Pores are tiny openings in the skin that release oil and sweat from the body. When dead skin cells, oil, or dirt get trapped in the pores, they can become clogged, leading to skin concerns such as acne. Comedogenicity is a term used to describe the likelihood of a cosmetic or ingredient to clog pores and potentially lead to acne. Noncomedogenic products are designed not to block pores.
To determine whether a product is noncomedogenic, you can look for the comedogenicity scale, which assigns common skin-care ingredients a number from 0-3 or 0-5. The higher the number, the more likely that ingredient is to clog pores; anything rated a 0, 1, or 2 is generally considered “noncomedogenic” . Some examples of ingredients that are considered comedogenic include isopropyl myristate and coconut oil.
If you want to ensure that you’re getting a product that won’t clog your pores, you can look for skin-care products that claim to be both oil-free and noncomedogenic. Additionally, using products that contain retinol or salicylic acid can help clear out dirt, oil, and other debris clogging your pores. However, some people may find that these ingredients irritate their skin, so its important to talk to your healthcare provider before using products that contain them.
To evaluate the ingredients in your personal care products, you can use resources such as the EWG Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database, which reviews products to identify their composition, target demographic, and special product claims. For example, the Benefit Porefessional Face Primer contains cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone, and dimethicone/vinyl dimethicone crosspolymer, which are all types of silicone.
