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Ohlamour Studio / Stocksy

The idea offinding a new skincare regimenfeels like the ask of a lifetime.

But for those who areacne-prone, it’s that much more difficult.

mixed girl applying creme to face

Ohlamour Studio / Stocksy

“There are many different ways to exacerbate acne lesions,” says dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian.

Meet the Experts

Key Takeaways

Keep reading to learn more about the worst ingredients for acne-prone skin.

“Synthetic fragrances are a major source of skin allergies,” notes dermatologist Dr. Joshua Zeichner.

Ingredients to Avoid if you have Acne

Emily Roberts / Byrdie

But what about applying essential oils to the skin while they’re in their natural form?

“Unsaturated fats like omega 3 and 6’s are less likely to cause breakouts.”

Steer clear ofcoconut oiland cocoa butter.

Both he and Rouleau note that this can cause skin barrier disruption and make active breakouts worse.

Thankfully, there are plenty of sulfate-free cleansers available that perform just as well as sulfate-ridden ones.

“Isoprpopyl palmitate is a highly comedogenic emollient ingredient used in some moisturizers.”

Sodium Chloride

Otherwise known assea saltor salt maris, sodium chloride is the technical term for salt.

She says to avoid scrubs or any ingredient that has microbeading.

Be wary of foundations containing sodium chloride, as they can cause breakouts along the chin and mouth area.

Zeichner explains that coconut oil has both unsaturated and saturated fats, including linoleic and lauric acid.

“For this reason,coconut oil is not for all acne-prone patients.”

Algae Extract

Algaeextract is a double-edged sword.

While it’s classified as an anti-inflammatory and can regulate oil production, it may also be comedogenic.

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