8 Skincare ingredients that could be causing you to break out

Hidden Culprits: 8 Skincare ingredients that could be causing your breakouts

huibing

19 Jun 2017

1/8
Retinol
Retinol isn’t a product you should avoid entirely, but it definitely causes blemishes to appear a lot more often. Its main purpose is to quickly exfoliate your skin, bringing up acne beneath the surface. So, yes, while you might be looking a little bumpier in the beginning, stick with it for about for about eight weeks for the purging to end. If your acne hasn’t cleared up by then, you might be allergic to it. But, if not, stick with it for a little while more.
2/8
Silicones
While silicones can waterproof your skincare products, it might cause your pores to become clogged in the long-run. Although it helps to retain moisture and form a barrier, this very barrier prevents oil, sebum, and dead skin cells from being released from your skin. This will make your skin congested and might even slow down your skin renewal process.
3/8
Parabens
Ah, the dreaded ‘p’ word. When it comes to beauty products in general, parabens and silicones are in the running for the "Top Ingredient You Probably Should Avoid" list. Frequently added into products as preservatives, there have been a few studies conducted regarding the health complications associated with parabens that should make you consider twice when putting it liberally on your skin.
4/8
Cocoa butter
What? Can something that’s seemingly so good actually be hurting your skin? Yes, that’s very possible. While coconut butter is a brilliant moisturiser, it might not be so good for blemish prevention. It contains antioxidants and Vitamin E, products that should theoretically be good for blemish care, but it can clog your pores severely, causing sebum and oil to get trapped.
5/8
Coconut oil
Another one? Unfortunately, yes. Coconut oil ranks pretty high in the comedogenicity scale as well. And, much like cocoa butter, it can cause a barrier to form over your pores, leaving your pores to become clogged. While it may be good as a solution to dry and damaged hair, keep it on the roots and away from your face. After all, there are so many better oils out there like rosehip and pumpkin seed oil, so opt for those instead,
6/8
Talc
Talc is a controversial product as it can easily irritate your child’s respiratory system. But, did you know, plenty of your makeup products actually contain it? Check with the different makeup brands if the talc they use contains asbestos, as it is one of the causes for mesothelioma cancer. Not only can it be potentially deadly, it can also clog your pores and increase chances of breakout.
7/8
Microbeads
Not only are they incredibly damaging to the ecosystem, did you know that microbeads aren’t particularly good for your skin either? Exfoliating is great, but doing so with plastic microbeads certainly isn’t. As you rub your skin with the little round spheres, you’re cleaning off dead skin cells— but also causing irritation on your skin. And, on acne prone skin, this is the last thing you need.
8/8
Benzoyl peroxide
Yes, while benzoyl peroxide is commonly used when it comes to acne treatments, it might actually be causing your skin to break out more. High concentration of benzoyl peroxide can actually irritate and inflame your skin. While it might be effective as a spot treatment, it does not help your skin in the long-term, as it blocks your pores. This is especially so if you have hormonal acne, so do be extra careful.

Helpful or harmful? Find out if your skincare products are doing what it claims! Many ‘skin-loving’ ingredients are actually making your complexion worse.

So you’ve gotten a blemish on your face that’s screaming for attention in the most prominent of places. It’s coloured in an almost blaring shade of red, and it sits proudly without any intention to vacate the premises. There’s a slight moment of panic that is replaced with frustration, so you do the logical thing and work on combating it – from cleansing thoroughly, putting on acne creams and, when it comes down to it, pile on a little concealer to make it less obvious. But… oh dear, why is it getting worse? And, wait, it looks like there are actually more now?

Skincare products are meant to alleviate our greatest skin concerns, be it a lack of hydration and elasticity, or sensitivity with a peppering of pimples. But, sometimes, these products might be the one causing your skin’s condition to worsen! So, the next time you’re in the aisle looking for your go-to product, flip the bottle and examine the ingredients. The culprit might be right there, in your own hands.

Lee Hui Bing

Photos: Getty Images

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