Makeup Ingredients To Avoid If You Have Acne-Prone Skin

If you’re someone who’s prone to acne, you know the struggle of finding products that doesn’t trigger your skin better than anyone. You might find a product that makes your skin look really good at the moment, but once you take it off, your face erupts. This can be avoided if you stay mindful of the ingredients in your makeup.

“When you have acne-prone skin, the key is avoiding ingredients that are potentially comedogenic,” says Yoram Harth, M.D., dermatologist and medical director of MDacne,

If a product is referred to as “comedogenic,” that means it’s more likely to cause your pores to clog — so for anyone with acne-prone skin, all products should be “non comedogenic.”

Luckily, in this day and age, there’s access to tons of research around ingredients, including those you should stay away from if you have acne-prone skin. Below, is a list of few common culprits that may be the cause of your breakouts.

1. Oils

This includes almond, avocado, and yes — even coconut oil, which is in a lot of natural products on the market. “Just because they’re natural doesn’t mean they can’t cause harm,” Rhonda Klein, a dermatologist at Modern Dermatology in Westport, CT, says. “These oils are highly comedogenic and should be avoided if you have acne-prone skin.”

“Coconut oil clogs pores and is highly comedogenic,” says another dermat.

2. Fragrances

This really goes for all artificial fragrances added to makeup, but the one to really watch out for is benzaldehyde. “Benzaldehyde is an artificial fragrance used by some makeup producers. As with other fragrances, it can clog your pores,” explains Yoram Harth, M.D., dermatologist and medical director of MDacne.

3. Silicone

According to Deanne Robinson, a dermatologist at Modern Dermatology, silicone is yet another ingredient to stay away from in makeup — particularly makeup primers, where it’s often added to give products a smoothing texture. “Silicones can be dehydrating and pore-clogging. A plumping and hydrating ingredient to look for instead would be hyaluronic acid,” Robinson shares

4. Sodium Chloride

This is another name for regular salt, which you think cannot be in your makeup — but turns out, it’s sometimes added to products as a thickening agent. “Sodium Chloride is used in certain types of foundation. Similar to salty food, it can clog pores and cause more breakouts, especially on the chin and around the mouth,” shares Yoram Harth, M.D., dermatologist and medical director of MDacne.

5. Petrochemicals

These won’t actually be called “petrochemicals” on the label — but they’ll still be harmful to your skin. Petrochemicals can pop up on a cosmetic label under the guise of paraffin wax, mineral oil, or petrolatum. These are chemicals used to preserve the shelf life of a product, but they can clog pores”, Robinson explains.

6. D & C Red

This ingredient is more likely something that’s only going to be found in blush — primarily because it’s a red dye. “D & C Red is a synthetic dye produced from petroleum or coal tar, frequently used in color cosmetics. For those with acne-prone skin, the worst are numbers 27 and 40.” adds Harth.

Thankfully, there are skin care products with ingredients that can help heal and prevent breakouts, and looking out for those can make a world of difference. Skin care with salicylic acid can help treat active acne while soothing the skin. Retinols are fantastic for acne-prone skin, as they increase cell turnover.

Read more about the Top Skin Care Ingredients of 2020

That said, it is EXTREMELY important to remove your makeup well at the end of the day to prevent breakouts.

If you think your makeup is the cause of your breakouts, check out the ingredients of your make up products.