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These are the ingredients we look for in every product's ingredient list. The vocabularies are public and applied exactly as written — no product is rated by hand.
Ingredients people search for by name. We highlight them on product pages.
A form of vitamin B3. Studied in relation to perceived oiliness and evenness of tone.
An oil-soluble acid that can mix with sebum inside the pore.
Water-soluble acids that work on the skin surface.
A vitamin A derivative. Introduce slowly and use sun protection.
A plant extract common in formulations for sensitive skin.
A single compound isolated from centella.
A humectant that binds water.
Lipids found in the skin's own barrier.
A humectant often used in formulations for sensitive skin.
An acid used in products aimed at redness and uneven tone.
Used in formulations for oily skin and in mineral sunscreens.
Used in products aimed at uneven pigment.
An antioxidant. Derivatives differ in stability.
Short amino-acid chains used in conditioning formulations.
An extract common in Korean skincare, often in formulations for sensitive skin.
Artemisia extract, used in formulations for sensitive skin.
A traditional acne-prone-skin ingredient. As an essential oil it is also on the irritant list.
A hydrating ingredient used in Korean skincare.
A bee-derived extract. Note bee allergies.
A sun-protection agent. The filter blend determines feel and breadth of protection.
A humectant and part of the skin's own natural moisturizing factor. At high concentrations it also softens the skin surface.
A light, well-tolerated oil component, usually obtained from olive or sugarcane. A different ingredient from squalene, which is on our watchlist.
Polyhydroxy acids. The molecule is larger than the AHAs', they penetrate more slowly and also work as humectants; an acid routine is often started with these.
Building blocks of protein, and part of the skin's own natural moisturizing factor. In a formula they act as humectants; some also serve as pH adjusters.
Ingredients obtained from rice: extract, rice water and bran oil in hydrating formulations, starch and bran wax to adjust texture. A long-established raw material in Korean and Japanese skincare.
A traditional plant extract in Korean skincare. Used in antioxidant formulations and in products aimed at signs of aging.
Licorice root extracts and compounds isolated from them, such as glycyrrhizin salts and glabridin. Used in formulations for sensitive skin and in products aimed at evenness of tone.
An extract of the tea plant. Its polyphenols have been studied in relation to antioxidant activity and perceived oiliness.
Ingredients fermented with microorganisms: yeast, lactic acid bacteria, and bifido filtrates. Common in Korean and Japanese essences, where they act as humectants.
A large protein that stays on the skin surface as a hydrating film former; hydrolyzed forms and collagen amino acids act as humectants. The ingredient is often used in formulations aimed at aging skin.
We flag these groups in every product. A flag isn't a warning — it's information.
The product contains fragrance or declared fragrance allergens.
The EU requires 26 fragrance allergens to be declared separately. We flag both the generic Parfum/Fragrance entry and those allergens, because they are the most common source of irritation on sensitive skin.
Show products without this groupThe product contains a volatile alcohol high in the ingredient list.
Volatile alcohols (Alcohol Denat., SD Alcohol, Ethanol) make a texture feel light but can dry and irritate skin at high concentrations. We do not flag fatty alcohols such as Cetyl Alcohol or Cetearyl Alcohol — those are conditioning emulsifiers, not drying.
Show products without this groupThe product contains essential oils or plant extracts that naturally carry them.
Essential oils are natural fragrance. They can irritate sensitive skin even when a product is marketed as fragrance-free, because they do not have to be declared as Parfum.
Show products without this groupThe product contains silicones.
Silicones are not shown to clog pores, but some people avoid them for texture or cleansing reasons. We flag them so they can be filtered — not as a warning.
Show products without this groupThe product contains an ingredient commonly considered pore-clogging.
This list is based on widely cited ratings of how likely an ingredient is to clog pores. Those ratings originate from rabbit-ear testing and do not transfer directly to human skin. That is why it is a watchlist, not a ban: we show what is in the product and where in the list, and leave the decision to the reader. It was expanded on 13 August 2026 under a two-tier policy: only ingredients that several independent sources rate 3–5 are scored, while contested or ubiquitous ingredients moved to a mention tier that appears in the ingredient tooltip alone and changes no classification.
Show products without this groupThe product contains a sulfate-based surfactant.
Sulfates clean efficiently but can strip the skin barrier. We flag them because oily and acne-prone skin is often steered toward them — when over-cleansing tends to make things worse.
Show products without this groupStrongly and gently cleansing surfactants have a section of their own, because they make up the cleansing mark on cleansers: Strongly cleansing and gentle.