We all desire healthy and flawless skin; some have it god gifted while others always struggle to get that perfect skin texture. Whether you have a perfect skin or not, a good skincare routine is very important to maintain or improve your skin. Do you always read labels before purchasing any skin-care product? Many ingredients are responsible in clogging pores and causing acne! If you are suffering from acne and breakpoints, the culprit could be hiding in your skincare products. Below are the 10 most common skin-care ingredients that are making you breakout:
- COMEDOGENIC OILS
Comedogenic oils and pore clogging ingredients commonly found in skin care and cosmetics are a major cause of blackheads, whiteheads, and break outs. Comedogenic oils are oils that are used in skin care products that have a tendency of clogging pores and can be a reason why you are getting pimples especially if you already have oily skin. Whenever you buy any skin care or makeup product, make sure it is non-comedogenic!
- RETINOL
Retinol helps skin cells create better, healthier skin cells while increasing the amount of skin-support substances. It is indeed a recommended ingredient for flawless skin, but do not forget the fact that it is comedogenic and won’t suit everyone! It can give you tiny pus-filled blemishes.
- SODIUM LAURYL SULPHATE
We all are aware of this toxic and harmful ingredient- SLS or sodium lauryl sulphate majorly used in skin care and hair care products. SLS has even been linked to skin irritation as it strips the skin off its natural oils making it dry and cracked only to make it oilier later thus causing acne. Lookout for products that contain soap nut extract or glycerin as a foaming agent. More: Toxic skincare ingredients to avoid >>
- PARAFFIN
As slick as the petroleum that it is derived from, paraffin creates a smooth cream and gives a soft texture to your skin care products. It does not suit everybody as it can clog pores and cause black heads, white heads, acne, clogged pores etc. If you have oily skin, try to stay away from products that contain paraffin.
- SYNTHETIC/ARTIFICIAL FRAGRANCE
Synthetic or artificial fragrance is nothing but chemical compounds can be wildly irritating to skin, especially if you have sensitive skin. They can irritate your skin causing rashes, bumps, blemishes etc.
- LANOLIN
Lanolin is a fatty substance obtained from the sheep’s wool and is added in skin care products to give it a smooth texture and add in some moisturizing properties. While it’s a known emollient with moisturizing properties, it can have skin-clogging capabilities, triggering the cycle of breakouts.
- COCOA BUTTER
Cocoa butter is a great skin moisturizing agent but works only for dry skin! If you have acne-prone skin or oily skin, this ingredient is best avoided. Cocoa butter is majorly comedogenic, which means that it’s basically guaranteed to clog pores. For dry skin, it can act as a moisturizer by forming a layer and preventing moisture loss but for acne-prone and oily skin it is problematic. Instead, choose products that contain shea butter since it does not cause acne even in acne-prone skin.
- CHEMICAL-BASED COLOURS
Artificial colours are widely used in skin care products for aesthetic purposes. Their ingredients frequently appear as FD&C or D&C followed by a colour and a number. Colour pigments may cause skin sensitivity along with irritation, acne and inflammation. More: Important ingredients to look for in a wrinkle cream >>
- PARABENS
The most common parabens to watch out for are methylparaben and propylparaben. They not only irritate the skin and cause acne but also affect your hormonal balance.
- TRICLOSAN
Triclosan is widely used antimicrobial chemical. With a moderate hazard rating, triclosan should be avoided at all costs. It can accumulate in our fat cells and keep our body in a state of toxicity. It causes irritation of the skin causing redness and acne.