Acne Causing Ingredient Checker: 5 Skin Care Ingredients That Can Cause Acne

Here is a list of ingredients that are commonly found in skincare products but can cause or worsen acne.

Acne causing ingredient list

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We all are aware of the skin care junkies in our group and the popular influencers who make reels and posts informing us about their skin care and product repurchases but are you sure they are the right people to guide you?

If not, we are here with our list of ingredients that have been proven to worsen acne and leave scars. Thus, it is also a reminder for people to check their ingredient list and prevent using products while they have active acne if any of these ingredients are present in the product.

1. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, SLS is an effective in getting the lather like consistency on your hands and face while you wash off the dust and makeup from your face but it just makes you feel clean by ripping off the moisture. It dries the skin and causes irritation for sensitive skin.

SLS is a surfactant, the chemical responsible for removing dirt and oil from the skin which can cause significant irritation and inflammation resulting in skin barrier disruption and worsening active breakouts.

2. Sodium Chloride, basically salt and yes, it is not just used in the kitchen but also in your skincare. It can be really harsh on the skin causing inflammation. It is used in products that are used for physical exfoliation and as scrubs. It is used in cleansers for its exfoliating benefits and its ability to thicken formulations for a desired texture. This can result in breakouts thus avoid using the products with 'salt' in it.

3. Coconut Oil, a simple skin acre ingredient which can be found in products or can be used in its raw form for various benefits but it is not that simple. It has always been lauded as a skin savior but it can clog pores thus making it highly comedogenic. It is because coconut oil has both unsaturated and saturated fats like linoleic and lauric acid. Out of the two, lauric acid is known to cause breakouts thus it is not a good pick for acne prone skin.

4. Cocoa butter, sounds perfect, smells delicious and feels like actual butter on the skin but it only feels good. Is it doing good to you? It's a rich emollient ingredient that offers great hydration but just like coconut oil, it is a comedogenic ingredient that can clog pores and contribute to breakouts. It is better suited to dry skin.

5. Oxybenzone is a commonly on the ingredient list for sunscreens, foundations and skincare products since it is a great UV blocker but it may clog pores and exacerbate acne breakouts thus it is wise to choose sunscreens and products for UV protection that have titanium dioxide or zinc oxide instead.