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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, bring in your current products & we will go over a plan during your consultation on what I would recommend for you. 

*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    Ingredient:
Ranking:
High Acetylated Lanolin
High Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol
High Algae Extract
High Algin
Medium Almond Oil
Medium Apricot Kernel Oil
Medium Arachidic Acid
Medium Ascorbyl Palmitate
Medium Avocado Oil
Medium Azulene
Medium Behenic acid
Medium Benzaldehyde
Medium Benzoic Acid
Medium BHA
High Bismuth oxychloride may cause cystic acne
High Butyl Stearate
Medium Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)
Medium Cajeput Oil
Medium Camphor
Medium Capric Acid
Medium Caprylic acid
High Carrageenans
Medium Cetearyl Alcohol
High Cetearyl Alcohol + Ceteareth 20
Medium Cetyl Alcohol
Medium Chamomile
High Coal tar
High Cocoa Butter
High Coconut Butter
High Coconut Oil
High Colloidal Sulfur
High Corn Oil
High Cotton Aws Oil
High Cotton Seed Oil
High Crisco
High D & C Red # 17
Medium D & C Red # 19
High D & C Red # 21
High D & C Red # 3
High D & C Red # 30
High D & C Red # 36
Medium D & C Red #27
Medium D & C Red #40
High Decyl Oleate
High Dioctyl Succinate
High Disodium Monooleamido PEG 2-Sulfosuccinate
High Ethoxylated Lanolin
High Ethylhexyl Palmitate
Medium Evening Primrose Oil
High Glyceryl Stearate SE -MUST have SE after the stearate
High Glyceryl-3-Disostearate-(MUST have a "3" with it)
Medium Grape Seed Oil (extract is OK)
High Hexadecyl Alcohol
Medium Hexylene Glycol
High Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
High Isocetyl Stearate
High Isodecyl Oleate
High isoproply linoleate
High Isopropyl Isosterate
High Isopropyl lanolate
High Isopropyl Myristate
High Isopropyl Palmitate
High isostearic acid
High isostearyl acid
High Isostearyl Isostearate
High Isostearyl Neopentanoate
High lanolic acid
High Laureth 23
High Laureth 4
High Lauric Acid
High Linseed oil
High Mink Oil
High Myreth 3 myrstate
High Myristic Acid
High Myristyl Lactate
High Myristyl Myristate
High Octyl Palmitate
High Octyl Stearate
Medium Octyldodecanol
High Oleic Acid
Medium Oleth-10
High Oleth-3
High Oleyl Alcohol
Medium Olive Oil (but Olive Oil Extract is OK)
Medium Palmitic Acid
Medium Peach Kernel Oil
Medium Peanut Oil
Medium PEG 100 Distearate
Medium PEG 150 Distearate
High PEG 16 Lanolin
High PEG 200 Dilaurate
Medium Peg 75 lanolin
High PEG 8 Stearate
Medium Pentarythrital Tetra Isostearate
Medium PG Dipelargonate
Medium PG Dipelargonate
High PG Monostearate
High Polyglyceryl-3-Disostearate (the "3" must be present)
High Potassium Chloride
High PPG 2 Myristyl Propionate
High Propylene Glycol Monostearate
High Red Algae
Medium Sandalwood Seed Oil
Medium Sesame Oil
High Shark Liver Oil
High Salt - Table Salt or Sodium Chloride
High Sodium Laureth Sulfate
High Sodium Lauryl Sulfate-leaves a film on skin-clogs pores
High Solulan 16
High Sorbitan Oleate
High Sorbitan Sesquinoleate
High Soybean Oil
High Steareth 10
Medium Steareth 2
Medium Steareth 20
Medium Stearic Acid
High Stearic Acid Tea
Medium Stearyl Alcohol
High Stearyl Heptanoate
High Sulfated Castor Oil
High Sulfated Jojoba Oil (Jojoba beads are OK)
High Syearyl Heptanoate
Medium Tocopherol (Tocopherol Acetate is OK)
Medium Triethanolamine
Medium Vitamin A Palmitate-(ONLY this form of Vitamin A)
High Wheat Germ Glyceride
High Wheat Germ Oil
High 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 an appointment with the owner of Cary Skin Care - Melanie Steigelmann, 919-740-5494

** 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.