Acne Cosmetica

Perhaps you have an acne problem or maybe you just break out from time to time. Regardless, if you want to get rid of acne, you need to be careful of makeup that can cause acne cosmetica and worsen existing acne. When you go to the cosmetics counter seeking to buy makeup, moisturizer, or anything to put on your face, look at the label. If the words “hypoallergenic” or “non-comedogenic” make you feel confident that the product is good and safe for your skin, then you may very well have been duped. Many of the products that bear the label of some of the most trusted, most recognized cosmeceutical companies in the world have ingredients that can clog pores or exacerbate skin conditions. Here are just a few common makeup products that contain ingredients proven to make acne worse:

• Bare Minerals SPF 15 Matte Foundation
• MAC Studio Fix
• Laura Mercier Oil-Free Tinted Moisturizer
• Nars Blush
• Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder
• Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup
• Clinique Acne Solutions Liquid Makeup

As you can see, just because a product says “oil-free,” “healthy skin,” or “acne solutions” on the label doesn’t mean that it’s a safe choice for acne-prone skin.

To determine whether or not a product is safe to use, we recommend that our clients check the ingredients of every makeup product used on an acne-prone area of the face against our pore-clogging ingredients list. If you want to check the ingredients on the products you already have, you may have to go online to get the list of ingredients. Many skin care products only have the ingredients on the outside packaging. If you are prone to breakouts, it’s worth it to do the research and make sure your makeup isn’t making your skin worse.

Skin care products can also contain pore-clogging ingredients—even products that are designed to treat acne—so check the ingredients of those products, as well. You may believe that you’re safe with a specific skin care cream or gel because it was prescribed by your dermatologist. Wrong. A prime example is Retin-A, a topical retinoid cream for acne originally formulated by Dr. James Fulton. Unfortunately, the present owner of that patent is formulating the cream form of Retin-A with isopropyl myristate, an extremely pore clogging ingredient. Several of our clients came to us with severe acne because their condition became considerably worse following their prescribed use of the cream form of Retin-A.

Isopropyl myristate is just one of dozens of ingredients used by cosmeceutical companies that clog pores and make acne worse. So if you want to get rid of acne and take charge of your own skin care, always check the label.

Content provided courtesy of Face Reality Acne Clinic. Wendy Christman is a Face Reality Acne Specialist providing quality acne education and treatments to the Olympia, Wa and surrounding areas.