Paste the ingredient list of any skincare or makeup product into this free ingredient checker. It flags pore-clogging (comedogenic) ingredients, fungal acne triggers, fragrance and allergens, drying alcohols, actives and hydrating ingredients.
How to use the ingredient checker
- Copy the full ingredient list (INCI) from the product pack or the brand’s website.
- Paste it in the box. Ingredients can be separated by commas or new lines.
- Tap “Check ingredients” and read the summary and the flags for each ingredient.
What the flags mean
- Comedogenic rating (0–5): how likely an ingredient was to clog pores in older lab tests. 0–1 is low, 3–5 is high.
- Fungal acne trigger: ingredients that can feed Malassezia yeast, such as many plant oils, fatty acids, esters, polysorbates and ferments.
- Fragrance / allergen: perfume, essential oils and listed fragrance allergens such as limonene and linalool.
- Drying alcohol: alcohol denat., ethanol and isopropyl alcohol. Fatty alcohols like cetyl alcohol are not drying.
- Active: ingredients with a specific effect, such as retinol, acids, niacinamide and vitamin C.
Frequently asked questions
What is a comedogenic checker?
A comedogenic checker scans an ingredient list for ingredients known to clog pores, using ratings from 0 (unlikely) to 5 (very likely). This ingredient checker does that and also flags fungal acne triggers, fragrance and alcohol.
Are comedogenic ratings reliable?
They are a useful guide, not a guarantee. Most ratings come from older tests on pure ingredients, while real products contain small amounts in a full formula. A product with one high-rated ingredient near the end of the list may still suit you.
What ingredients trigger fungal acne?
Fungal acne (Malassezia folliculitis) can be aggravated by many oils, fatty acids roughly 11 to 24 carbons long, their esters, polysorbates and some ferments. Squalane, MCT (caprylic/capric triglyceride), mineral oil and dimethicone are generally considered safer.
Why does ingredient order matter?
Ingredients are listed from highest to lowest amount, down to about 1%. A flagged ingredient near the top usually matters more than one at the very end.
Does the checker save what I paste?
No. The check runs in your browser and nothing you paste is sent to or stored on our server.
Sources
Fulton, Comedogenicity and irritancy of commonly used ingredients (J. Soc. Cosmet. Chem.) · Fungal acne and lipids: what science says
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This free tool is for general information only and is not medical advice.