Every entry below comes from the same database Nitavera's free product checker uses — 112 ingredient groups covering 300+ INCI label names. Plain English, no marketing: what each one does, which ones can clog pores or irritate reactive skin, and what to double-check during pregnancy.
Check a product against your skin — free →
BHA exfoliant — unclogs pores. Pregnancy: check with your doctor first.
On labels as: bha, betaine salicylate
Natural salicin — mild BHA-like exfoliant. Pregnancy: check with your doctor first.
On labels as: salix alba, salix
Salicylate — mild exfoliant. Pregnancy: check with your doctor first.
On labels as: magnesium salicylate
AHA exfoliant — smooths & brightens. Can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
Gentle AHA — exfoliates & hydrates.
Mild AHA — good for sensitive/acne skin.
Retinoid — anti-acne & anti-aging. Low comedogenic rating (1/5). Can irritate sensitive or reactive skin. Usually skipped during pregnancy — ask your OB-GYN.
On labels as: retinal, retinaldehyde, retinyl palmitate, hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinoid
Prescription-grade retinoid for acne. Can irritate sensitive or reactive skin. Usually skipped during pregnancy — ask your OB-GYN.
Kills acne bacteria. Can irritate sensitive or reactive skin. Pregnancy: check with your doctor first.
Calms redness, fades marks, clears acne.
Calms, controls oil, fades marks.
On labels as: nicotinamide
Antioxidant — brightens & evens tone.
On labels as: ascorbic acid, ascorbyl glucoside, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, ethyl ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate
Fades stubborn pigment & dark patches.
Gentle brightener for dark spots.
On labels as: alpha-arbutin, arbutin
Strong skin-lightener (use under guidance). Can irritate sensitive or reactive skin. Usually skipped during pregnancy — ask your OB-GYN.
Gentle plant-based retinol alternative. Low comedogenic rating (1/5). Pregnancy: check with your doctor first.
On labels as: psoralea corylifolia extract, babchi
Brightener — fades dark spots & evens tone. Pregnancy: check with your doctor first.
On labels as: kojic dipalmitate
Gentle exfoliating acid — good for sensitive skin.
On labels as: gluconolactone, lactobionic acid, polyhydroxy acid, gluconic acid
Dries out spots & absorbs excess oil.
On labels as: sulphur, colloidal sulfur
Antioxidant — protects & conditions.
On labels as: tocopherol, tocopheryl acetate, vitamin e
Antioxidant & soothing.
On labels as: camellia sinensis
Antioxidant/preservative sulfite — possible allergen.
On labels as: sodium metabisulphite, sodium bisulfite, sodium sulfite, potassium metabisulfite
Antioxidant — boosts & stabilizes vitamin C.
Antioxidant — defends against daily damage. Pregnancy: check with your doctor first.
Antioxidant — temporarily de-puffs & tightens look.
On labels as: coffea arabica seed extract, coffee seed extract
Soothes redness & brightens uneven tone.
On labels as: licorice root extract, glycyrrhiza glabra root extract, dipotassium glycyrrhizate, glycyrrhiza inflata root extract, glycyrrhetinic acid, licorice extract
Bee resin — soothing antioxidant (possible allergen). Low comedogenic rating (1/5).
On labels as: propolis extract, bee propolis, propolis cera
Signal peptides — support firmness & bounce.
On labels as: palmitoyl tripeptide-1, palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, palmitoyl hexapeptide-12, matrixyl, palmitoyl oligopeptide
Copper signal peptide — firms & conditions. Pregnancy: check with your doctor first.
On labels as: copper peptide, copper tripeptide-1, ghk-cu, copper tripeptide
Humectant — pulls in water, plumps.
On labels as: sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid
Humectant — core hydrator.
On labels as: glycerol
Soothes & supports the barrier.
On labels as: pro-vitamin b5, provitamin b5
Hydrates & gently exfoliates.
Humectant / solvent.
Humectant & preservative-booster.
Humectant / solvent.
On labels as: pentylene glycol, propanediol
Humectant from beets.
Humectant — part of skin's NMF.
Soothing, hydrating botanical.
On labels as: aloe barbadensis
Hydrating filtrate — plumps & soothes. Low comedogenic rating (1/5).
On labels as: snail secretion filtrate, snail slime extract
Humectant — draws in & holds moisture.
On labels as: mel, honey extract
Humectant — holds moisture at the surface.
On labels as: sodium polyglutamate, gamma-pga
Sugar humectant — guards against dehydration.
Soothing hydrator from oats & yeast.
On labels as: beta glucan, sodium carboxymethyl beta-glucan
Moisture-binding protectant for stressed skin.
On labels as: ectoine
Zinc humectant — helps balance oily skin.
Rebuilds the skin barrier.
On labels as: ceramide
Soothes & supports healing.
On labels as: cica, madecassoside, asiaticoside
Soothing & calming.
Calms itch & irritation.
On labels as: avena sativa
Mineral SPF / soothing. Low comedogenic rating (1/5).
Soothing (from chamomile).
Mineral SPF. Low comedogenic rating (1/5).
Chemical filter — key UVA (long-wave) protector. Pregnancy: check with your doctor first.
On labels as: butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, bmdbm, parsol 1789
Chemical UVB filter — hormone-debated. Pregnancy: check with your doctor first.
On labels as: ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, octyl methoxycinnamate, emc
Chemical UV filter — most allergy-prone, hormone-debated. Pregnancy: check with your doctor first.
On labels as: benzophenone-3, benzophenone 3, bp-3
Chemical UVB filter — EU-restricted, hormone-debated. Pregnancy: check with your doctor first.
On labels as: homomenthyl salicylate
Chemical UVB filter — stabilizer (hormone-debated). Pregnancy: check with your doctor first.
On labels as: ethylhexyl salicylate, octyl salicylate, 2-ethylhexyl salicylate
Chemical UV filter — stabilizer; benzophenone-debated. Low comedogenic rating (1/5). Pregnancy: check with your doctor first.
Modern UV filters — broad-spectrum, low-absorption.
On labels as: bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine, bemotrizinol, tinosorb s, methylene bis-benzotriazolyl tetramethylbutylphenol, bisoctrizole, tinosorb m
Water-soluble chemical UVB filter.
On labels as: phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid, pbsa
Lightweight, non-clogging emollient. Low comedogenic rating (1/5).
On labels as: squalene
Silicone — smooths & seals moisture. Low comedogenic rating (1/5).
On labels as: cyclopentasiloxane, cyclomethicone
Rich emollient for dry skin. Low comedogenic rating (2/5).
On labels as: butyrospermum parkii
Occlusive — locks in moisture. Low comedogenic rating (1/5).
On labels as: petroleum jelly, paraffinum liquidum, mineral oil
Rich oil — can clog acne-prone skin. Comedogenic rating 4/5.
On labels as: cocos nucifera
Heavy butter — comedogenic. Comedogenic rating 4/5.
On labels as: theobroma cacao
Texture agent — often pore-clogging. Comedogenic rating 4/5.
On labels as: isopropyl palmitate, myristyl myristate
Occlusive — comedogenic & a common allergen. Comedogenic rating 3/5.
Heavy oil — highly comedogenic. Comedogenic rating 5/5.
On labels as: triticum vulgare
Light oil — usually well tolerated. Low comedogenic rating (2/5).
On labels as: simmondsia chinensis, jojoba
Light nourishing oil. Low comedogenic rating (1/5).
On labels as: rosa canina, rosehip
Lightweight emollient. Low comedogenic rating (1/5).
On labels as: caprylic capric triglyceride
Fatty alcohol — softens & thickens (not drying). Low comedogenic rating (2/5).
On labels as: cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol
Emulsifier & emollient. Low comedogenic rating (1/5).
On labels as: peg-100 stearate
Emollient / texture. Low comedogenic rating (1/5).
On labels as: cetyl ethylhexanoate, ethylhexyl palmitate, c12-15 alkyl benzoate
Fatty alcohols — moisturizing thickeners, NOT drying. Low comedogenic rating (2/5).
On labels as: myristyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, arachidyl alcohol, isostearyl alcohol, fatty alcohol
Nourishing, non-clogging facial oil.
On labels as: argania spinosa kernel oil, argania spinosa
Light barrier-supporting oil (linoleic-rich).
On labels as: helianthus annuus seed oil, helianthus annuus, sunflower oil
Light non-clogging oil (linoleic-rich).
On labels as: safflower seed oil, carthamus tinctorius seed oil, carthamus tinctorius
Rich oleic oil — can clog acne-prone skin. Comedogenic rating 3/5.
On labels as: sclerocarya birrea seed oil, sclerocarya birrea
Light linoleic-rich oil — suits oily skin. Low comedogenic rating (1/5).
On labels as: grape seed oil, vitis vinifera seed oil, vitis vinifera
Nutty emollient oil — can clog congested skin. Low comedogenic rating (2/5).
On labels as: calophyllum inophyllum seed oil, calophyllum inophyllum, foraha oil
Scent — a top cause of irritation/allergy. Can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
On labels as: parfum, aroma
Botanical scent — can irritate sensitive skin. Can irritate sensitive or reactive skin. Pregnancy: check with your doctor first.
On labels as: essential oil, limonene, linalool, citral, geraniol, eugenol, citronellol, menthol, peppermint oil, lavender oil, tea tree, melaleuca
Drying solvent — harsh in high amounts. Can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
On labels as: alcohol denat, sd alcohol, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol
Astringent — can be drying/irritating.
On labels as: hamamelis
Harsh cleansing surfactant. Can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
On labels as: sls
Mild cleansing surfactant.
Foaming surfactant (milder than SLS).
On labels as: sles
Gentle cleansing surfactant.
On labels as: coco-glucoside, decyl glucoside, lauryl glucoside, sodium cocoyl isethionate
Hydrating extract — can be comedogenic. Comedogenic rating 3/5.
Preservative — common contact allergen. Can irritate sensitive or reactive skin.
On labels as: methylchloroisothiazolinone
Common gentle preservative.
Base / solvent.
On labels as: aqua, eau
Skin-conditioning preservative-booster.
Gentle preservative.
Gentle preservative.
Preservative / solvent (mild for most).
Natural thickener.
Gel thickener.
On labels as: acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer
pH adjuster (trace amount).
pH adjuster (trace amount).
Stabilizer / chelator.
On labels as: tetrasodium edta, edta
Mattifying texture agent.
Well-studied preservatives — low irritation.
On labels as: methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, paraben
Emulsifiers — blend oil and water. Low comedogenic rating (1/5).
On labels as: polysorbate 20, polysorbate 60, polysorbate 80, polysorbate, sorbitan oleate, sorbitan stearate, sorbitan laurate, sorbitan isostearate
Absorbent clays — soak up oil, can be drying.
On labels as: kaolin, bentonite, montmorillonite, china clay, fuller's earth, clay
Mineral powder — absorbs oil, smooths texture. Low comedogenic rating (1/5).
On labels as: talcum
Mineral shimmer / colorant (inert).
On labels as: ci 77019, potassium aluminum silicate
Mineral color pigments (inert, non-reactive).
On labels as: iron oxide, ci 77491, ci 77492, ci 77499
Preservative — gentle for most, rare allergen.
"Comedogenic rating" (0–5) is a rough lab measure of pore-clogging potential — it matters most on breakout-prone skin and matters little on skin that never clogs. "Can irritate" means commonly reported irritation on sensitive or compromised skin, not that the ingredient is unsafe. Formulas, concentrations and your own skin all change the picture — that is exactly what the free checker weighs for your answers.
Cosmetic guidance, not medical advice. For anything painful, changing, or not improving in 8–12 weeks, see a dermatologist.