Guest guest Posted October 13, 2008 Report Share Posted October 13, 2008 Become An Acne DetectiveBy Barbara Strickland, Certified Para-Medical Esthetician You've heard the word before, it's Comedogenic (ko-mead-dee-oh-jen-ick) that means... it causes acne! And what does Irritating mean to you? We all know that relatives can be irritating. And even on some occasions, our closest friends. The IRS is especially irritating. However, we are talking about ingredients that irritate your skin! The hallmarks of skin irritation are...hives, redness, swelling, flaking, peeling, itching and general crabbiness from the above-mentioned conditions. Traffic is irritating...it causes road rage. Irritating ingredients cause skin rage! Did you know that there are Comedogenic and Irritating ingredients in everyday cosmetics, medications, make up, sunblocks, shaving creams, hair care and skin care products? It's true! Do the ingredients in your products cause acne?Check the ingredients on your labels on the Sage Advice Database of Comedogenic and Irritating Ingredients below to find out if an ingredient is good or bad for your skin! It is time to talk turkey about Acne. Almost all cosmetic manufacturers tell you that their products are non-comedogenic (non-acne causing) because they want to sell you products. The unsuspecting consumer purchases these products because the labels state that the product is good for you and will help you to get rid of all of the "ZITS", scarring, discoloration, etc. that you have. The sad fact is that as long as these ingredients are used in skin care products, sun blocks, shaving creams, hair products, make up and products to "clear" acne, the longer the individual who uses them will have active acne. THANKS MOM & DAD... We know that Acne is inherited from your parents. It may be also be worsened or caused (those who did not inherit the gene) by cosmetics, stress, hormonal fluctuations, medications, certain vitamins such as iodine, the sun and by the very products which are supposed to clear or cure the problem. Here are a few pointers when purchasing anything to use on your acne or for skin care in general: Make sure that the individual "selling" you the products can pronounce the ingredients listed on the label.For example: Isopropyl Myristate (ice-oh-pro-pel ma-ris-tate) Make sure that the individual "selling" you the products can tell you what these ingredients do for and to your skin!For example: Isopropyl Myristate makes products feel creamy and it causes grade one and grade two cosmetic acne. Does the individual know the difference between a cosmetic and a drug?DRUGS may penetrate the surface of the skin and must be prescribed by a physician unless approved for over the counter sales. For example, Retin-A is a drug. It penetrates all layers of the skin and it must be prescribed by a physician. However, Hydrocortisone (under 1%) and Benzoyl Peroxide (10% and under) are also drugs, but they may be purchased over the counter. COSMETICS work on the surface of the skin and they do not penetrate all the layers of the skin. Can this individual explain the structure and function of your skin to you and how particular products will help or hinder your skin type?For example, an over the counter moisturizer is made of lipids or oils, which cannot penetrate the surface of your skin. It only seals the skin, because lipids or oils do not penetrate, therefore... -- If you are dry and use a cream moisturizer, your skin will still be dry (dehydrated) underneath and greasy on the surface!-- If you are oily and use a cream moisturizer, you will still be dry underneath and very greasy on the surface!-- If you have acne and use a cream moisturizer, you will still be dry underneath, you will be able to slide down the road on your face AND you will have tons of new zits as well! There is one exception to this list! Lanolin OilLanolin Oil confuses many individuals. Natural Lanolin Oil comes from the wool of a sheep and does not cause acne. Synthetic Lanolins (man-made) do cause acne and leave you feeling very oily! INGREDIENTS THAT CAUSE OR EXACERBATE ACNE Below is a list which we recommend that you use to become an ACNE DETECTIVE and check ingredients yourself, no matter what the label states or implies! You will need to use this list patiently and search for the strange names of the ingredients on your containers. The reward is simple: No More Zits. This list will help you to make informed and intelligent decisions about what you choose to use on your skin. Remember that the first rule of thumb for any consumer is to be informed. Print this list out and take it with you when you shop for products. Click here for the printer-friendly version (5 pages) If the ingredient is not on the list - it is safe. Be sure to read Tips & Hints for Clearing Acne Find out about Sage Acne Try Me Packs Join our discussions on the Sage Advice Forum COM = ComedogenicityIRR = IrritancyScores are rated as 0 = Lowest, 5 = WORSTIf you have acne, DO NOT use ingredients with a score of 3, 4 or 5 Revised 07-09-2006 This list is alphabetized for your convenience. 5 Page printer-friendly version here FAMILY NAME COMGRADE IRRGRADE Solvent Acetone 0 5 Lanolins & Derivatives Acetylated Lanolin 4 0 Lanolins & Derivatives Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol 4 2 Botanicals Algae Extract 5 4 Minerals Algin 4 4 Preservatives & Additives Allantoin 0 0 Natural Oils Almond Oil 2 0 Botanicals Aloe Vera Gel 0 0 Miscellaneous Aminomethylpropionate 0 0 Lanolins & Derivatives Anhydrous Lanolin 0-1 0 Natural Oils Apricot Kernel Oil 2 0 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Arachidic Acid 2 0 Vitamins & Herbs Ascorbic Acid 0 0 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Ascorbyl Palmitate 2 0 Natural Oils Avocado Oil 2 0 Hydrocarbon Azulene 2 0 Antioxidant BHA 2 3 Waxes Beeswax 0-2 0-2 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Behenic Acid 0 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Behenyl Triglyceride 0 0 Clay Bentonite 0 0 Fragrance Benzaldehyde 2 2 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Benzoic Acid 2 3 Antioxidant Beta Carotene 1 0 Vitamins & Herbs Black Walnut Extract 0 0 Proteins & Enzymes Bromelain 0 0 Natural Oils Bubussa Oil 1 0 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Butyl Stearate 3 0 Antioxidant Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) 2 3 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Butylene Glycol 1 0 Natural Oils Cajeput Oil 2 4 Botanicals Calendula 1 0 Natural Oils Camphor 2 2 Waxes Candelilla Wax 1 1 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Capric Acid 2 2 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Caprylic Acid 1 3 Miscellaneous Carbomer 0 1 Thickeners & Emulsifiers Carbomer 940 1 0 Sodium Carboxypropylcellulose 1 0 Pigments Carmine 0 0 Waxes Carnuba Wax 1 1 Antioxidant Carotene 1 0 Botanicals Carrageenan 5 2 Natural Oils Castor Oil 1 0 Waxes Ceresin Wax 0 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Cetearyl Alcohol 2 1 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Cetearyl Alcohol + Ceteareth 20 4 1 Lanolins & Derivatives Cetyl Acetate 4 0-3 Alcohols Sugars & Derivatives Cetyl Alcohol 2 2 Botanicals Chamomile 2 0 Botanicals Chamomile Extract 0 0 Natural Oils Chaulomoogra Oil 1 0 Sterols Cholesterol 0 0 Sterols Choleth 24 0 0 Pigments Chromium Hydroxide 0 0 Natural Oils Cocoa Butter 4 0 Natural Oils Coconut Butter 4 0 Natural Oils Coconut Oil 4 1 Botanicals Cold Pressed Aloe Vera 0 0 Minerals Colloidal Sulfur 3 4 Natural Oils Corn Oil 2 0 Natural Oils Cotton Awws Oil 3 0 Natural Oils Cotton Seed Oil 3 0-5 Natural Oils Crisco 3 0 Silicones Cyclomethicone 0 0 Pigments D & C Red # 17 3 0 Pigment - banned by FDA D & C Red # 19 2 0 Pigments D & C Red # 21 3 0 Pigments D & C Red # 3 3 0 Pigments D & C Red # 30 3 0 Pigments D & C Red # 33 1 0 Pigments D & C Red # 36 3 0 Pigments D & C Red # 4 1 0 Pigments D & C Red # 6 1 0 Pigments D & C Red # 7 1 0 Pigments D & C Red # 9 1 0 Pigments D & C Red #27 2 0 Pigments D & C Red #40 2 2 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Decyl Oleate 3 0 Miscellaneous Deionized Water 0 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Diethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether 0 0 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Diisopropyl Adipate 0 0 Silicones Dimethicone 1 0 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Dioctyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate 0 0 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Dioctyl Succinate 3 2 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Disodium Monooleamido PEG 2-Sulfosuccinate 4 2 Waxes Emulsifying Wax NF 0-2 0-2 Preservatives Ethyl Paraben 0 0 Lanolins & Derivatives Ethoxylated Lanolin 3 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Ethyl Ether 0 0 Miscellaneous Ethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether 0 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Ethylene Glycol Monostearate 0 0 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Ethylhexyl Palmitate 4 0 Natural Oils Evening Primrose Oil 2 2 Minerals Flowers of Sulfur 0 3 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Glycerin 0 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Glyceryl Stearate NSE 1 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Glyceryl Stearate SE 3 2 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Glyceryl Tricapylo/Caprate 1 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Glyceryl-3-Diisostearate 4 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Hexadecyl Alcohol 5 2 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Hexylene Glycol 2 1 Preservatives Hydantoin 0 0 Natural Oils Hydrogenated Castor Oil 1 0 Natural Oils Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil 3 0-1 Natural Oils Hydrolyzed Animal Protein 0 0 Thickeners & Emulsifiers Hydroxypropylcellulose 1 0 Pigments Iron Oxide 0 0 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Isocetyl Alcohol 4 4 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Isocetyl Stearate 5 0 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Isodecyl Oleate 4 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Isopropyl Alcohol 0 4 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Isopropyl Isostearate 5 0 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Isopropyl Linolate 5 0-3 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Isopropyl Myristate 5 3 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Isopropyl Palmitate 4 1 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Isostearyl Isostearate 4 1 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Isostearyl Neopentanoate 3 3 Waxes Jojoba Oil 0-2 0-2 Thickeners Kaolin 0 0 Lanolins & Derivatives Lanolin Alcohol 0-2 0 Lanolins & Derivatives Lanolin Oil 1 0 Waxes Lanolin Wax 1 1 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Laureth 23 3 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Laureth 4 5 4 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Lauric Acid 4 1 Miscellaneous Lithium Stearate 1 0 Thickeners Magneseium Aluminum Silicate 0 0 Miscellaneous Magnesium Stearate 1 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Menthyl Anthranilate 0 0 Preservatives Methyl Paraben 0 0 Natural Oils Mineral Oil 0 0 Natural Oils Mink Oil 3 1 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Myristic Acid 3 0 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Myristyl Lactate 4 2 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Myristyl Myristate 5 2 Miscellaneous Octyl Dimethyl PABA 0 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Octyl Methoxycinnimate 0 0 Miscellaneous Octyl Palmitate 4 1 Miscellaneous Octyl Salicylate 0 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Octyl Stearate 5 5 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Octyldodecyl Stearate 0 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Oleth-3 5 2 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Oleth-10 2 1 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Oleyl Alcohol 4 2 Natural Oils Olive Oil 2 0 Miscellaneous Oxybenzone 0 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars PEG 40 Castor Oil 0 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars PEG 100 Distearate 2 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars PEG 100 Stearate 1 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars PEG 150 Distearate 2 0 Lanolins & Derivatives PEG 16 Lanolin 4 3 Alcohols Sugars & Derivatives PEG 20 Stearate 1 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars PEG 200 Dilaurate 3 2 Sterols PEG 5 Soya Sterol 0 0 Sterols PEG 10 Soya Sterol 0 1 Lanolins & Derivatives PEG 75 Lanolin 0 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars PEG 8 Stearate 3 1 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars PG Caprylate/Caprate 1 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars PG Dipelargonate 2 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars PG Monostearate 3 0 Fatty Acids & Derivatives PPG 2 Myristyl Propionate 4 3 Fatty Acids & Derivatives PPG 30 Cety Ester 0 0 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Palmitic Acid 2 0 Vitamins & Herbs Panthenol 0 0 Proteins & Enzymes Papain 0 0-3 Natural Oils Peanut Oil 2 0-2 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Pentarythrital Tetra Capra/Caprylate 0 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Pentarythrital Tetra Isostearate 2 0 Natural Oils Petrolatum 0 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars PG Dicaprylate/Caprate 1 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars PG Dipelargonate 2 2 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Polyethylene Glycol (PEG 400) 1 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Polyethylene Glycol 300 1 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Polyglyceryl-3-Diisostearate 4 0 Alcohol, Ester Polysorbate 20 0 0 Alcohol, Ester Polysorbate 80 0 0 Minerals Potassium Chloride 5 0-3 Minerals Precipitated Sulfur 0 0-2 Preservatives & Additives Propyl Paraben 0 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Propylene Glycol 0 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Propylene Glycol Monostearate 4 0 Botanicals Red Algae 5 2 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars SD Alcohol 40 0 5 Natural Oils Safflower Oil 0 0 Natural Oils Sandelwood Seed Oil 2 0 Natural Oils Sesame Oil 2 0 Oils Shark Liver Oil 3 2 Miscellaneous Simethicone 1 0 Minerals Sodium Chloride (Salt) 5 0-3 Preservatives & Additives Sodium Hyaluronate 0 0 Detergents Sodium Laureth Sulfate 3 2 Detergents Sodium Lauryl Sulfate 5 2 Miscellaneous Sodium PCA 0 0 Lanolins & Derivatives Solulan 16 4 3 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Sorbitan Laurate 1 1 Thickeners & Emulsifiers Sorbitan Oleate 3 0 Alcohols Sugars & Derivatives Sorbitan Sesquinoleate 0 0 Alcohols Sugars & Derivatives Sorbitan Stearate 0 1 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Sorbitol 0 0 Sterols Soya Sterol 0 0 Natural Oils Soybean Oil 3 0 Natural Oils Squalane 1 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Steareth 10 4 3 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Steareth 100 0 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Steareth 2 2 2 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Steareth 20 2 1 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Stearic Acid 2 0 Miscellaneous Stearic Acid Tea 3 2 Alcohols Sugars & Derivatives Stearyl Alcohol 2 2 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Stearyl Heptanoate 4 0 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Sterol Esters 0 0 Natural Oils Sulfated Castor Oil 3 2 Waxes Sulfated Jojoba Oil 3 2 Natural Oils Sunflower Oil 0 0 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Syearyl Heptanoate 4 0 Minerals Talc 1 0 Pigments Titanium Dioxide 0 0 Vitamins & Herbs Tocopheryl Acetate 0 0 Fatty Acids & Derivatives Tridectyl Neopentanoate 0 3 Miscellaneous Triethanolamine 2 0 Pigments Ultramarine Violet 0 0 Vitamins & Herbs Vitamin A Palmitate 2 1 Alcohols, Esters, Ethers & Sugars Wheat Germ Glyceride 3 2 Natural Oils Wheat Germ Oil 5 2 Miscellaneous Xylene 4 3 Astringent Zinc Oxide 1 0 Minerals Zinc Stearate 0 0 © Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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