The Popular Skincare Ingredient That Can Cause Clogged Pores And Breakouts, According To Dermatologists
January 8, 2022 by Marissa Matozzo
Breakouts are frustrating no matter what the cause may be— whether that’s stress, PMS or clogged pores. There are many ways your pores, (tiny openings in your skin that release sweat and oil) can become clogged, which often results in the formation of whiteheads and blackheads.
The good news is, you can prevent pore-clogging with the right skincare products and by looking out for certain ingredients that further contribute to acne. We asked two dermatologists and a cosmetic chemist for skincare advice and how to unclog your pores. Their main message is to avoid comedogenic ingredients. Read on for what they entail, what to avoid when reading skincare labels and what products to reach for instead.
Avoid Comedogenic IngredientsWhile looking for instant moisture, many of us mistakenly grab products with comedogenic, or pore-clogging ingredients and not even know it. So, what is comedogenic and what isn’t? What kind of products have potentially pore-clogging ingredients? For the answers to these questions, we spoke with board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Kemunto Mokaya, M.D., to break down commonly pimple-inducing product ingredients.
“Comedogenic ingredients cause breakouts and clogged pores,” says Mokaya. “They include oils and emollients like coconut oil, cocoa butter, palm oil, wheat germ oil, and marula oil.” She also says to look out for five other types of ingredients, the second being lanolin, a waxy substance that derives from sheep wool, commonly used in dry skin creams.
The third group includes alcohols and stearates like propylene glycol monostearate, hexadecyl alcohol and isocetyl stearate. The fourth is fatty acids like stearic acid, wheat germ glycerate and lauric acid. The fifth would be sodium laureth sulfate and the sixth is carrageenan, an extract from red seaweed (commonly known as Irish Moss).
Dermatologist and cosmetologist Ksenia Sobchak points out that coconut oil as a comedogenic ingredient can lead to pore-clogging. “Coconut oil is a kind of essential oil with beneficial properties on the skin,” Sobchak says, referring to users with very dry skin. She says that while coconut oil helps some in “nourishing the hair, skin, and teeth,” it is also thick and oily, making it hard for the skin to absorb. “It’s easily trapped under the skin, leading to pore-clogging,” Sobchak adds.
If you’ve been using comedogenic ingredients such as the ones listed and are experiencing breakouts, we’ve compiled advice on what might work to unclog your pores and still serve your other skincare needs.