About this checker
A free tool that shows which ingredients may clog pores, which sources say so, and how many of them agree.
Who built it
I'm Fei Hu, a frontend engineer. I built this checker because most pore-clogging lists don't say where their ratings come from, and they often disagree. I wanted one place that shows the sources side by side.
The site is a small static website, and the checker runs in your browser. Every rating was copied from its source and checked. Values that had to be read off scanned pages were read twice, independently, and both reads had to agree before a value went in.
What it does
- You paste a product's ingredient list. The checker finds each ingredient and looks it up.
- For each one, it shows which sources flag it, the rating each source gave, and how many sources agree.
- Results come in label order. Higher on the label usually means more of that ingredient.
- If it can't find a name, it says so. It never guesses a rating.
Where the ratings come from
The ratings come from two lab studies that we read in full, plus a published list whose terms don't forbid reuse. From the list we store only which ingredients it flags, with a link back. Every rating names its source. We never add a rating from memory or copy a list's wording.
What it isn't
This is not medical advice. A flag is a reason to patch-test or to watch your skin, not a diagnosis. Most ratings come from an old lab test on rabbit ears, which reacts more strongly than human skin. How much of an ingredient a product has, and what else is in it, also matter.
If your acne is painful, leaves marks, or doesn't get better, see a doctor or a dermatologist.
Free, with no sign-up
The checker runs in your browser. Your ingredient lists are never sent to us. Read the privacy page for details. We don't sell products and no brand pays to be listed.
Spotted a mistake?
Email contact@acneingredientchecker.com and name the ingredient and the source. We check reports against the source.