If you've ever Googled a product's ingredients to see if they're pore-clogging, chances are you’ve landed on conflicting information. One checker says an ingredient is acne-safe, another says it’ll break you out immediately. So... who’s right? And how do you know which pore-clogging checkers to trust?
Here’s the truth: not all pore-clogging checkers are created equally. And SOURCING is everything. Certain ingredients can come up as pore cloggers because they historically were formulated with comedogenic fats, like pure coconut oil. But as ingredient manufacturers evolve every single year, that same technical ingredient could be comprised of a non-pore-clogging fat.
At CLEARSTEM, we saw firsthand how confusing (and fear-inducing) these lists can be, so we set out to build one that you can turn to time and again for reliable information.
But before we get into how we created our Pore-Clogging Checker, let’s unpack the bigger question:
Why Are There So Many Different Pore-Clogging Lists?
This might surprise you, but there’s no official standard for what counts as a “pore-clogging” or comedogenic ingredient. That means anyone—literally anyone—can create a list.
Most checkers are based on a few original studies (like the 1979 rabbit ear test), but from there, things get subjective. Most lists do overlap by about 90%, but the remaining 10% is where things can get sticky.
Here’s why you might notice differences.
Dermatologists and Cosmetic Chemists Frequently Disagree on Comedogenicity
Comedogenicity = how pore-clogging an ingredient is.
Even within professional circles, experts debate what should and shouldn’t be flagged as pore-clogging. Many ingredients (like coconut oil, isopropyl palmitate, and algae extract) appear on some lists and not others, often depending on:
-
Their concentration in a formula
-
The product’s delivery system (cream, serum, oil, etc.)
-
The individual’s skin type and acne type
While this might feel stressful to learn, remember that experts in every field have disagreements on nuances like these. Discourse on this topic is healthy and makes the entire industry better!
No Governing Body Regulates Pore-Clogging Lists
There is no FDA, EU, or global organization that certifies or regulates comedogenic ingredient lists. That’s why:
-
Brands can make their own lists (and many do)
-
Online tools, blogs, and apps all have slightly different versions
-
Some lists reflect the creator’s personal skincare philosophy, priorities, or audience, ie, a heavy focus on natural vs. synthetic ingredients
Because there is no governing standard, ultimately, “non-comedogenic” is a marketing term. Trusting the brand you are purchasing from and understanding their pore-clogging philosophy is key.
CLEARSTEM’s Pore-Clogging Ingredient Philosophy
Our Pore-Clogging Checker and pore-clogging philosophy are built on the work of our co-founder Danielle Gronich—aka The Acne Guru®. Danielle is a clinical esthetician and founder of the San Diego Acne Clinic, where she’s spent over a decade helping thousands of clients clear their skin.
Her skin clearance rate with patients is consistently over 95%, largely due to her extreme attention to detail when it comes to pore-clogging ingredients.
With each and every patient, Danielle examines the ingredient lists of the skincare, makeup, and haircare they are using. Because of this, she’s seen firsthand which ingredients are sneaky breakout triggers—even in clean or natural formulas.
Our Pore-Clogging Checker list is based on her real-world experience combined with the opinions of leading experts.
Every single item on our list is there because Danielle has seen it cause issues again and again in real-world skin.
This isn’t a list pulled from Reddit or Google or even outdated animal testing studies. It’s based on real skin, real results, and years of clearing even the most stubborn, hormonal acne cases.
Why Trust Our Pore-Clogging Checker?
Our Pore-Clogging Ingredients List and Checker is based on Danielle’s real-world experience combined with the expertise of dermatologists and cosmetic chemists. It’s also built to focus on what will actually break you out without being excessively fear-mongering or lacking the nuance of how most products are formulated.
Here are five reasons why our Pore-Clogging Checker is unlike any other!
-
It’s Co-Created with Dermatologists and Cosmetic Chemists
Danielle’s hands-on expertise is paired with the knowledge of dermatologists who specialize in acne and cosmetic chemists who understand how ingredients behave in formulas (not just in raw form). That means our list is grounded in both science and real-life experience.
-
We’re Conservative—But Not Fear-Mongering
We take a thoughtful, ingredient-conscious approach. Some ingredients technically have a high comedogenic rating, but only when used at high concentrations. In most formulas, they’re present at under 1%—a level that usually doesn’t clog pores.
Rather than fear-mongering, we rely on real-world acne outcomes and formulation context. If we know an ingredient won’t break out the average acne-prone person, we won’t flag it unnecessarily.
-
It’s a Living List—Always Evolving
We’re constantly reviewing ingredients, formulas, and community feedback. If something starts breaking people out, we re-evaluate it. The skincare world changes fast—and so does our list. It's not about being trendy or rigid; it's about staying accurate and helpful.
-
It’s Made for Acne-Prone Skin—Not Just Sensitive Skin or Allergies
Some ingredient checkers are focused on allergens or irritants for sensitive skin. That’s important, but it’s not the same as being designed for acne. Our list was built with acne-prone skin in mind—especially hormonal and cystic types—so it’s highly specific to what actually causes breakouts.
Of course, skincare is personal. Always listen to your skin and take your unique concerns (like allergies or rosacea) into account.
-
No Gatekeepers—Just Honest Guidance
Because there’s no governing body for these lists, many are created by influencers, bloggers, or AI tools with no real skin-clearing experience. Some tweak the list just to “stand out” or make bold claims. That’s not what we’re about.
We built our checker to guide—not scare—you, using real acne knowledge, smart formulation science, and decades of hands-on experience.
CLEARSTEM Skincare Contains No Pore-Clogging Ingredients, Ever
When you hear us tell you our products don’t contain pore-clogging ingredients, we’re basing it on our official Pore-Clogging Ingredient List, created by our co-founder Danielle Gronich, The Acne Guru®. But we didn’t make it alone! We created this comprehensive list alongside multiple cosmetic chemists who understand acne and the input of our dermatologist allies and other estheticians we respect.
When it comes to known pore cloggers in skincare, choosing CLEARSTEM products means you are always in the clear (pun intended).
And if you’re using products from any other brand, you can simply copy and paste the ingredient list into our checker to see if it contains pore-clogging ingredients.
We practice what we preach—and want to make it as easy as possible for you to clear up even your most stubborn cases of acne.
