Pore-Clogging Ingredients Checker
Paste the INCI list from a skincare or makeup product and this comedogenic checker flags the ingredients with a high published pore-clogging rating — and tells you which ones only appear on the clinic "acne-safe" lists with no measured rating behind them.
- Find the ingredientsOn the back of the pack, or on the brand's site under “Ingredients” or “INCI”.
- Paste the whole listCommas, line breaks or bullets all work. Keep the original order — it carries meaning.
- Read the flagsEvery ingredient with a published rating of 3 or higher is called out, worst first.
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How the ratings work
The scale runs from 0 (won't clog pores) to 5 (highly pore-clogging) and comes from the rabbit-ear model published by Fulton (1989). It is useful for ranking raw ingredients, but it has limits: an ingredient rated 4–5 that sits low on the list in a small amount often behaves very differently than it does neat. Use the ratings to spot possible suspects if your skin reacts, not as an absolute rule.
Frequently asked questions
What does a comedogenic rating of 5 mean?
5 is the top of the scale and means the raw ingredient clogged pores strongly in the published assay. It does not mean any product containing it will break you out — the amount and the formulation decide that.
Is this checker medical advice?
No. It surfaces published ratings for raw ingredients as a starting point. If your skin reacts, a patch test and a dermatologist are the right path — not an ingredient list alone.
Why aren't all my ingredients recognized?
We match against a database of ingredients with published comedogenic ratings. Ingredients without such a rating (many water-soluble ones) show as 'not in database' — which is not the same as being pore-clogging.
Can a high-rated ingredient still be fine for me?
Yes. Plenty of people tolerate coconut oil or isopropyl myristate perfectly well. The ratings are statistical averages from an animal model; your own skin is the final answer.
Does it matter where on the list an ingredient appears?
Yes. Ingredients used above 1% must be listed in descending order of amount, so a flagged ingredient sitting second carries more weight than the same ingredient sitting thirtieth. Below 1% they may appear in any order, so position tells you little at the very end of a long list.
Is this the same as an acne-safe ingredient checker?
Almost. The acne-safe checkers run by clinics match against lists that publish no method and no source. We match the same names, but we separate the ones with a published comedogenic rating from the ones that are only on a list — the latter appear under 'worth noting' with an explanation rather than as a red flag.
How do I find my product's ingredient list?
It is on the back of the pack, or on the brand's own product page under 'Ingredients' or 'INCI'. Searching the product name plus 'ingredients' usually finds it. Copy the whole list and keep the order — the order carries meaning.
Sources & further reading
- Fulton JE. Comedogenicity and irritancy of commonly used ingredients in skin care products. J Soc Cosmet Chem 40:321–333 (1989) — Table I, pp. 324–326 (the primary source for every rating marked fulton1989)
- American Academy of Dermatology — products labeled non-comedogenic (context on model limitations)
- Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products, Art. 19(1)(g) — ingredients listed in descending order of weight; those under 1% in any order
- US FDA, 21 CFR 701.3 — cosmetic ingredient label declaration (descending order of predominance)
- Face Reality Skincare — pore-clogging ingredient list (a derived clinic list; source of names carrying no published rating here)
- AcneClinicNYC — pore-clogging ingredients checker (a derived clinic list; source of names carrying no published rating here)