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Many skincare products—even “clean” or expensive ones—contain ingredients that clog pores and trigger acne. Common culprits include coconut oil, lanolin, and synthetic dyes. This post breaks down the top 10 acne-causing ingredients, explains what to look for on labels, and how to use ChekIt to scan product lists automatically. We also share a few lifestyle tweaks to help prevent breakouts from the inside out.
If you’re struggling with breakouts—or helping clients who are—it’s not just about hormones or stress. Products play a huge role. Even “non-comedogenic” items can contain hidden pore-cloggers, especially when misused or layered incorrectly.
These are some of the most common offenders found in everything from moisturizers to SPF:
→ Ultra comedogenic. Found in lotions and primers. Smooths texture but clogs pores like crazy.
→ Natural, yes. But it has a comedogenic rating of 4 — not ideal for acne-prone skin.
→ Derived from sheep’s wool. Often in creams and balms. Occlusive and likely to clog pores.
→ Found in “clean” or spa products. Sneaky trigger for some acne-prone users.
→ High vitamin E content, but it ranks a 5 on the comedogenic scale. One of the worst.
→ Common emulsifiers and surfactants. These show up in face washes and serums.
→ Found in blush, lipstick, and tinted skincare. Can cause breakouts, especially around the cheeks.
→ Common in cream makeup and moisturizers. Comedogenic rating of 4.
→ Can irritate sensitive skin and trigger inflammation that worsens acne.
→ Not always bad, but in some users they can trap oil and bacteria, especially if not removed properly.
Checking every ingredient manually is exhausting (and often unreliable). That’s where tools like ChekIt come in.
With ChekIt, you can:
Contact Us to get started!
Ingredients are a big piece of the puzzle — but here are a few other game changers:
Pro Tip: If a breakout shows up 3–5 days after starting a product, check its top 5 ingredients.
We’ve created a simple 1-page printable of the Top 10 Acne-Causing Ingredients, perfect for:
Download the cheat sheet → Contact Us to Get It
You could memorize the top 300 acne triggers—or you could paste the product into ChekIt and see them instantly flagged. Whether you’re shopping, recommending, or selling, ingredient transparency is the new skincare standard.
