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Beware of 8 common acne-causing ingredients in your beauty products

Ladies, avoid these 8 common but harmful cosmetic ingredients which can increase your acne issues and breakout.
acne breakout
Not all skincare products are good for your skin. Image courtesy: Adobe StockNot all skincare products are good for your skin. Image courtesy: Adobe Stock
Published by Dr Ipshita Johri
Published On: 25 Apr 2023, 02:30 pm IST
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When it comes to buying cosmetics and skincare products, many people have become more discerning than ever before. They look at the ingredient list before buying a product. This is a welcome change as a lack of awareness about which ingredients are beneficial for your skin and which are harmful to it can be risky. In case you are unaware, some ingredients can be more harmful to your skin if you have acne-prone skin. We know the struggle is real to find products that don’t irritate your skin, but it doesn’t have to be that hard. We are here to tell you about harmful cosmetic ingredients you should stay away from in order to avoid acne.

Cosmetic ingredients to avoid

If you wish to have clear and glowing skin, avoid the following skincare ingredients:

1. Silicone

Silicone is generally safe to use if you don’t break out easily, but those who have acne may wish to avoid them. They fill up pores and wrinkles to give skin a smooth appearance and are mostly used in primers and creams.

Silicones can lock in dirt and oil because they produce a film over the skin. You will need to take extra precautions during your cleansing process to ensure that you have thoroughly washed the silicones off because they are also challenging to wipe off.

2. Benzaldehyde

Benzaldehyde gives your products a beautiful fragrance but may also irritate your skin. A skincare or beauty product may nevertheless include hidden fragrances even if it states on the label that it is fragrance-free or if it is not prominently listed in the ingredient list. Natural extracts are preferable to artificial perfumes since they smell much more fresh and natural.

harmful cosmetic ingredients
Avoid fragrance-based skincare products. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

3. Alcohol

We all know that drinking alcohol significantly dries out the skin, which leads to an excessive production of sebum. In order to keep the skin hydrated and nourished, it makes it oilier than before. You should avoid using skincare products that include alcohol. Avoid using them unless there are other ingredients such as glycerine, that can neutralise the effects of alcohol.

Also read: Zinc for skin: Know why this magic ingredient should be a part of your skincare regimen

4. Benzoyl peroxide

A potent chemical that eliminates acne-causing germs from your pores is benzoyl peroxide. Yet while it’s causing all that damage, it also makes the skin dry, peel, and red, and it may even make post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation worse.

harmful cosmetic ingredients
Benzoyl peroxide can increase acne issues! Image courtesy: Adobe Stock

5. Coconut oil

Coconut oil is used in DIY skincare remedies, but for people who are prone to acne, it might clog their pores. It’s odd that lauric acid, a byproduct of coconut oil, is actually employed in the treatment of acne.

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While there are numerous different facial oils that can be used to treat acne, coconut oil is a comedogenic substance. Oily skin is actually the one it hurts the most, despite the fact that it helps treat acne. Particularly in those with oily skin, it clogs pores and causes more breakouts. You can use coconut oil on the other parts of your body except for your face.

6. Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS)

If you have acne-prone skin, it is better to double cleanse with micellar water and a mild face wash as opposed to using a harsh face wash with SLS, which may initially make you feel clean but will ultimately cause acne and damage to your skin.

7. Almond oil

Although eating almonds is good for your skin, you should think before applying them to your face. It’s comedogenic, like coconut oil, which means that if you’re not careful, it might clog your pores. It is stated that almond oil is fantastic for dry skin. To find out how it will affect you, apply a small amount to your skin and watch to see whether irritability develops.

harmful cosmetic ingredients
Avoid using almond oil on your face! Image courtesy: Shutterstock

8. Sodium chloride

Table salt is also known by the name sodium chloride. It is used as a thickening agent in makeup, but if you frequently break out, you should avoid it.
Applying salt to your face can make pimples more likely, much like eating too much salty food can clog your pores.

Although you might assume salt would be a great exfoliator, it can do serious damage to your skin. You may be surprised to learn that your foundation composition contains sodium chloride, which can seriously clog your pores.

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About the Author

Dr Ipshita Johri is a dermatology and aesthetic consultant, laser specialist, and founder of Skinfinity Derma. The ideology of her work in the field of dermatology and aesthetics is to understand her patients' needs and concerns in complete detail to find the root cause and provide the best possible solutions with the use of expertise knowledge, accurate diagnosis, updated methods and tactics and best and contemporary US FDA approved technologies. She did her MBBS from KLE University, Belgaum, PG Diploma in Dermatology and Venereology from DY Patil Medical College, Mumbai and PG Diploma in Practical Dermatology from Cardiff University, U.K. ...Read More

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