanolin alcohol lauryl alcohol mineral oil-fine for makeup

safflower oil sunflower oil

To read a complete article discussing these ingredients, see Are You Making Your Acne Worse?
If you need further assistance with skin care or products, you might want to schedule a free telephone consultation with the owner of Cary Skin Care - Melanie Steigelmann.

** Please note: This list is compiled from several sources, including, Dr. Mark Lees, Dr. Kunin and SEVERAL other clinical trials both in print and on the web. However, we have been very careful but printing errors are possible. This is NOT medical advice and is for informational purposes only. Please see a dermatologist if you have any questions regarding this list or any other medical condition.