Avoid these skincare ingredients if you have acne-prone skin

If you have acne-prone skin, you’d know how tricky it is to find a skincare or beauty product that doesn’t worsen your breakouts. To make it easier for you, we have narrowed down these 5 ingredients you should absolutely avoid if you’re trying to treat and prevent further blemishes on your skin.

#1 Coconut Oil

Sure, it smells great in your sunscreen and hair masks but coconut oil is a comedogenic ingredient i.e. it clogs pores and causes blackheads, which is why this is the #1 ingredient to steer clear of. Look out for ingredients that non-comedogenic if your skin is oily or prone to breakouts.

To try:

If you love oils, try Sapphire Balancing Facial Oil, made with 100% natural and pure plant oils that hydrates deeply without clogging skin. Best of all, it doesn’t even feel greasy on skin and doesn’t cause breakouts.

#2 Fragrance

As much as we love a good scent, fragrances in products are also known as irritants, likely to be the cause for allergies, sensitivities and yes, acne. Whenever possible, avoid products with fragrance altogether and actively look for products that are labelled ‘fragrance-free’.

To try:

Harnessed from pure naturally-sourced olives, Skin Drink Softening & Replenishing Serum provides deep hydration while calming skin. It’s also fragrance free and non-comedogenic, making it perfect for all skin types from sensitive to acne-prone to dry skin.

#3 Alcohol

Many toners include a form of alcohol such as denatured, SD Alcohol 40 or Isopropyl Alcohol in them. While it’s ok to use alcohols in acne spot-treatment products, do ensure that it contains FDA-approved acne fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.

To try:

Clear Tonic Mint-Infused Clarifying Facial Tonic not only clears breakouts, it also strengthens skin against future assaults. This toner is perfect for oily skin types, to mattify and refresh skin all at the same time.

#4 Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter is an ingredient often found in body creams but did you know it also clogs pores and worsens breakouts? This could be the perfect ingredient for those with dry skin but if your skin type is sensitive, cocoa butter can trap bacteria in your pores and cause more breakouts. If you’re looking for hydration, look for ingredients such as glycolic acid or hyaluronic acid instead.

To try:

SW1 Vital Essence not only preps your skin for the other skincare products you’ll be applying to your skin, it also provides a burst of moisture for long lasting hydration, leaving skin soft, supple and healthy.

#5 Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Sodium lauryl sulfate also known as SLS is commonly found in facial cleansers and body washes . This is the ingredient that creates foam and froth in your cleaning products. But SLS has been found to cause damage to the skin’s moisture barrier resulting in skin irritation, so if your skin is prone to breakouts too, it is advisable to look for products without SLS in them.

To try:

Skin Gym Deep Cleansing Gel deep cleanses by breaking down and melting away all traces of oil, impurities and makeup and best of all it doesn’t contain SLS so you can be sure your natural oils aren’t stripped away.