When it comes to achieving clear skin, what you don’t put on your face matters just as much as what you do. That’s why at CLEARSTEM, every formula starts with one non-negotiable foundation: absolutely no pore-clogging ingredients—ever.
Many skincare brands claim to be “non comedogenic,” but we take it much further, meticulously formulating each product without more than 450 known pore-clogging ingredients that can trigger breakouts. But that’s just the beginning.
We also look at how ingredients behave at different concentrations, how they interact with one another, and how they perform on real, acne-prone skin.
This post dives deeper into the standards and priorities that guide our formulation process, from ingredient selection to concentration thresholds. This way, you can understand exactly what makes CLEARSTEM products both effective and breakout-friendly.
Clear skin shouldn’t mean giving up on hydration, longevity, or visible results. You deserve formulas that deliver it all—without compromise or breakouts.
What Are Pore-Clogging Ingredients?
Pore-clogging ingredients, sometimes called comedogenic ingredients, are those that can block your pores and trap oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells. When that happens, it creates the perfect environment for blackheads, whiteheads, and acne to form.
Some of the most common pore-clogging ingredients include coconut oil, coconut alkanes, isopropyl myristate, thick algae extract, and ethylhexyl palmitate, all of which can also be acne triggers.
There can also be tricky ways these are listed out, such as lauric acid, palmitic acid, isopropyl palmitate, carrageenan, Irish moss, laminaria, or octyl palmitate. Basically, it’s too complex from a chemistry standpoint for anyone to remember all these, so we made you a digital checker.
You'll find these ingredients in most skincare formulas because they're added to make them feel silky or moisturizing—but if you’re prone to acne, they can be the very things that cause breakouts, sometimes almost instantly.
It’s also important to know that just because an ingredient is “clean,” “organic,” or “natural” doesn’t mean it’s acne-safe. For example, many moisturizers contain natural ingredients like coconut oil or shea, yet organic coconut oil often = organic pimples.
Sure, coconut oil might be a healthy food, but it’s also one of the most pore-clogging ingredients in skincare, which is why it makes our list of 6 Ingredients That Cause Acne Breakouts (and why it's not found in our facial oil or moisturizers that are specifically made for acne-prone skin and to avoid irritating pores).
Why We Formulate Without Pore-Clogging Ingredients
If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right and still breaking out, hidden pore-cloggers could be the reason. Many products—especially moisturizers, sunscreens, and oils that can double as hair products—contain ingredients that are highly comedogenic.
Even at low concentrations, these ingredients can trigger clogged pores. And if you’re already prone to skin congestion or hormonal acne, pore-cloggers can put your skin over the edge—and often fast. That’s why we leave them out completely.
At CLEARSTEM, we're not concerned about skincare marketing buzzwords. We focus on what actually works for acne-prone skin, and by formulating without any pore-clogging ingredients, we're able to create a skincare routine that actually supports your skin health, rather than working against it.
Our Formulation Philosophy at CLEARSTEM
Meticulously avoiding pore cloggers at problematic concentrations is one of the easiest ways to prevent breakouts and keep your skin clear long term—and that's why it's such a big deal here at CLEARSTEM.
Our co-founder, Danielle Gronich (aka The Acne Guru®), has helped thousands of clients clear their acne-prone skin through her San Diego Acne Clinic. After years of studying ingredient labels, she saw the same pattern over and over again: products marketed as “clean” or “non-toxic” were still packed with pore-clogging ingredients.
Knowing that many people were confused about which ingredients do and do not contribute to acne, we decided to create our own Pore-Clogging Ingredient Checker—a science-backed, dermatologist-reviewed tool that helps you identify hidden breakout triggers in your skincare, makeup, or hair products.
Our list isn’t copied from Reddit threads or outdated studies. It’s based on real-world results, cosmetic chemistry expertise, and Danielle’s firsthand experience working with thousands of acne-prone clients every single day.
No Pore-Clogging Ingredients, Ever
We’ve identified more than 450 known pore-clogging ingredients that can trigger acne through careful analysis of scientific literature and real-life results. You’ll never find these offending ingredients in any of our products.
This is what we call our Clear Pore Promise:
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Every CLEARSTEM formula is free from known pore-clogging ingredients.
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Every final product formula goes through non-comedogenic testing.
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Every product is tested for sensitive skin, safety, and effectiveness.
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Every formula is clinically studied to support hydration and strengthen the skin barrier.
From coconut oil to isopropyl myristate, these ingredients are completely off our list—because clear skin starts with intentional formulations.
Want to see what’s on our full list of no-go ingredients? Explore the Pore-Clogging Ingredients List to make informed choices and prevent breakouts before they start.
Concentration Matters: How We Keep Formulas Non-Comedogenic
Here’s the truth most brands don’t talk about: many ingredients are only pore-clogging at certain concentrations. Something that’s a problem at 20% might be perfectly safe at 0.5%.
Beyond needing to avoid single ingredients, it's key to understand how ingredients interact and at what levels they can cause problems.
Our team of cosmetic chemists works closely with Danielle to be sure that every formula is a good fit for acne-prone skin. We only use ingredients at concentrations proven to deliver visible results—without irritating or clogging pores or disrupting the skin barrier.
When in doubt, we err on the side of caution. We’d rather leave out an ingredient entirely than risk it causing a breakout.
And don't forget: we also support clear skin from within. Our internal supplements are formulated with the same level of ingredient integrity—no pore-clogging or acne-triggering components—because breakouts often start below the surface.
Testing That Goes Beyond the Label
The term “comedogenic” comes from the word comedo, meaning a clogged pore. Early comedogenicity testing (like the 1979 rabbit ear test) gave us a starting point, but we now know that ingredient sourcing, purity, and concentration all affect whether something will actually clog pores. And thank goodness we don’t test on rabbits anymore!
That’s why we rely on modern dermatological research and real-world skin outcomes—not outdated lab tests—to determine what truly belongs on our no-go list.
Our testing process doesn’t stop at “clean” or “non-toxic.” Each CLEARSTEM product goes through multiple rounds of safety and efficacy testing to be certain it’s truly acne-safe.
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Non-comedogenic testing: Ensures the formula won’t clog pores or trap oil.
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Non-acnegenic testing: Confirms the product won’t cause or worsen acne.
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Dermatologist testing: Verifies safety and results under expert supervision.
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Clinical + safety studies: Evaluate hydration, sensitivity, and barrier support.
These tests are conducted through leading clinical research organizations to meet the highest skincare standards. These are actual clinical studies done with real people with acne, and there is a control patch on the skin to compare the effects of the product being tested. They do a “follicular biopsy” at the end of 30 days to see if the pore is being clogged. It’s that scientific!
This is why we're entirely confident in stating that all of our products are acne-friendly—because we’ve tested and proven them to be.
Why Our Pore-Clogging Checker Is Different
If you’ve ever Googled a product’s ingredients and landed on three different answers, there's a reason why. The problem with most pore-clogging lists is that they're often outdated, inconsistent, or based on old animal studies.
Our Pore-Clogging Checker is built differently. It’s a living, evolving database informed by both dermatological science and real-world experience. Here’s what makes our checker unique:
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Co-created with experts: Developed with dermatologists and cosmetic chemists.
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Grounded in real results: Based on thousands of successful acne case studies.
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Always revolving: Updated as formulations and ingredient sourcing improve.
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Built for acne-prone skin: Specifically designed for hormonal and cystic acne, not just skin sensitivity.
If you're feeling overwhelmed trying to memorize every pore-clogging ingredient, we’ve got you. Just head to our Pore-Clogging Ingredients Checker here, paste in any product’s ingredient list, and hit “check.”
And here's a quick tip: When scanning an ingredient label, look for words ending in -ate, -ic acid, or -ester (like isopropyl myristate or ethylhexyl palmitate). These chemical structures tend to be thicker and more likely to clog pores.
If you’re unsure or overwhelmed by long ingredient lists, our Pore-Clogging Checker does the detective work for you. In seconds, you’ll see exactly which ingredients could clog your pores, meaning we do the tricky work of identifying the troublemakers so you can steer clear.
Clear Skin, No Compromises
You shouldn’t have to choose between clear skin and aging gracefully. Our clinically tested formulas deliver visible results without pore-clogging ingredients, hormone disruptors, or toxins.
We’re proud to be the skincare brand that bridges internal + external health—because clear really is more than skin deep.
If you’re ready to simplify your routine and trust every ingredient on your shelf, explore our full collection of acne-friendly skincare and supplements.
