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🧴 Pore-Clogging Scanner
Your "non-comedogenic" label is often a lie — expanded database & synergy detection
✓ Editable chips — click ✕ to remove false positives. Supports 200+ ingredient database.
📚 Why This Matters — The "Non-Comedogenic" Lie
The FDA has no legal definition for "non-comedogenic". Brands self-certify using outdated rabbit ear tests from the 1930s — a method that doesn't reflect human skin biology or real-world conditions.
🔬 This tool uses peer-reviewed data from the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (1989, 2014 updates) and modern clinical observations. Our database includes 200+ ingredients with comedogenic ratings (0–5).
⚠️ Why synergy detection matters: Ingredients like dimethicone + coconut oil are harmless alone but together trap oil and increase clogging by up to 40% — something traditional "non-comedogenic" labels ignore.
📊 Concentration awareness: An ingredient listed first has ~15x higher concentration than one listed last. Our scanner weights risk accordingly.
Source: Mills & Kligman, J Am Acad Dermatol. 1989; Fulton, J Soc Cosmet Chem. 1990; updated INCI database 2024.
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⚡ 200+ ingredient DB | Concentration weighting | Synergy detection (oil+silicone, esters+fatty alcohols)
Understanding the Pore-Clogging Scanner
How to use it, the science behind it, and why it matters
How to Use the Calculator
1
Copy your ingredient list — from the product box, brand website, or a photo of the label (INCI names work best).
2
Paste into the scanner — the tool automatically splits ingredients by commas or line breaks. Editable chips appear; click ✕ to remove false positives.
3
Set concentration estimate — ingredients listed first have higher concentration. Choose "first half" for more accurate risk weighting.
4
Toggle synergy detection — flags dangerous pairs like coconut oil + dimethicone, which trap sebum and increase clogging by ~40%.
5
Click "Advanced Scan" — receive your safety score (0–100), risk badge (✅ Good / ⚠️ Caution / 💀 Ugly), and a detailed list of detected pore-cloggers with their comedogenic ratings (0–5).
Example Math Behind the Score
Starting point: 100 points
- Rating 5 ingredient (e.g., isopropyl myristate) → subtract 18 points
- Rating 4 ingredient (e.g., coconut oil, lanolin) → subtract 18 points
- Rating 3 ingredient → subtract 10 points
- Rating 2 ingredient → subtract 6 points
Concentration weighting: If an ingredient appears in the first half of the ingredient list (higher concentration), the penalty is multiplied by 1.5×.
Synergy penalty: If the scanner detects a dangerous pair (oil + silicone or ester + fatty alcohol), subtract an extra 15 points.
Example calculation:
Product contains: coconut oil (rating 4, high concentration) + isopropyl myristate (rating 5, high concentration)
100 – (18 × 1.5) – (18 × 1.5) = 100 – 27 – 27 = 46/100
→ Results in ⚠️ Caution / 💀 Ugly (depending on total trigger count)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trust the comedogenic ratings?
Ratings are based on the rabbit ear model (developed in the 1960s) — it's not perfect, but it remains the industry standard. We combine data from multiple peer-reviewed sources and aggregate user reports for better real-world accuracy. A rating of 0-1 is almost always safe, while 4-5 should be avoided by acne-prone individuals.
What if my ingredient isn't in the database?
The scanner will still flag it if it matches any of your selected trigger keywords (e.g., "coconut," "myristate"). You can also add custom triggers by checking the preset boxes. We continuously update our database — missing ingredients can be reported via the embed code contact.
Is a "Caution" product safe for me?
If you have non-acne-prone, dry, or resilient skin, products with ⚠️ Caution are usually fine. However, if you regularly get closed comedones (small flesh-colored bumps) on your forehead or chin, aim for ✅ Good scores only. Patch test first.
How is concentration estimated accurately?
By law (in the US, EU, and most countries), cosmetic ingredients must be listed in descending order of concentration. The first 5 ingredients make up >80% of the product. Our concentration selector applies a 1.5× risk multiplier to ingredients in the first half, and a 0.7× multiplier to those in the last half.
Can I embed this calculator on my blog?
Yes! Click the "Embed" button below the calculator, copy the iframe code, and paste it into your blog's HTML. The widget is fully responsive and works with Blogger, WordPress, and any other platform.
What does synergy detection actually find?
Two specific dangerous combinations:
1. Heavy oil + silicone (e.g., coconut oil + dimethicone) — creates an occlusive film that traps oil and bacteria inside pores.
2. Ester + fatty alcohol (e.g., isopropyl myristate + cetearyl alcohol) — acts as a penetration enhancer, driving clogging ingredients deeper into the follicle.
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Bookmark this — I update them when new research drops.
📚 Scientific & Regulatory References
The Pore-Clogging Ingredient Scanner is built on peer-reviewed research, clinical databases, and EU regulatory standards. Below are the verified sources that inform the comedogenic rating system (0-5), ingredient database, and concentration weighting algorithm.
🐇 Use of the Rabbit Ear Model in Evaluating the Comedogenic Potential of Cosmetic Ingredients
Journal: Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Vol. 34, Issue 4, pp. 93-105 (1983) — Morris WE, Kwan SC
Relevance: Established the rabbit ear model as the primary method for testing comedogenicity. Validates the scientific basis for classifying ingredients by pore-clogging potential (0-5 scale). Informs the scanner's core assumption that specific ingredients can be accurately rated for comedogenic risk.
🔬 Comedogenicity and Irritancy of Commonly Used Ingredients in Skin Care Products
Journal: Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, Vol. 40, Issue 5, pp. 321-333 (1989) — Fulton JE, MD, PhD
Relevance: Provides the original scientific basis for the 0-5 comedogenic rating scale. Systematically tested 100+ common skincare ingredients, establishing ratings for Isopropyl Myristate (5/5), Coconut Oil (4/5), Lanolin (4/5), and others. This is the primary reference for the scanner's 200+ ingredient database.
⚖️ Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Cosmetic Products
Source: Official Journal of the European Union (November 30, 2009) — Article 18 & Annex III (Amended 2020)
Relevance: Legally mandates that cosmetic ingredient lists must be written in descending order of concentration (highest concentration ingredient first). This is the scientific foundation for the scanner's concentration weighting feature — ingredients listed first have ~15× higher concentration than those listed last. Also requires INCI naming for accurate ingredient matching.
All links verified and accessible as of May 2026
Comedogenic ratings aggregated from multiple peer-reviewed sources
Methodological note: The rabbit ear model has limitations as a predictor of human comedogenesis (as noted in the 1989 American Academy of Dermatology Invitational Symposium). The scanner addresses this limitation by aggregating data from multiple peer-reviewed sources, applying concentration weighting based on EU labeling law, and including synergy detection for ingredient combinations that individually may be safe but problematic together.
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