Look up a single ingredient and get its comedogenic rating instantly — the 0–5 scale that estimates how likely it is to clog pores. Type an ingredient name below, or search by an alternate label name if you’re not sure what it’s called on the box.
Comedogenic ratings score how likely an ingredient is to clog pores, based on lab testing rather than real-world product use. Lower is better for acne-prone or breakout-prone skin.
Search by common name or alternate label name — we match both.
Fine-tunes the caution level in your result.
Get the 0–5 score, what it means, and label names to watch for.
If the rating is high, we suggest a lower-rated alternative to look for instead.
Type an ingredient name or tap a suggestion below.
"Non-comedogenic" on a label isn't a regulated claim — brands can use it without any standardized testing behind it. The only reliable way to know how a specific ingredient scores is to check it against the actual rating scale, not the marketing on the front of the bottle.
Anyone with acne-prone or oily skin trying to figure out why a product isn't working, and anyone building a routine who wants to check new products before committing to a full-size bottle.
Comedogenic ratings come from lab testing of concentrated, isolated ingredients — real products use much lower concentrations, blended with other ingredients, so a rating-3 ingredient near the bottom of a label often behaves very differently than the same ingredient used on its own. Ratings are a useful starting signal, not a guarantee of how a finished product will behave on your skin.
It's a 0–5 score estimating how likely an ingredient is to clog pores, with 0 meaning very unlikely and 5 meaning highly likely. It's a lab-based estimate of risk, not a certainty for every person or every product.
Most widely cited comedogenic ratings trace back to lab testing methods developed by dermatology researchers, where concentrated ingredients were applied to test skin and follicular response was measured over several weeks. It's the most commonly referenced comedogenicity framework in cosmetic chemistry, even though the original testing method has known limitations.
No. It means the ingredient has a documented tendency toward clogging pores in testing, but real-world results depend on concentration, how far down the ingredient list it appears, the rest of the formula, and your individual skin. Some people use higher-rated ingredients without any issue.
No — "non-comedogenic" isn't a regulated or standardized claim, so brands can use it without independent testing. Checking the actual ingredient list is a more reliable approach than trusting the label alone.
Not necessarily. Several of the highest-rated comedogenic ingredients are entirely natural — coconut oil and cocoa butter are common examples. "Natural" and "non-comedogenic" are two separate questions with no guaranteed overlap.
Yes. Ingredients are listed roughly in order of concentration, so a higher-rated ingredient near the top of the list carries more real-world risk than the same ingredient listed near the bottom, where it's present in a much smaller amount.
Many dermatologists consider ratings of 0–2 generally low-risk for most people, while ratings of 3 and above are worth extra caution if you're acne-prone, especially if the ingredient appears high on the label.
Yes — comedogenic rating is only one factor. Breakouts can also come from irritation, fragrance sensitivity, or an ingredient reacting with something else in your routine, regardless of how it scores on this specific scale.
Not automatically — check where it falls on the ingredient list first. If it's near the bottom, it's likely present in a small amount. If your skin is already tolerating the product well, that's generally a stronger signal than the rating alone.
It means we haven't added a documented rating for it yet, not that it's confirmed safe or unsafe. We prioritize the ingredients people search for most and keep expanding the list.
Comedogenic describes pore-clogging potential specifically. Irritation is a separate reaction — redness, stinging, or sensitivity — that can happen with an ingredient regardless of its comedogenic rating. An ingredient can be low on one scale and high on the other.
Most common silicones, including dimethicone, are rated very low on the comedogenic scale — they typically sit on top of skin rather than absorbing into pores. They can still feel occlusive to some people, which is a separate texture preference, not a comedogenic concern.
No. This tool is meant to help you screen ingredients and shop more informedly, not diagnose or treat acne. For persistent or severe breakouts, a dermatologist can identify causes this kind of tool isn't built to catch.
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